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Fri. Aug 24, 2007

Vick Tries To Pull A Clinton

The attempted spin on events was clear from the moment the news hit the wires Friday afternoon. The word was that Michael Vick would plead guilty, but would not outright admit to either gambling or killing dogs. Talking heads with legal degrees were saying this was a major coup by Vick’s lawyers.

Steve Sadow, a prominent Atlanta defense attorney who has followed the case, said he believes Vick’s attorneys agreed to the careful phrasing in the summary of facts to help them with their negotiations with the NFL and for public relations.

“It’s important because of the NFL’s gambling policy,” Sadow said. “The fact that Michael Vick did not admit to personally killing any dogs in the plea agreement will also have, in my opinion, virtually no significance in the criminal case regarding his ultimate sentence. It’s more of a public relations move.”

The agreement says Vick was involved in the execution of dogs because his co-defendants have told the government that Vick participated in it, Sadow noted.

“Vick’s position clearly is that he didn’t kill any dogs,” Sadow said. “But the government wasn’t going to agree with that. So, rather than letting that be the hang up, they figured out language both sides could live with. Now, Vick can stand before his public and claim he never killed any dogs.”

AJC: Vick signs plea, admits to sponsoring operation

You can hear the same spin in the only statement so far from the Vick camp:

“While Mr. Vick is not personally charged with or responsible for committing all of the acts alleged in the indictment, as with any conspiracy charge, he is taking full responsibility for his actions and the actions of the others involved,” the defense team said in a written statement after the plea agreement was filed.

“Mr. Vick apologizes for his poor judgment in associating himself with those involved in dog fighting and realizes he should never have been involved in this conduct,” the statement said.

NFL suspends Michael Vick indefinitely

Now, I read the 22 page PDF of the plea agreement, and the above spin makes my head twirl. It does not reconcile with the document. At all.

Gambling? “VICK agrees that the ‘Bad Newz Kennels’ business enterprise involved gambling [...] Most of the ‘Bad Newz Kennels’ operation and gambling monies were provided by VICK.”

On what planet is that not gambling? The plea notes Vick did not place additional side bets on the fights (because that would be wrong!), but he laid down the main money for the big purse required to enter a dog in the fight. And paid out as much as $23,000 on a loss. That’s not just gambling, for many people that’s about a half year’s income.

Killing dogs? The agreement notes that in 2002 Vick was aware the other three “partners” killed some dogs that did not “test” well, and pointedly says “VICK did not kill any dogs at this time.” I read that as an insisted inclusion by defense lawyers, while the prosecutor insisted on those last three words, “at this time.” Because in April of this year, mere weeks before he told us all that he had nothing to do with any of this, and never set foot on the property…

“PEACE, PHILLIPS, and VICK agreed to the killing of approximately 6-8 dogs that did not perform well in ‘testing’ sessions at 1915 Moonlight Road and all of those dogs were killed by various methods, including hanging and drowning. VICK agrees and stipulates that these dogs all died all a result of the collective efforts of PEACE, PHILLIPS, and VICK.”

After “agreeing and stipulating” to the above, for Vick to claim he did not kill dogs is like Bill Clinton claiming he “did not have sexual relations with that woman,” because a blowjob isn’t like real sex. It just doesn’t parse anywhere except in the head of the guilty.

But all day Friday, it sure sounded like they were going to try and make that fly, and hope those carefully crafted phrases would make a difference with the NFL, or at least give them pause. Within hours, Commissioner Goodell showed that I’m not the only one refusing delivery on this spin:

Following are excerpts from Commissioner Goodell’s letter to Vick:

“Your admitted conduct was not only illegal, but also cruel and reprehensible. Your team, the NFL, and NFL fans have all been hurt by your actions.”

“Your plea agreement and the plea agreements of your co-defendants also demonstrate your significant involvement in illegal gambling. Even if you personally did not place bets, as you contend, your actions in funding the betting and your association with illegal gambling both violate the terms of your NFL Player Contract and expose you to corrupting influences in derogation of one of the most fundamental responsibilities of an NFL player.”

“You have engaged in conduct detrimental to the welfare of the NFL and have violated the league’s Personal Conduct Policy.”

“I have advised the Falcons that, with my decision today, they are no longer prohibited from acting and are now free to assert any claims or remedies available to them under the Collective Bargaining Agreement or your NFL Player Contract.”

AJC: NFL suspends Vick indefinitely

Suspended indefinitely by the NFL. Facing a certain 12-18 months and a judge who sometimes goes higher. Hearing state prosecutors talk about piling on, and using the phrase “up to 40 years” a lot. Waiting for papers to be served by the Atlanta Falcons, who now have the commissioner’s permission to sue to get their $22 million signing bonus back.

However bad your weekend is, Michael Vick’s is worse.

And it’s not going to get better any time soon, not by his own actions. In the comments to this article, we talked a bit about redemption. And I mentioned that one of the prerequisites for redemption was an honest confession followed by copious displays of genuine remorse.

Meanwhile, Michael and his team are laying the groundwork for a claim that he didn’t really gamble or kill dogs. It was just a little conspiracy, and he “apologizes for his poor judgment in associating himself with those involved in dog fighting.” Because it was those other guys that did all the bad stuff, don’t ya know?

And here’s another thing. Redemption never ever comes via a statement through your lawyers. Maybe someday Michael will stand before the cameras like his former bosses did, and tell the press to “ask all the questions you want, we’ll bring in pizza, but after today, no more.” Maybe he will publicly pour out what’s really in his heart.

Excuse me while I turn blue holding my breath waiting. I don’t think we’ll ever see that. Because I don’t think he’s got it in him. He has moved from months of outright lying to legal dissembling.

Genuine remorse? That might come late at night about midway through his sentence. But I really doubt that you or I will hear about it.