Atlanta Falcon and former Virginia Tech quarterback Michael Vick agreed to plead guilty Monday to federal charges for his role as the ringleader of a dogfighting operation. As Vick awaits what most believe will be a significant prison sentence, the Falcons will be forced to play without Vick, perhaps the most valuable player to his team in all of football. As for the Virginia Tech community, uh, let’s just say Vick’s demise isn’t the saddest thing they’ve ever had to go through. Interestingly, Tuesday the university announced that the banner adorned with the name “Vick” and his number 7 that flies atop Lane Stadium will not be taken down. We forget that when authorities stormed Vick’s Virginia property during a drug investigation in April and found 50 pit bulls, kennels, the infamous “rape stand” and other such dogfighting equipment, Vick played dumb. He claimed he didn’t know why their were all these large cages, dog-killing devices and an apparatus for dog rapes at his house. When his three buddies told authorities they’d rat out their friend and benefactor, Vick had to plead guilty. Not only is Michael Vick a liar, a negligent homeowner and a ruthless animal killer, but he is now the most tragic figure in sports history. O.J. Simpson’s career was over and Maurice Clarett’s career hadn’t begun. Michael Vick threw it all away at the apex of his professional career. And in the most disgusting, unforgivable fashion. As my friend Greg aptly put it, “He would be better off having killed a person.” St. Louis defensive end Leonard Little killed a woman while driving drunk in 1998 and was back on the gridiron that same year. Vick will not be so lucky. He will certainly miss this season and by all expert accounts, Vick will probably be out of the NFL until 2010, when the quarterback will be 30. Who knows if then, whether an NFL team will be shallow enough to sign Vick when he hits the bricks. Though my guess is Michael Vick will return to football, and when he does, I hope his first road game will serve as an over-the-top public shaming. I envision signs depicting dog-drownings, dog barking in place of boos and a hearty chorus of “Who Let the Dogs Out” after every Vick carry.
•Herald Tribune: Vick’s Big Gamble
•WaPo: A Blood Sport Exposed
“He would be better off having killed a person.”
Or two. *coughRayLewiscough*