# Michael Vick = idiot! **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [July 17, 2007, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-vick-idiot/412198 "2007-07-17T23:50:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Contrapuntal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e274bd/32.png) [@Contrapuntal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrapuntal)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2007, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-vick-idiot/412198/61 "2007-07-18T17:00:25Z")
[QUOTE=Spit] “Nifonging” is meant in the more general “justice fuckup”. I shouldn’t have been so vague. [/QUOTE] It’s a brand new attribution, so you may dispute my cite, but IMO there needs to be an element of malicious prosecution. [Link.](http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=nifong) ---
**Author:** ![Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8edcca/32.png) [@Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hentor_the_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2007, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-vick-idiot/412198/62 "2007-07-18T17:13:20Z")
That is an awful shame. My son has been a fan of his since he was a pup. ---
**Author:** ![garygnu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garygnu/32/2924_2.png) [@garygnu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garygnu)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2007, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-vick-idiot/412198/63 "2007-07-18T17:27:17Z")
[QUOTE=Hentor the Barbarian] …My son has been a fan of his since he was a pup. [/QUOTE] Don’t let your son near Mr. Vick then. Allegedly. ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2007, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-vick-idiot/412198/64 "2007-07-18T17:43:09Z")
[QUOTE=Enginerd] I think an even bigger threat than that is the loss of a shitload of money. Recently, NFL arbitrators have ruled in favor of teams trying to recover signing bonuses from players who retired unexpectedly or who were unable to play due to their own criminal conduct - Ricky Williams is the prime example. Vick is playing under a nine year contract that he signed in December of 2004, and he’s received about $37 million in bonuses. He’s only played out two years of that contract, leaving seven years remaining. If he’s suspended or incarcerated, the Falcons could potentially sue him for 78% of that $37 million, or almost $28.8 million. Anybody think Vick has that much cash in the bank in case he has to give it back? [/QUOTE] He did not get that money. NFL contracts are not guaranteed. When you see a contract announced note the signing bonus. That is the real money. After that if he gets cut they do not owe him the contract money. He is paid yearly after the bonus and they can stop paying him if he gets cut. When Barry Sanders quit the Lions ,the Lions sued to get back the signing bonus. They figured even the bonus should be amortized for the length of the contract . He signed ,received his bonus and quit 2 years into the contract. The Lions wanted 5/7 of his bonus back. ---
**Author:** ![Stuffy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f17d59/32.png) [@Stuffy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stuffy)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2007, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-vick-idiot/412198/65 "2007-07-18T18:07:43Z")
[QUOTE=drm] Frankly, I’m not a huge fan of their policy (whatever it may be). It smells to me of people making things up as they go along. They need something in stone otherwise crap like this is going to keep coming up. [/QUOTE] They [do](http://www.nflpa.org/RulesAndRegs/ConductPolicy.aspx). ---
**Author:** ![drm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a88e57/32.png) [@drm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drm)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2007, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-vick-idiot/412198/66 "2007-07-18T18:13:31Z")
[QUOTE=Stuffy] They [do](http://www.nflpa.org/RulesAndRegs/ConductPolicy.aspx). [/QUOTE] Huh, not the first time I’ve been wrong. I learned something today. ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2007, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-vick-idiot/412198/67 "2007-07-18T18:22:26Z")
[QUOTE=gonzomax] He did not get that money. NFL contracts are not guaranteed. When you see a contract announced note the signing bonus. That is the real money. [/QUOTE] The $37 million _is_ the signing bonus. The total contract is $130 million. The signing bonus _is_ guaranteed. ---
**Author:** ![whole\_bean](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/96bed5/32.png) [@whole\_bean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whole_bean)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2007, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-vick-idiot/412198/68 "2007-07-18T18:36:08Z")
[QUOTE=spoke-] The $37 million _is_ the signing bonus. The total contract is $130 million. The signing bonus _is_ guaranteed. [/QUOTE] **gonzomax** is wrong on more than just that. I’m sure someone will correct me if I am wrong, but generally, where a player has a contract he can’t get cut (i.e. fail to make the team because of ability, despite being healthy – not to be confused with being let go for some other reason that would nullify the contract (like being imprisoned)). If a player with a contract gets “cut,” the team still has to pay him or it has breached it’s contract. To avoid this, a team will buyout a contract, sometimes at a discount, since the player can’t play elswehere if he’s under contract. Sanders was a different story. He didn’t get cut. He quit/retired (i.e he breached the contract) so the Lions didn’t have to pay him. If he could get “cut” out from under a contract, a player would have almost no incentive to enter into one. ---
**Author:** ![villa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/bc79bd/32.png) [@villa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/villa)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2007, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-vick-idiot/412198/69 "2007-07-18T19:00:20Z")
No - very few NFL “contracts” are guaranteed. In the NBA, you cannot be cut, IIRC. In the NFL, they can let you go and you get nothing. ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2007, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-vick-idiot/412198/70 "2007-07-18T19:04:49Z")
Here’s an article from the AJC with more details on Vick’s contract, and how this incident may affect it: [How Binding Is Vick’s Contract?](http://www.ajc.com/sports/content/sports/falcons/stories/2007/07/09/0710vick.html) ---
**Author:** ![David\_Simmons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9de053/32.png) [@David\_Simmons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/David_Simmons)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2007, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-vick-idiot/412198/71 "2007-07-18T19:17:43Z")
I blame General Managers and coaches. It’s highly unlikely that these guys turn into antisocial pricks overnight upon joining the NFL. GMs and coaches don’t look for such traits and don’t care as long as the guy can throw a football into a three gallon bucket at 60 yards or do the 40 in 4.2. ---
**Author:** ![whole\_bean](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/96bed5/32.png) [@whole\_bean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whole_bean)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2007, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-vick-idiot/412198/72 "2007-07-18T19:18:30Z")
[QUOTE=villa] No - very few NFL “contracts” are guaranteed. In the NBA, you cannot be cut, IIRC. In the NFL, they can let you go and you get nothing. [/QUOTE] really? their player association sucks. color me surprised. out of curiousity, do you have a cite for that? ---
**Author:** ![Trunk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/87869e/32.png) [@Trunk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trunk)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2007, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-vick-idiot/412198/73 "2007-07-18T19:21:29Z")
[QUOTE=zamboniracer] [Free legal advice] Vick should do himself a favor and turn state’s evidence if it isn’t too late to do so. [End free legal advice] [/QUOTE] I sort of get the feeling that Vick himself is the subject of the investigation. Not just another person implicated by an interstate dog fighting ring. A high-profile target to scare other people from doing what he did. Maybe? ---
**Author:** ![villa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/bc79bd/32.png) [@villa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/villa)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2007, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-vick-idiot/412198/74 "2007-07-18T19:24:01Z")
[QUOTE=whole bean] really? their player association sucks. color me surprised. out of curiousity, do you have a cite for that? [/QUOTE] > **[Adam Vinatieri Signs Historical Guaranteed Contract](https://www.neilcornrich.com/2002/08/adam-vinatieri-signs-historical.html)** > > NFL peace guaranteed, salaries aren't Aug. 12-18, 2002 In the swelter of twice-daily practices in the August sun, nothing quite focuses the ... [http://www.askthecommish.com/salarycap/faq.asp](http://www.askthecommish.com/salarycap/faq.asp) (1.7c) ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Plastic\_Ninja](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f07891/32.png) [@Little\_Plastic\_Ninja](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Plastic_Ninja)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2007, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-vick-idiot/412198/75 "2007-07-18T19:30:42Z")
[QUOTE=dropzone] I don’t have any money riding on him being possible a Nobel winner. [NPR exerpted an interview with Fox Sports:](http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=12056318) The normal response to that question can range from a devout, “If the good Lord is willing,” to a bombastic, “Hell, yeah!” It’s never, “No comment.” The pause was short but, with his response, telling: He had no idea what “exonerated” means. I would think that had been covered in NFL Boot Camp, but he might’ve been sick that day. [/QUOTE] Yeah, when I heard that little interview snippet my lip curled. I actually came in here to post that quote. He might be innocent, conceivably, in the sense that it might not rain on a 90% chance day. But if he ever wanted to make anyone think he was innocent, he should have sounded convinced of his OWN innocence – not just his own popularity – when he did that interview. It’s not “I have nothing to worry about because I’m patently innocent,” it’s “I have nothing to worry about because I’m popular.” You’d figure his lawyer would tell him what exonerated means if he didn’t already know. Or at least his lawyer would’ve told him what to say before going out into public. Why couldn’t he have even _tried_ to sound innocent? Maybe he’s too honest? ---
**Author:** ![OneCentStamp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/13edae/32.png) [@OneCentStamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OneCentStamp)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2007, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-vick-idiot/412198/76 "2007-07-18T19:31:43Z")
[QUOTE=Little Plastic Ninja] Maybe he’s too honest? [/QUOTE] I just think that at the time, he didn’t realize how much trouble he could be in. Maybe he _still_ doesn’t. ---
**Author:** ![whole\_bean](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/96bed5/32.png) [@whole\_bean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whole_bean)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2007, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-vick-idiot/412198/77 "2007-07-18T19:32:28Z")
[QUOTE=villa] > **[Adam Vinatieri Signs Historical Guaranteed Contract](https://www.neilcornrich.com/2002/08/adam-vinatieri-signs-historical.html)** > > NFL peace guaranteed, salaries aren't Aug. 12-18, 2002 In the swelter of twice-daily practices in the August sun, nothing quite focuses the ... [http://www.askthecommish.com/salarycap/faq.asp](http://www.askthecommish.com/salarycap/faq.asp) (1.7c) [/QUOTE] yeah, huh, what do you know? my appologies **gonzomax**. thanks, **villa**. let me reiterate, what a shitty player’s asociation. ---
**Author:** ![saoirse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5daacb/32.png) [@saoirse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saoirse)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2007, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-vick-idiot/412198/78 "2007-07-18T19:33:53Z")
[QUOTE=David Simmons] I blame General Managers and coaches. It’s highly unlikely that these guys turn into antisocial pricks overnight upon joining the NFL. GMs and coaches don’t look for such traits and don’t care as long as the guy can throw a football into a three gallon bucket at 60 yards or do the 40 in 4.2. [/QUOTE] Don’t leave the colleges out, though. Is that what we should expect from Virginia Tech graduates? ---
**Author:** ![whole\_bean](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/96bed5/32.png) [@whole\_bean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whole_bean)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2007, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-vick-idiot/412198/79 "2007-07-18T19:35:14Z")
[QUOTE=saoirse] Don’t leave the colleges out, though. Is that what we should expect from Virginia Tech graduates? [/QUOTE] too soon ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2007, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-vick-idiot/412198/80 "2007-07-18T19:53:51Z")
[QUOTE=David Simmons] GMs and coaches don’t look for such traits and don’t care as long as the guy can throw a football into a three gallon bucket at 60 yards or do the 40 in 4.2. [/QUOTE] Do fans care? Not to remove the accountability of the coaches or the players, but… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-vick-idiot/412198.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-vick-idiot/412198.md?page=5)