NFL has to bench Vick now
By Terry Frei
Denver Post Columnist
Article Last Updated: 07/19/2007 10:06:43 AM MDT

About Michael Vick …

Suspend the jerk.

I tend to be a contrarian, and I tried not to join the bandwagon on this one. Among many other things, I was going to ask: Didn’t the Duke lacrosse mess remind us that charges in a grand jury indictment aren’t automatically true? In a market in which many of us justifiably excoriate Barry Bonds as a disgrace, yet many fans and (even more disgracefully) newspaper writers still portray Bill Romanowski as a charming rogue, can’t we at least wonder about our adjustable standards?

Those still are points to ponder. But the disturbing information in the federal grand jury indictment against the Atlanta Falcons quarterback and three others is overwhelming. Vick is

Blogs
Visit Terry Frei’s new blog on All Things Colorado Sports.
Visit All Things Avs to which Frei contributes.
convincingly linked to the horrific dogfighting operation on his property in rural Virginia, mocking his Who, me? claims of innocence.
This is not a dishonorable district attorney taking advantage of a malleable local grand jury. It stems from a careful federal proceeding, and the paucity of leaks was such that there were erroneous reports in recent days that Vick wouldn’t be indicted.

Under the NFL’s heightened off-field conduct standards, commissioner Roger Goodell has been willing to judge in advance of the frequently glacial legal system, and that’s another justification for him suspending Vick. He’s done it before, and everyone understands that it’s now as much a part of the NFL system as instant replay.

Yes, I believe the worst. Vick is a scumbag. The Falcons even would be well-advised to suspend him before Goodell has to step in.

On Wednesday, I called my brother, David, in New York to get his perspective. Why? He followed our father into the NFL, working as a public-relations executive with both the Broncos and the 49ers before moving into his own PR agency and the restaurant business. He also is the longtime television analyst on the Westminster Kennel Club and National dog shows, and he now is the full-time director of communications for the WKC. He and his wife, Cheri, walk their Brittany spaniels on the Upper East Side and are involved in programs utilizing dogs in hospital therapy work.

Michael Vick and people like him in all of this - and I guess we need to say ‘allegedly’ - are supposed to be great warriors, Dave said. They should understand that having a dog fighting to the death is not what a warrior is all about, especially if they’re the ones making it happen. The reality is people look up to these guys.

We’re going to hear that it’s the ‘culture’ and those kinds of things. Well, it’s not a ‘culture’ to have a loyal, brave and courageous animal fight to the death so we can be entertained or gamble on it. That’s not what entertainment, that’s not what being a warrior is all about. It’s sickening.

What about all these kids out there in those number 7 jerseys? You’re going to tell them that it’s OK? It’s a proven fact that someone who’s involved in animal abuse as a youngster, as they get older they’re more prone to be involved in domestic abuse - or worse. They don’t have any regard for living things. Those people who are involved are all cowards.

In 2006, the WKC’s best in show winner was a colored bull terrier, Rufus. The unfortunate offshoot of misuse and irresponsible breeding of bull terriers is that the pit bull label often is indiscriminately applied, even in local laws that ban specific breeds - as Denver does. Fact is, while the United Kennel Club registers an American pit bull terrier, it’s more of a contrived term than it is a specific breed, and the more predominant American Kennel Club doesn’t follow suit. Pit bulls - the dogs used in fighting, or simply as an alleged confirmation of an owner’s toughness - are mixed breeds, most often starting with a Staffordshire bull terrier as a base.

There are some cities in this country where Rufus can’t go, Dave said. But I’ve been all kinds of places with this dog and he loves everybody.

Yet the bull terrier and the offshoots, Dave said, at first were bred to be protectors. But because they’re loyal and courageous and tough, if they fall into the wrong hands, people can redirect those personality traits and that temperament to be aggressive. It’s too bad, because they can be the most loving, happy pets. But we’re walking down the street in New York, and there are too many of them. People have them who shouldn’t have them. If you need a macho dog to show you’re macho, you’re not.

Some of these guys seem to think they can get a dog like that and put a bunch of chains on it and walk down the street with it on a 10-foot leash, wreaking havoc, that’s some recognition that they’re tough guys.

Suspending Vick in advance of the legal system’s verdict might do little to chip away at that mentality, but it’s the right thing for the NFL to do.

Staff writer Terry Frei can be reached at 303-954-1895 or tfrei@denverpost.com.

Every time i see the Falcons Panthers play, the light up the score board..and its always a good game..no matter which team is good or bad…why…i mean even wen the Panthers went to the Super bowl in 03..the falcons had a bad season but still maganed to make a game out of it…beating Carolina 20-14(OT) in the middle of the season…why do these two always play good against each other?

who you think each team will draft

Miami Dolphins Jake Long
St.Louis Rams
Atlanta Falcons
Oakland Raiders
Kansas City Chiefs
New York Jets
New England Patriots
Baltimore Ravens
Cincinnati Bengals
New Orleans Saints
Buffalo Bills
Denver Broncos
Carolina Panthers
Chicago Bears
Detroit Lions
Arizona Cardinals
Kansas City Chiefs
Houston Texans
Philadelphia Eagles
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Washington Redskins
Dallas Cowboys
Pittsburgh Steelers
Tennessee Titans
Seattle Seahawks
Jacksonville Jaguars
San Diego Chargers
Dallas Cowboys
San Francisco 49ers
Green Bay Packers
Super Bowl 42 Champions New York Giants

who do you think each team will draft

or you can pick your favorite team and tell me who you think they draft thru the rounds

Tribute to Mike Vick and the Atlanta Falcons

Here’s the situation…An adult male boxer is allowed to run free in a fenced-in yard adjacent to our property. He’s a very endearing, friendly albeit desperately lonely dog while his owner (no…NOT a quarterback playing for the Atlanta Falcons) is ensconced in the Atlanta Federal Penitentiary for alleged firearms violations. Well, suffice to say, the owner has been in the Pen since this past March and the case is no where near a resolution. Relatives of the owner come by every so often to feed this solitary, dejected dog but offer little if any companionship. All these many months we would hear his lonesome cries and forlorn barking knowing something should be done, but not knowing exactly what since we have our hands full with small children and their skittish kittens. We’ve even made certain this piteous boxer had sufficient water given the severe drought conditions here in the Atlanta area, but, it’s now dipping into the frosty temps and boxers don’t have a very thick coat.
Ya’ll can have a more enjoyable weekend knowing I’ve been calling and emailing all the great contacts you so generously contributed to the cause of the ‘lonely boxer’…soon to be Rescued Boxer__THANKS SO MUCH ALL !!!

One of last year’s suprising teams, the Falcons, get a B.

AFC:

AFC North:
1. Pittsburgh Steelers- 11-5 (3)
2. Baltimore Ravens- 10-6
3. Cleveland Browns- 8-8
4. Cincinatti Bengals- 6-10

AFC South:
1. Indianapolis Colts- 13-3 (1)
2. Houston Texans- 11-5 (6)
3. Tennesee Titans- 8-8
4. Jacksonville Jaguars- 6-10

AFC East:
1. New England Patriots- 12-4 (2)
2. Miami Dolphins- 11-5 (5)
3. Buffalo Bills- 9-7
4. New York Jets- 7-9

AFC West:
1. Oakland Raiders- 10-6 (4)
2. San Diego Chargers- 8-8
3. Denver Broncos- 7-9
4. Kansas City Chiefs- 4-12

NFC:

NFC North:
1. Green Bay Packers- 11-5 (3)
2. Chicago Bears- 9-7
3. Minnesota Vikings- 8-8
4. Detroit Lions- 3-13

NFC South:
1. Atlanta Falcons- 12-4 (2)
2. New Orleans Saints- 11-5 (5)
3. Carolina Panthers- 9-7
4. Tampa Buccaneers- 6-10

NFC East:
1. Philadelphia Eagles- 13-3 (1)
2. Washington Redskins- 10-6 (6)
3. New York Giants- 9-7
4. Dallas Cowboys- 6-10

NFC West:
1. San Fancisco 49ers- 10-6 (4)
2. Seattle Seahawks- 8-8
3. Arizona Cardinals- 6-10
4. St. Louis Rams- 2-14

Playoffs:

Wildcard Round:
AFC:
(3) Pittsburgh Steelers vs. (6) Houston Texans - Steelers: 27-21
(4) Oakland Raiders vs. (5) Miami Dolphins - Raiders: 20-17 OT
NFC:
(3) Green Bay Packers vs. (6) Washington Redskins - Redskins: 31-24
(4) San Francisco 49ers vs. (5) New Orleans Saints - Saints: 30-13

Divisional Round:
AFC:
(1) Indianapolis Colts vs. (4) Oakland Raiders - Raiders: 23-14
(2) New England Patriots vs. (3) Pittsburgh Steelers - Patriots: 34-30
NFC:
(1) Philadelphia Eagles vs. (6) Washington Redskins - Eagles: 23-10
(2) Atlanta Falcons vs. (5) New Orleans Saints - Saints: 14-10

Championships
AFC:
(2) New England Patriots vs. (4) Oakland Raiders - Patriots: 23-20 OT
(1) Philadelphia Eagles vs. (5) New Orleans Saints - Eagles: 31-21

Super Bowl XLIV: (Super Bowl XXXIX Rematch)
Philadelphia Eagles vs. New England Patriots - Eagles: 24-20

Suoer Bowl XLIV Winner:
Philadelphia Eagles

It’s not just because I’m a fan. I truly think the Eagles will win next year. Donovan McNabb will have the best year of his career but miss out on MVP to Tom Brady. Brian Westbrook will have a good year also. Brian Dawkins will stick around a bit longer and win Defensive Player of the year.

I also think the Raiders will get as far as they did because they have a decent Quarterback, two good Runningbacks, and a new coach who will call the right plays.

And the Cowboys will have meltdown next year. Tony Romo will have a 73.5 QB Rating, TO will be gone because he caused too much drama during the year, and Wade Phillips will get fired.

AFC
(1)Tennessee Titans
(2)Pittsburgh Steelers
(3)Miami Dolphins
(4)Denver Broncos
(5)Indianapolis Colts
(6)Baltimore Ravens

NFC
(1)New York Giants
(2)Atlanta Falcons
(3)Minnesota Vikings
(4)Arizona Cardinals
(5)Carolina Panthers
(6)Dallas Cowboys

WILDCARD ROUND
(6)Baltimore 14 (3)Miami 10
(5)Indianapolis 41 (4)Denver 23

(6)Dallas 21 (3)Minnesota 27
(5)Carolina 45 (4)Arizona 14

DIVISIONAL ROUND
(6)Baltimore 9 (1)Tennessee 17
(5)Indianapolis 20 (2)Pittsburgh 23

(3)Minnesota 17 (2)Atlanta 27
(5)Carolina 21 (1)New York Giants 17

CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP
(2)Pittsburgh 27 (1)Tennessee 33
(5)Carolina 38 (2)Atlanta 17

SUPER BOWL BOFTTTM (Battle Of The Two-Headed Monsters)
(5)Carolina 28 (1)Tennessee 37

This is a slideshow of the Atlanta Falcons

Tampa Bay Buccaneers 2nd Quarter Cheerleaders with Tiger Woods on sideline - Raymond James Stadium vs Atlanta Falcons (9/14/2008) (add fmt=18 to URL for Hi-Def version) … Tampa Bay Buccaneers 2nd Quarter Cheerleaders with Tiger Woods on sideline Raymond James Stadium vs Atlanta Falcons (9/14/2008) (add fmt=18 to URL for Hi-Def version)