News / Sports
Michael Vick Barred from Training Camp by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell
It’s been a baptism by fire sort of thing for NFL commissioner Roger Goodell. Having not even been on the job for a year, the man who took over for Paul Tagliabue has had his patience tested with some of the NFL’s elite players. On Monday Goodell laid down the law once more after ordering embattled Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick to stay away from training camp.
Goodell has said that he would like the league to review the case that has been leveled against Vick by the FBI. Vick was indicted on charges related to dogfighting and has been publicly shredded for his involvement in several brutal scenes related to the enterprise he ran.
Speaking about the decision to keep Vick out of camp Goodell stated “While it is for the criminal justice system to determine your guilt or innocence, it is my responsibility as commissioner of the National Football League to determine whether your conduct, even if not criminal, nonetheless violated league policies, including the personal conduct policy.”
It has been that conduct policy that Goodell referenced when handing Adam “Pacman” Jones a one-year suspension and suspending Chris Henry and Tank Johnson for the first eight games of the 2007 NFL season.
As for Vick his problems may not be with the FBI and Goodell alone. Many feel that Falcons owner Arthur Blank may be prepared to release the 27-year-old lefty and be done with the problem. On Monday the Falcons said that going forward Joey Harrington would be the quarterback.
Vick is to be arraigned on Thursday in Richmond, Va. along with three other men who have been alleged to be involved in sponsoring the dogfighting operation.
If convicted Vick could spend up to six years in prison and faces $350,000 in fines.
