# Vick pleads guilty, but wants to know what his career options are. **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 20, 2007, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vick-pleads-guilty-but-wants-to-know-what-his-career-options-are/416278 "2007-08-20T18:54:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![BaneSidhe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c5a1d2/32.png) [@BaneSidhe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BaneSidhe)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2007, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vick-pleads-guilty-but-wants-to-know-what-his-career-options-are/416278/61 "2007-08-21T03:58:25Z")
Yeah, he has gazillions but if he’s as foolish as I believe he is, it ain’t gonna last long. ---
**Author:** ![Soapbox\_Monkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ed655f/32.png) [@Soapbox\_Monkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Soapbox_Monkey)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2007, 4:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vick-pleads-guilty-but-wants-to-know-what-his-career-options-are/416278/62 "2007-08-21T04:41:46Z")
[QUOTE=Trunk] I thought that was unclear. I could see him getting banned for a season, or 8 games. Some have said, they really frown on the illegal gambling, so that could hurt him. I don’t think the NFL has said what his punishment will be. [/QUOTE] Given Goodell’s strict nature, and the fact that Michael Vick _personally_ lied to him when he claimed he was not aware of any dog fighting activities on his property, I don’t think Roger will ever let him play in the NFL again. And I would agree with him. ---
**Author:** ![installLSC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/54ee81/32.png) [@installLSC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/installLSC)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2007, 5:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vick-pleads-guilty-but-wants-to-know-what-his-career-options-are/416278/63 "2007-08-21T05:52:34Z")
FWIW, I’ve been listening to sports radio most of the day and they seem to agree Vick will be suspended for at least a year after he is let out of prison. (This matches what happened to the Bears’ Tank Johnson, who was suspended for several games after being released from prison.) He will then have to reapply to Commissioner Roger Gadell for reinstatement. Whether he is reinstated after a year depends on his post-prison conduct and whether allegations of extensive betting on dogfighting are proven. Considering how rusty he would be after 2-3 years out, the fact Vick’s skills almost require you to totally change your team’s style of play, and that it’s hard for a team to sink millions into a pariah like Vick, the odds are he’ll only return as a cheaply paid backup. ---
**Author:** ![phungi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/phungi/32/395_2.png) [@phungi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phungi)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2007, 12:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vick-pleads-guilty-but-wants-to-know-what-his-career-options-are/416278/64 "2007-08-21T12:09:41Z")
[QUOTE=silenus] At this point, Vick’s career options should be limited to working the fryer or the take-out window. [/QUOTE] He will likely have a guaranteed “position” during his term in prison, serving one of the cell block leaders… ---
**Author:** ![BarnOwl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e95f7d/32.png) [@BarnOwl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BarnOwl)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2007, 12:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vick-pleads-guilty-but-wants-to-know-what-his-career-options-are/416278/65 "2007-08-21T12:12:27Z")
Unless I misunderestimate the NFL’s corporate greed, Vick won’t suffer a permanent ban. He packs fannies into football stadiums. So, when he gets out after his 1 year sentence or less, we’ll get a wave of repentance, and a tsunami of PR that he’s suffered enough. Then back he’ll come. If I’m proven wrong I’ll be…uh…fool me twice, you ain’t gonna fool me again. ---
**Author:** ![AndyPolley](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/54ee81/32.png) [@AndyPolley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AndyPolley)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2007, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vick-pleads-guilty-but-wants-to-know-what-his-career-options-are/416278/66 "2007-08-21T13:28:05Z")
[QUOTE=BarnOwl] Unless I misunderestimate the NFL’s corporate greed, Vick won’t suffer a permanent ban. He packs fannies into football stadiums. [/QUOTE] I’m not sure he’ll have a stadium full of fans any time soon. The NFL _is_ about the mighty dollar first, and I think that’s why Vick will never play again. The powers that be of the NFL are beginning to understand the value of how the league is perceived. There’s long-term value in folks not thinking that every NFL player is a felony waiting to happen. Just look at the commercials that are designed to remind you that they team up work with the United Way doing great things like building playgrounds and cleaning up New Orleans ect… They do that for a reason, to convince you that there are more good guys in the league than bad. I think the new commissioner looked at the perception of the league and determined that something had to change. Right now the goal of the NFL is not to have Vick, or any one player, put fannies in the seats, it’s for the Falcons (or any team) to do it. Further, it’s for folks at home across the world to care. Those potential fans will care more when they hear that Vick won’t be allowed to play, than the current fans will care less. How many Falcon fans are running to Vick’s defense? On the subject of being allowed to work after you’ve served your time…the NFL is an elite organization. Let Vick play Arena league football, or better yet, get an honest job, but there’s no reason whatsoever to let him (or any convicted felons) play again. ---
**Author:** ![EddyTeddyFreddy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eddyteddyfreddy/32/18796_2.png) [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2007, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vick-pleads-guilty-but-wants-to-know-what-his-career-options-are/416278/67 "2007-08-21T13:39:55Z")
[QUOTE=installLSC] whether allegations of extensive betting on dogfighting are proven. [/QUOTE] Correct me, please, if I’m wrong, but aren’t there state criminal charges being prepared against him? _Googling_ [Ah. So there are.](http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2979518) Assuming that the plea on the federal charges has no bearing on what the Virginia AG decides to do, Vick could be in a lot more legal trouble, trouble that could make moot any speculation about his future after federal prison. > [@](#): > > The specific charges to be filed haven’t been decided yet, but Poindexter said some evidence gathered in the federal case against Vick could be used against the Falcons quarterback. > > Dogfighting and animal cruelty are felonies in Virginia with animal cruelty charges holding penalties of up to five years in jail for each animal killed. > > “The execution of these animals – and the manner in which they were executed – is startlingly offensive and demanding of prosecution,” Poindexter told the newspaper. ---
**Author:** ![Bearflag70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Bearflag70](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bearflag70)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2007, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vick-pleads-guilty-but-wants-to-know-what-his-career-options-are/416278/68 "2007-08-21T14:48:12Z")
I hope opposing teams playing Falcons’ away games dig up a bunch of dog-themed music to blast over the loudspeakers. Who Let the Dogs Out? Hound Dog etc. ---
**Author:** ![Euthanasiast](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Euthanasiast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euthanasiast)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2007, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vick-pleads-guilty-but-wants-to-know-what-his-career-options-are/416278/69 "2007-08-21T14:52:43Z")
Is it possible that Vick is pleading to the criminal charges of cruelty to animals in return for the guarantee that the DA will not come after him for the gambling charges, thus keeping his career intact? ---
**Author:** ![Xema](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/9de053/32.png) [@Xema](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xema)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2007, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vick-pleads-guilty-but-wants-to-know-what-his-career-options-are/416278/70 "2007-08-21T15:07:52Z")
[QUOTE=Euthanasiast] … in return for the guarantee that the DA will not come after him for the gambling charges, thus keeping his career intact? [/QUOTE] I doubt the NFL would subscribe to the idea that gambling is okay so long as you can avoid a conviction. ---
**Author:** ![Amok](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f17d59/32.png) [@Amok](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amok)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2007, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vick-pleads-guilty-but-wants-to-know-what-his-career-options-are/416278/71 "2007-08-21T15:23:08Z")
I guess the real lesson here is don’t mess with people’s pets. Ray Lewis helped cover up a murder and it didn’t generate this much outrage. :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Euthanasiast](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Euthanasiast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euthanasiast)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2007, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vick-pleads-guilty-but-wants-to-know-what-his-career-options-are/416278/72 "2007-08-21T15:38:40Z")
[QUOTE=Xema] I doubt the NFL would subscribe to the idea that gambling is okay so long as you can avoid a conviction. [/QUOTE] nevermind. ---
**Author:** ![BarnOwl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e95f7d/32.png) [@BarnOwl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BarnOwl)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2007, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vick-pleads-guilty-but-wants-to-know-what-his-career-options-are/416278/73 "2007-08-21T16:03:35Z")
I hope you idealists are proven right - that Vick goes to jail and is banned forever from the NFL. But if you’re proven wrong, I certainly won’t crow about it. I’ll just mourn. ---
**Author:** ![Lochdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/edb3f5/32.png) [@Lochdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lochdale)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2007, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vick-pleads-guilty-but-wants-to-know-what-his-career-options-are/416278/74 "2007-08-21T18:26:03Z")
[QUOTE=Amok] I guess the real lesson here is don’t mess with people’s pets. Ray Lewis helped cover up a murder and it didn’t generate this much outrage. :eek: [/QUOTE] In fairness it did but he was found not guilty. I’m not sure Vick will play again but not for any more reasons. In fact, I don’t really think Vick is that good. He’s a great scrambler but a mediocre passer. As such, several years out of the league will slow him down significantly which means he’ll have to rely on a passing game he doesn’t have. ---
**Author:** ![Who\_me\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/958977/32.png) [@Who\_me\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Who_me_1)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2007, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vick-pleads-guilty-but-wants-to-know-what-his-career-options-are/416278/75 "2007-08-21T18:38:01Z")
I think he should do whatever sentence the judge pronounces then do whatever someone will hire him to do. If the NFL lets him back, so be it. ---
**Author:** ![An\_Arky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/87869e/32.png) [@An\_Arky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Arky)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2007, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vick-pleads-guilty-but-wants-to-know-what-his-career-options-are/416278/76 "2007-08-21T18:43:50Z")
In the strange bedfellows dept., PETA is loving this Vick stuff, as it’s giving their cause the kind of publicity money can’t even buy. [Cite.](http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/football/nfl/08/20/vick.advocates.ap/index.html) On the other hand, it’s probably just going to encourage a whole bunch of dumbass ghetto thugs to do it for the “outlaw” factor. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Swallowed\_My\_Cellphone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9d8465/32.png) [@Swallowed\_My\_Cellphone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Swallowed_My_Cellphone)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2007, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vick-pleads-guilty-but-wants-to-know-what-his-career-options-are/416278/77 "2007-08-21T19:11:16Z")
[QUOTE=D\_Odds] I wouldn’t want him to be permanently jobless once he’s an ex-con. When he’s paid the price the law says is currently adequate (and I’m offering no opinion on whether it truly is adequate or not), once paid in full, an ex-con should have and needs a way to re-integrate into society. Should Vick’s conspirators be similarly permanently barred from any legal employment they may have had? [/QUOTE] But he wouldn’t be denied _any_ legal employment. He would only lose the opportunity for _that particular job_ (football) He could get any job that allows ex cons to work. There are many different jobs that are restricted to ex-cons. Convicted lawyers can be disbarred, the armed services don’t want you (notwithstanding the newer flexibility they have on that issue in their desperation to get new recruits), and good luck getting a job as a cop, bank teller, or any number of jobs that require you to be bondable. Just because he may not be allowed back in the NFL does not mean he is being denied “any legal employment”. ---
**Author:** ![EddyTeddyFreddy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eddyteddyfreddy/32/18796_2.png) [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2007, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vick-pleads-guilty-but-wants-to-know-what-his-career-options-are/416278/78 "2007-08-21T19:34:16Z")
Question: Given that his main talent as a QB appears to be his scrambling ability, then assuming he can re-enter professional football at all, might he try to come back as a ball carrier\* rather than QB, if the glamour position turns out not to be available to him? \*Is that a running back? I haven’t paid attention to football in a long time and have forgotten a lot of the terminology. :o ---
**Author:** ![Contrapuntal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e274bd/32.png) [@Contrapuntal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrapuntal)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2007, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vick-pleads-guilty-but-wants-to-know-what-his-career-options-are/416278/79 "2007-08-21T19:37:19Z")
[QUOTE=EddyTeddyFreddy] Question: Given that his main talent as a QB appears to be his scrambling ability, then assuming he can re-enter professional football at all, might he try to come back as a ball carrier\* rather than QB, if the glamour position turns out not to be available to him? \*Is that a running back? I haven’t paid attention to football in a long time and have forgotten a lot of the terminology. :o [/QUOTE] At an ESPN roundtable type discussion yesterday, Emmit Smith made exactly that point, although he predicted that Vick might be a wide receiver. ---
**Author:** ![Amok](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f17d59/32.png) [@Amok](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amok)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2007, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vick-pleads-guilty-but-wants-to-know-what-his-career-options-are/416278/80 "2007-08-21T19:44:41Z")
[QUOTE=Lochdale] In fairness it did but he was found not guilty. [/QUOTE] No, Lewis struck a deal, had the murder charge against him dropped (apparently there was little evidence that he was personally involved, though he had been present, according to his own testimony), plead to obstruction of justice and testified against his friends. Then his friends were found not guilty. But that doesn’t change what he plead to. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vick-pleads-guilty-but-wants-to-know-what-his-career-options-are/416278.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vick-pleads-guilty-but-wants-to-know-what-his-career-options-are/416278.md?page=5)