Vick Indicted by a Federal Grand Jury

[Steeler Fanatic]

A Federal Grand Jury in Richmond, VA has indicted Michael Vick and three others on charges related to dogfighting. More on this later.

[H41L2teh5k1n5]

A Federal Grand Jury in Richmond, VA has indicted Michael Vick and three others on charges related to dogfighting. More on this later.


I am shocked :rolleyes: never saw this coming.

[Steeler Fanatic]

Here's more info from SI:

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) -- Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick was indicted Tuesday by a federal grand jury on charges related to illegal dogfighting.

Vick and three others were charged with violating federal laws against competitive dogfighting, procuring and training pit bulls for fighting and conducting the enterprise across state lines.

The indictment alleges that Vick and his co-defendants began sponsoring dogfighting in early 2001, the former Virginia Tech star's rookie year with the Falcons.

It accuses Vick, Purnell A. Peace, Quanis L. Phillips and Tony Taylor of "knowingly sponsoring and exhibiting an animal fighting venture," of conducting a business enterprise involving gambling, as well as buying, transporting and receiving dogs for the purposes of an animal fighting venture.

Telephone messages left at the offices and home of Vick's attorney, Larry Woodward, were not immediately returned.

A woman who answered the phone at the home of Vick's mother said the family knew nothing about the charges.


The proverbial shit has hit the fan. Care to comment, TNV?

[TexasCowboy]

Come on TNV you defended this piece of shit now let's see what you have
to say, now that he is Indicted on federal charges for illegal dog fighting

[pittfan34]

I still doubt that he is found guilty of anything, although I must say when it comes to dog fighting Ron is money.

[Take No Vicktims]

As long as Vick is the QB of the Falcons, I will support him. It doesn't take a lot to get an indictment. If he is proven guilty in a court of law, that's another story. Vick will lead the Falcons to a SB this year.

[eagle fanatic]

As long as Vick is the QB of the Falcons, I will support him. It doesn't take a lot to get an indictment. If he is proven guilty in a court of law, that's another story. Vick will lead the Falcons to a SB this year.


:lmao:

Vick, guilty or not, will be up to his fuckin neck in legal issues. He couldn't take them to a SB without all this hovering over his head. Give me a break. He's gonna be focused on football throughout all this? Year right. The Falcons are kicking themselves in the ass for getting rid of Schaub. When Vick's doing time it'll be Joey Harringtons team. :suicide:

[eagle fanatic]

ATLANTA -- During the first three months of an off-field soap opera that Tuesday afternoon was suddenly extended indefinitely, Michael Vick somehow managed to remain above the fray.

He was not oblivious to the fact his name was linked to a reprehensible and distasteful pastime said to take place on the property of a home he owned in Surry County, Va. But Vick was apparently impervious as federal agents dug, literally, into his past for links that might tie him to a dogfighting ring.

To a man, the people who sign his pricey paychecks and a new coaching staff charged with teaching Vick the third different offense in which he has worked in six years insisted that this was his best offseason ever. Vick was more diligent, worked harder on the field and in the classroom and took on a weightier mantle of leadership than he had at any previous time in his career.

Several teammates even wondered aloud, in conversations with ESPN.com, how Vick had managed to retain such remarkable focus in the teeth of a gathering storm. A few suggested that the team's complex in Flowery Branch, Ga., where Vick hadn't exactly been a frequent voluntary visitor in springs past, had become his sanctuary. The athletic arrogance that Vick had displayed so often in the past, which manifested itself in rumors that he really didn't feel he needed to be tutored on the game's finer points, was absent.

Humility and work ethic, it seemed, had become Vick hallmarks this spring.

Poised to enter the most critical season of his career on the field, even some internal detractors noted that Vick seemed to comprehend how crucial 2007 might be for him.

But now that Vick has officially been dragged into the fight, indicted on two felony counts by a federal court, one has to wonder about the unwavering focus he demonstrated during his tumultuous offseason. And moving forward into the 2007 season, provided Vick is permitted by commissioner Roger Goodell to continue playing while due process runs its course, the question of how he now responds on the field is a critical one here.

That is not to trivialize the serious off-field issues that Vick and his defense team face. In a statement released Tuesday evening, the league termed dogfighting "cruel, degrading and illegal," and it is certainly all that and perhaps more. But for every extracurricular indiscretion in the NFL, no matter how unsavory, there is an undeniable football component.

And the football component for the Atlanta Falcons right now, discounting all the ancillary ramifications, is whether or not Vick can continue to be a viable player and a leader for the team. Can the man who is already a lightning rod, and figures to be even more so now, even play at a functional level in the face of what lies ahead? Or should the Falcons, no matter the legal timeline upcoming, suggest he take a leave of absence?

The latter option may be discussed, but don't bet on it occurring.

A person who spoke with Vick at length after the indictments were announced said that the quarterback was "devastated" by the news. Whether those feelings were feigned or not, we can't say, because we weren't party to the conversation. But in reading the indictments, it isn't as if Vick's name is simply sprinkled into the federal documents. The pages are actually rife with references to the Atlanta star.

In late May, two federal law enforcement officials told ESPN.com they felt there was sufficient evidence to eventually indict Vick, but were less certain of mounting successful prosecution. There is a reason, however, that the Feds own a conviction rate of better than 95 percent. The government typically doesn't indict unless it knows it can probably convict, and that should be unsettling news for the Falcons and their quarterback.

On July 7, a day after the latest raid on Vick's property, one of those same federal sources told ESPN.com for a column that the quarterback was still part of the investigation. "Just because you've got a lot of links [lying] around doesn't mean you can call in a chain," the source said. "But it also doesn't mean you abandon the notion of seeing if those links might someday become a chain."

With all of that, all the signs pointing to the fact he was clearly not out of the woods, Vick could not have been particularly comfortable with his status.

Still, whether it was natural arrogance or the misperception he was beyond the reach of the investigation, Vick was blindsided by Tuesday's news, as was his coterie of advisors. Only 10 minutes before the news of the indictments broke, we were on the phone with a Vick confidant who didn't know what was to transpire. "This is going to be a test for Michael, that's for sure," the person acknowledged later in the evening.

But not only for Vick.

Falcons owner Arthur Blank, still out of the country Tuesday, faces a test of loyalty. Vick has been at times like a surrogate son to Blank, who has been often criticized locally for what is perceived as preferential treatment of his quarterback. But there came a point, perhaps when Blank awarded Vick a record $130 million, when the tenor of the relationship changed. Blank is all about image and, more than the dollar sign attached to Vick, it is the stigma his star could potentially carry that may concern him most.

Goodell certainly faces a litmus test, given the sanctions he has already levied against players such as Tennessee cornerback Pacman Jones, Cincinnati wide receiver Chris Henry and former Chicago defensive tackle Tank Johnson. It should be pointed out, however, that, unlike the players suspended by Goodell to this point, Vick is not a repeat offender in the eyes of the NFL. His actions at times have been offensive, but have never earned him a demerit under Goodell's stewardship. So the Tuesday indictments, in and of themselves, may not be grounds for action by the commissioner.

That said, Goodell will be under intense pressure from many quarters, given the unsavory nature of the charges, to do something. It's hard to fathom that a player who has been a poster boy of sorts for the NFL, certainly the face of professional football in this city, might now be rendered the subject of a mug shot.

But make no mistake, guilty or not, Vick is a marked man in the eyes of many. Already the most polarizing sports personality in the city, sometimes along racial lines, he figures to be a divisive figure and an easy target even at homes games now. The notion of dogfighting stirs repulsive passion even in those who don't carry a PETA or Humane Society membership card around. The electrifying Vick is soon to be zapped by the catcalls of those who have already made up their minds about him.

His arduous offseason issues aside, the 2007 season figured to be a tough test for Vick, who will be playing for a new, more demanding coach and in a new offense in which the standard is a 65 percent completion rate. That's a lot to heap on a guy who has yet to evolve into a complete quarterback, who doesn't handle change well, and who owns a career completion mark of less than 55 percent.

But all of those elements combined don't equal the kind of pressure Vick will now confront under the scrutiny of federal officials and fans who believe the legal authorities unearthed more than just dog carcasses as part of their investigation.

Able to stay above the fight to this point, Vick is suddenly at the center of it, and he will be battling not only for his career but also for his reputation.

In the July 7 column cited above, we noted that Vick should not exhale just yet. On Tuesday, his breathing just got a lot more labored.

[eagle fanatic]

A grand jury indicted Atlanta Falcons' quarterback Michael Vick on Tuesday, which at least partially answers one question that has lingered since the news first broke about an alleged dogfighting operation on property owned by Vick in Virginia: Was Vick involved? Obviously, we know now that investigators believe he was.

There are plenty of football-related issues still to be resolved about Vick's future with the Falcons and the NFL, but those might be the least of his concerns right now. Questions about his legal future abound at the moment. Here are some answers.

What do these federal charges mean for Michael Vick?

Vick is in real trouble. He is up against the might and majesty of the U.S. government with all of its agents, all of its investigative techniques, and all of its skilled prosecutors. If he has any doubts about the power and skill of the forces arrayed against him, he can call Scooter Libby, former chief of staff to Vice President Cheney, or he can call Lord Conrad Black, the disgraced media mogul now facing time in a federal penitentiary. If he still isn't convinced, he can call Jeff Skilling, the zillionaire Enron CEO who is now residing in a federal pen. All three of them hired brilliant (and expensive) lawyers. All three thought they could explain their way out from under federal charges. And all three were convicted. Vick can, and probably will, hire some of America's best defense lawyers, but they will face a serious battle.

Would Vick be sent to jail if he is convicted?

Yes. It's hard to imagine any other outcome. The charges are serious, and the evidence against Vick presented at trial will be nasty. The government's case includes evidence that Vick and his cohorts "tested" pit bulls for ferocity. If the dogs failed the test, the indictment charges, they were executed by hanging or drowning. In one case, with Vick present, the indictment says a dog was slammed to the ground until it was dead. In another incident, a dog was soaked with a hose and then electrocuted. Those aren't the sort of transgressions that lead to probation and community service. It's the kind of behavior that results in punishment, and the punishment will be jail time.

What is the next step for Vick?

Vick will now watch to see which of his three co-defendants will be the first to make a deal with federal prosecutors. Each of them will think seriously about turning on Vick and offering testimony against him in return for less time in jail. Vick obviously is the prime target of the government effort. Prosecutors and agents will be willing to talk with his co-defendants about a deal if they are willing to help prove the case against Vick. The government indictment discloses four witnesses who have already agreed to testify against him. If all three of of his co-defendants join these four witnesses against Vick, he and his lawyers might suggest that he, too, should talk to the government about a deal that would minimize his time in jail.

Vick is charged with "conspiracy" and violations of the "Travel Act." What does that mean?

The conspiracy charge will make things extra difficult for Vick and his lawyers. Under federal laws, the conspiracy charge allows federal prosecutors to link Vick to things that occurred even if he was not present. If the prosecutors can connect the four defendants, then crimes committed by one of them can be used to add to the evidence against the others. It's a tricky legal procedure that prosecutors love and defense lawyers detest. The Travel Act is a device invented by Robert F. Kennedy when he was Attorney General in the early Sixties. It was designed for use against organized crime and made it easier to prove cases against hoodlums. In the sports world, it was used most recently in the Salt Lake City Winter Olympics bribery scandal. Federal prosecutors charged the Utah organizers under the Travel Act and proved millions of dollars in bribes. Vick, however, can take some hope from the fact that U.S. District Judge David Sam found the organizers not guilty of violating the Travel Act, even though there was powerful evidence of bribery.

What was Vick's role in the dogfighting conspiracy described in the indictment?

According to the indictment, Vick was in the middle of everything from beginning to end. He purchased a vacant piece of property for $34,000, the indictment says. He then had sheds built for training dogs and staging fights and a fence erected to shield the operation from view. And finally, the indictment says, he had a two-story frame house with a basketball court put up as a residence for the people taking care of the dogs. If you believe the indictment, the Vick property had everything anyone could want in a dogfighting operation.

When would Vick's trial begin?

The federal courthouse in Richmond, Va., is the home of the nationally recognized "rocket docket." Cases move quickly in Richmond, more quickly than in any other courthouse in the federal system. Vick's lawyers will be looking for delays and for time to prepare a defense, but the trial likely would begin in a matter of four to six months.

Are the federal authorities in Richmond tough on crime?

Ask Ralph Sampson, the former NBA star. He fell behind in child support payments to seven children that he had with four women, the kind of thing that is ordinarily worked out in a settlement. But instead of a settlement, Sampson found himself charged with felonies in federal court. And then, very quickly, he found himself in jail for two months on a child support charge. Yes, they're tough on crime in Richmond, and they might be particularly tough on crimes involving the torture and killing of dogs.

[TexasCowboy]

As long as Vick is QB of the Falcons, I will support him. It doesn't take a lot to get an indictment. If he is proven guilty in a court of law, that's another story. Vick will lead the Falcons to a SB this year.

This mother fucker is guilty he hung and drowned dogs and you defend this
piece of shit...I hope he is Hung, Drawn and Quartered then has his heart
cut out for the piece of fucking worthless shit that he is

[HIT MAN]

This mother fucker is guilty he hung and drowned dogs and you defend this
piece of shit...I hope he is Hung, Drawn and Quartered then has his heart
cut out for the piece of fucking worthless shit that he is

What happened to "Innocent until proven guilty"? An indictment just allows for investigations and in no way points guilt to anyone. I expected this to happen since Vick owns the property where the alledged dogfights occured. In no way am I a fan of Mike Vick, but you have to give him the right of due process. If he's convicted and found guilty then serious charges and punishment should be administered.

[H41L2teh5k1n5]

What happened to "Innocent until proven guilty"? An indictment just allows for investigations and in no way points guilt to anyone. I expected this to happen since Vick owns the property where the alledged dogfights occured. In no way am I a fan of Mike Vick, but you have to give him the right of due process. If he's convicted and found guilty then serious charges and punishment should be administered.


exactly what I was going to say. It is very easy to get an indictment. Very rarely does a grand jury decide not to indict. All it dose is allow them to go forward w/ the investigation.

[eagle fanatic]

exactly what I was going to say. It is very easy to get an indictment. Very rarely does a grand jury decide not to indict. All it dose is allow them to go forward w/ the investigation.

That would contradict this statement:

There is a reason, however, that the Feds own a conviction rate of better than 95 percent. The government typically doesn't indict unless it knows it can probably convict, and that should be unsettling news for the Falcons and their quarterback.

[Steeler Fanatic]

Two things:

1. Difference between a local vs. federal indictment. Federal investigators/prosecutors are some of the brightest, most talented people in the legal profession. They typically do not seek an indictment until they have a locked up case ready to lay down. An indictment means that a federal grand jury felt there was enough evidence to proceed with a trial. When the Feds set their sights on you, you better have all your i's dotted and t's crossed.

Local indictments are more frequently used as a way to keep an investigation going, rather than an announcement that the local prosecutor has what he needs to slam the door shut on the defense.

2. H417 and Hit Man are right though --- we still hold to the principle of innocent until proven guilty, and there may yet be evidence that Vick is innocent.

[Take No Vicktims]

That would contradict this statement:

There is a reason, however, that the Feds own a conviction rate of better than 95 percent. The government typically doesn't indict unless it knows it can probably convict, and that should be unsettling news for the Falcons and their quarterback.

The Feds have a high conviction rate because 95% of the people they indict plead guilty. Whether they are innocent or not, people will plead guilty because they are intimidated by the Feds. What I would like to see is the demographical breakdown of the Feds convictions. I'm sure those with money have a much better success rate because they can get lawyers they won't get bullied by the Feds. The last high profile person indicted for Atlanta was former Mayor Bill Campbell. The Feds indicted him on 7 accounts and could not prove any one of them. They got him on tax evasion though.

[eagle fanatic]

I'm sure those with money have a much better success rate because they can get lawyers they won't get bullied by the Feds.

There are 3 examples listed in my previous post:

Vick is in real trouble. He is up against the might and majesty of the U.S. government with all of its agents, all of its investigative techniques, and all of its skilled prosecutors. If he has any doubts about the power and skill of the forces arrayed against him, he can call Scooter Libby, former chief of staff to Vice President Cheney, or he can call Lord Conrad Black, the disgraced media mogul now facing time in a federal penitentiary. If he still isn't convinced, he can call Jeff Skilling, the zillionaire Enron CEO who is now residing in a federal pen. All three of them hired brilliant (and expensive) lawyers. All three thought they could explain their way out from under federal charges. And all three were convicted. Vick can, and probably will, hire some of America's best defense lawyers, but they will face a serious battle.

[5xchampions]

Taking all bets who throws his ass under the bus first? Long time friend, cousin, ex girlfriend, soured better...its going to be hot thats for sure.

[eagle fanatic]

Taking all bets who throws his ass under the bus first? Long time friend, cousin, ex girlfriend, soured better...its going to be hot thats for sure.

More like the other way around. Vick is going to throw everyone else under the bus to try and save his own ass and career. When it comes down to it it will most likely become a pointint match unless these witness's step forward and take the stand.

[HIT MAN]

I just read the indictment from the US District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia. Looks like they may have "Ookie" by the stugots.

[H41L2teh5k1n5]

Taking all bets who throws his ass under the bus first? Long time friend, cousin, ex girlfriend, soured better...its going to be hot thats for sure.


It's too bad we don't have V Bookie up yet, I would love to bet on weather or not he is found guilty, what his plea is, if he gets jail time or nor. There is a lot of points to be won here.

[eagle fanatic]

ATLANTA -- In what has quickly evolved into a collaborative effort that includes the input of officials from the NFL, the NFL Players Association and the Atlanta Falcons, embattled quarterback Michael Vick could be urged to take a voluntary leave of absence to focus his energy on the legal challenges from a federal dogfighting indictment confronting him, sources said Thursday and Friday.

There are, however, two critical components that must be resolved: Falcons owner Arthur Blank must be on board with a plan that has generated considerable discussion at the league level the past two days. And Vick, who might be reluctant to accept even a paid hiatus from the game, might have to be convinced that the leave could be his best option right now.

Blank and the Falcons might also be considering other options.

Under the leave-of-absence scenario, and given the projected timeline of any trial that could ensue from the federal indictments brought against the quarterback Tuesday, all parties would enter into the agreement, if it is consummated, with the expectation that Vick would probably miss the entire 2007 season.

While the concept of a leave has been broached conceptually to associates and advisors of Vick, it has not yet been formally presented to the Falcons star. Vick, 27, could be briefed about the possibility of a paid leave of absence, however, as early as Friday. He would likely be granted time to consider the suggestion, which would almost certainly have to be communicated by Blank, with a decision not coming until early next week.

It has become clear, as high-level discussions have progressed, that all the parties involved in the talks are desperately seeking a resolution to a potential public relations disaster before the Falcons begin training camp next Thursday afternoon. A league source acknowledged Thursday that "something one way or the other is going to have to happen ... by the start of training camp."

As incentive for Vick to consider a leave, the union is hopeful that Blank will offer to guarantee the player's full $6 million base salary for 2007. That could be a sticking point in the negotiations. No one will try to bully Vick into accepting the leave, but he might be reminded that while the league and Falcons are inclined for now to allow due process to play out in the courts, that stance is not an unalterable one, and unfolding events could possibly change the approach of Blank and of commissioner Roger Goodell.

Multiple sources at various levels of the ongoing discussions acknowledged that a consensus was beginning to galvanize that nobody, including Vick, will benefit by the quarterback's playing the 2007 season under a lingering cloud of suspicion and the ponderous legal burden of the federal indictment. In the indictment, Vick is alleged to have conspired in an illegal dogfighting venture conducted on property he owns in Surry County, Va.

Intensive talks continued Thursday with Goodell, Blank, Falcons team president and general manager Rich McKay and NFLPA executive director Gene Upshaw. They discussed the various options available to them, and those discussions are expected to continue Friday.

If convicted on all counts, Vick could face a prison sentence of six years.

Neither Vick nor his attorney or agent could be reached for comment Thursday night. Blank also was unavailable for comment, and a Falcons spokesman referred to the owner's statement released earlier Thursday in which he expressed that "we are working diligently on exploring our options."

"The commissioner is concerned about the seriousness of the charges, and he wants to make sure Vick focuses on putting up the most appropriate defense," a source said. "Vick has to be convinced that it is in his best interests to take a leave of absence ... I think it's fair to say nobody's really comfortable with him playing under these circumstances."

Even a close Vick associate acknowledged early Friday that is the case.

Said the associate: "There's been a lot of stuff going on the last day or so, but the one thing that keeps getting clearer and clearer is that they don't want [Vick] around. The Falcons, the league, they know it's a mess and it's only going to get uglier if camp starts and he's on the field. If he's not [present for camp], at least there's a little bit of 'out of sight, out of mind,' you know? It removes the source of distraction. Otherwise, it's just [untenable]."

A leave of absence would at least temporarily address several possible dilemmas for the Falcons, including how to handle Vick's contract if he does not report to training camp on time. And it would enable the franchise, even if Vick doesn't play in 2007, to retain his contractual rights. Vick is scheduled for a bond hearing and his arraignment hearing Thursday, the same day the Falcons hold their initial camp practice under first-year coach Bobby Petrino.

Without an excused absence, Vick could technically be in default of his contract if he does not report to camp on time, perhaps providing the Falcons the right to attempt to recover bonus money already paid to him. There are default provisions, described by one source with close knowledge of Vick's contract as "very tight language," written into the lucrative 10-year extension he signed in December 2004. Vick advisors spent time Thursday discussing the potential default ramifications with NFLPA officials.

Members of the NFL management council, the labor arm of the league, earlier this week began closely reviewing Vick's contract to see what options might be available to Blank and the Falcons if they try to recover any bonus payments.

The 2004 extension has long been advertised as a 10-year, $130 million contract. In reality, because the final season of the contract voided as soon as Vick reached minimum playing-time thresholds, it is a nine-year deal worth about $118 million. Vick has banked more than $40 million, but $37 million of that was in bonuses -- an initial signing bonus of $7.5 million and then subsequent roster bonuses of $22.5 million and $7 million. But for salary-cap purposes, the Falcons exercised an option to convert the roster bonuses into signing bonuses.

That might seem incidental because Vick got all the money coming to him anyway. But if the Falcons attempt at some point to force Vick into paying back part of the bonus money, how the conversions are interpreted might be a point of contention. A ruling in a grievance case involving former Denver first-round wide receiver Ashley Lelie last year made it more difficult for teams to seek repayment of option or roster bonuses.

Atlanta officials might contend that the two most recent bonuses paid Vick, totaling $29.5 million, were converted to signing bonuses, and that they should be permitted to pursue a prorated share of that money. The Vick camp would likely counter that, while the money was paid as signing bonuses, it was actually earned as roster bonuses.

But any contentiousness, and a possible arbitration hearing, could be avoided if Vick accepts a proposal for a leave of absence, one in which all parties agree he will miss camp.

"It would certainly give everyone some much-needed breathing room," said one league source late Thursday night. "People could get on with their business."

Make no mistake, for both the Falcons and the NFL, there is clearly a business component attached to the Vick case.

The league faces a backlash, not only from animal-rights groups but from others, as well. And in the statement Blank released Thursday, he noted his responsibility to his sponsors. The team recently entered into an agreement with Russell Athletic in which the apparel maker will pay $1 million to $2 million annually to sponsor the Falcons' training camp. It could be a camp disrupted by protests if Vick attends.

In another Vick-related matter, the quarterback's camp has begun interviewing candidates to beef up his legal defense team in the event he goes to trial. Vick's longtime personal attorney, Lawrence Woodward, is expected to remain part of the defense team, but advisors have urged that the Falcons star consider adding counsel with experience in the federal courts.

The Vick camp has solicited recommendations and is believed to have interviewed at least one prominent defender from the prestigious Washington, D.C., firm of Wilmer Hale.

[eagle fanatic]

It's looking likely that Vick won't play this year and if convicted probably would atleast end his Falcons career and possibly his career altogether. Dumbass is gonna loose it all for this.

[eagle fanatic]

RICHMOND, Va. (July 19, 2007) -- When Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick appears in federal court next week on dogfighting charges, he'll go before a judge not impressed by Vick's celebrity and in a court known nationwide for its speedy handling of cases.

Legal experts describe U.S. District Judge Henry E. Hudson as a tough but fair jurist who, in five years on the federal bench, has become known for handing down stiff sentences, for being prepared and for allowing both sides to show their cards.

"Trial lawyers love to appear in his court because he lets the lawyers try their case," defense attorney and former prosecutor William J. Dinkin of Richmond said. "Everyone is going to get their fair shake. He's a very evenhanded trial judge."

Vick's appearance July 26 along with three other defendants will be to enter pleas to charges of competitive dogfighting, procuring and training pit bulls for fighting, and conducting the enterprise across state lines. If convicted of both felony charges, the four face up to six years in prison, fines of up to $350,000 and restitution.

Hudson is "generally known as a hard sentencer," Dinkin said, and is not likely to treat Vick any differently because of his superstar status and $130 million contract.

"He's straight forward, a straight shooter," said Carl Tobias, a law professor at the University of Richmond. "You don't get any special perks because of who you are, and you don't get punished because you aren't somebody who is a public figure."

The Falcons will be conducting their first practice of training camp under a new coach while Vick is in court, and Hudson is unlikely to be influenced at all by that.

"I would not expect Judge Hudson to make any special allowances because Mr. Vick plays in the NFL," said defense lawyer Craig W. Sampson of Richmond, who has had several cases before Hudson. "Virginia courts, both state and federal, are generally very businesslike in the way they run their dockets."

That's especially true of the U.S. District Court in Richmond, which has become known as the "rocket docket" for getting its cases handled expediently.

"They really do move the cases along," Tobias said. "They're no-nonsense."

Sampson said lawyers know going in that their cases won't languish.

"When a case is filed, the judges demand that the lawyers get moving," he said. "Discovery is to be done, hearings scheduled, and the cases heard. No excuses."

The complexity of Vick's case, however, could slow it down, Tobias said.

"You've got four people and a lot of actions in a lot of states and a whole bunch of witnesses. It could be fairly complicated so, on that basis, it may take more time," he said, adding that most federal cases are plea-bargained before getting to court.

Considering the stakes, though, and Vick's ability to afford the best legal team money can buy, it seems unlikely he'll pass on a trial and his possible exoneration.

While Falcons owner Arthur Blank on Thursday echoed the stances of the NFL and the player's union in saying his centerpiece quarterback is due his day in court, Tobias said the grisly allegations in the 18-page indictment are difficult to ignore.

But, for due process to work, they must be, he said.

"What the grand jury certified certainly was extensive and reprehensible, but it's different than being convicted before a jury in a courtroom," he said. "We'll see."

[eagle fanatic]

Summing up what I know and what I think is likely to happen in the Michael Vick dogfighting case this week:

WHAT I KNOW

The league has told Atlanta owner Arthur Blank the disciplinary ball is in his court, and Blank intends to act by disciplining Vick in some way by the end of Tuesday.

No matter what Blank does -- and this is in contrast to the NFL's original statement about letting the judicial process run its course -- commissioner Roger Goodell reserves the right to add on to whatever punitive action Blank will take. Both men can justify acting before Vick's trial in federal court because Vick insisted to Goodell and Blank he had no involvement at the property in question, an assertion that has been shot full of holes by four corroborating witnesses in the case.

Blank spent a couple of days anguishing over the case, and now, I am told, he is thinking about what to do next. He was at his ranch in Montana on Sunday, pondering his options. I am told he feels he has to take a stand and do something to discipline Vick or risk losing face in the eyes of the majority of sponsors and Georgians who back the team.

I also strongly believe new coach Bobby Petrino would rather have a training camp with the much-maligned Joey Harrington as his starting quarterback than have a training camp with Vick as his starter, considering all the attendant problems Vick's presence could cause. Would there be daily picketing by animal-rights groups? Would Vick, the face of the franchise, be booed lustily by most fans? Imagine the nightmare of preparing for the season with the Falcons faithful ripping the home team daily. The team has considered just that possibility.

I know the Falcons are deeply worried about the circus that training camp would be if Vick were on the field. There is concern over security at the 50-acre training-camp site and training complex in Flowery Branch, 40 minutes north of Atlanta. Would metal detectors be needed? Would critical signs be allowed? If Vick were scheduled to take the field on Friday, it's conceivable the Falcons would have to spend thousands -- and work nearly round the clock before then -- to ensure the security and safety of players and fans at camp, and to make sure the team could do its job in some sort of productive and harmonious way. "The work would get done, but I can't imagine getting booed at your own training camp,'' one longtime Falcon told me Saturday. "I guess you'd get used to it, but I don't know.''

And you can take this to the bank: If Vick does not play for any reason relating to the case, he will not earn all of the $6 million he's owed this year in base salary. The Falcons will find a way to take some money away as part of their dissatisfaction with Vick for putting them in this position -- a mess that has ruined any chance they had to be a contender this season. At the end of the day, Blank runs a football business. And imagine his bitterness knowing his franchise player, a player he committed $130 million to just 30 months ago, a player he personally wheeled around the sidelines when Vick broke his leg in 2003, got himself involved in something as distracting and hurtful as a federal dogfighting case.

WHAT I THINK IS LIKELY TO HAPPEN

Teams can levy suspensions of up to four weeks without pay for conduct detrimental to the team. My belief is that Blank is likely to do this to Vick. Players do not get paid their salary during training camp, so it's more likely than not that Blank would levy such a sanction for the first four weeks of the regular season, which would take Vick out of the Falcons games at Minnesota and Jacksonville, then at home against Carolina and Houston. Under this scenario, he would be eligible to return Oct. 7, at Tennessee ... assuming there are no further sanctions from Goodell and the league office. After that, depending on the status of the case (and when it goes to trial), Blank could either have Vick return to the team and begin practicing, or he could give Vick a paid leave of absence because he may feel his presence would be more of a distraction than an aid to winning. Tampa Bay did this with Keyshawn Johnson for the final six games of the 2003 season, in effect paying Johnson to stay away from the team. And Philadelphia did it two seasons ago with Terrell Owens.

Regarding camp, I can't tell you what's going to happen, other than I doubt Vick will be on hand the first day he's available, which would be Friday.

Again, I'm telling you what I think could happen. I don't know what will happen. I don't believe anyone does, because Blank was still mulling what to do Sunday. Through this process, Blank's biggest confidante has been GM Rich McKay. Both were keeping their own counsel and not talking to many outsiders over the weekend -- at least not about anything of substance. "Blank's a very tough read right now,'' I was told Sunday night by someone involved in the Vick discussions.

"This is one of the most slippery slopes I've ever seen the league and a team have to handle,'' one veteran league official told me Sunday. "Nothing is right. Nothing is wrong. The league and the Falcons are going to get killed in the court of public opinion, no matter what they do.''

One more headache down the road: The NFL believes the state of Virginia could file its own charges against Vick. So even if Vick is cleared of all charges in the federal case, his 2008 season -- should there be one for him -- could be clouded by a second case.

THE COLLATERAL DAMAGE

"This case is going to paint football players with a broad brush,'' veteran Houston tight end Mark Bruener told me. "The brush paints a pretty ugly broad stroke on the 97, 98 percent of players in this league who never do anything wrong.''

"To a lot of fans,'' said Tampa Bay cornerback Ronde Barber, "it'll be an indictment on all players, not just one. I think the Falcons or the league has to find a way to ... not make an example of Michael, but to find a way to deal with the embarrassment of it. Something significant.''

And what of the Falcons, and any hope they have for the 2007 season? Several teammates have said they need Vick to have a chance to win. But that's what teammates are bound to say. Said Barber: "Going from Vick to Harrington, and no disrespect to Joey, but it's impossibly different. You're going from the most dynamic quarterback in NFL history to a conventional quarterback. It will change how everyone plays them.''

It will change a lot of things. It already has.