Michael Vick - going to the dogs? (Wizbang)

After an arbitrator ruled disgraced quarterback Michael Vick must pay back $20 million in bonuses to the Atlanta Falcons, the NFLPA appealed the ruling. The Players' Association typically takes the side of their members, even when obviously wrong, because they are more concerned about keeping the players in line and paying dues than in hypothetical concepts like, "justice." The money Vick was ordered to repay reflects money he received for future years of service he cannot render, due to his own misconduct. ESPN has the Associated Press report:

The Falcons argued that Vick, who pleaded guilty to federal charges for his role in the long-running operation, knew he was in violation of the contract when he signed a 10-year, $130 million deal in December 2004.

The team said he used proceeds from the contract to fund his illicit activities and sought the repayment of $19,970,000 in bonuses he was paid over the last three years.

Any money the Falcons recover from Vick would be credited to its future salary cap, a huge step in recovering from the loss of the team's franchise player. Atlanta (1-4) is off to a dismal start with Joey Harrington at quarterback.

"We are certainly pleased with today's ruling," the Falcons said in a statement. "It is the first step in a process that our club has undertaken in an attempt to recoup significant salary cap space that will allow us to continue to build our football team today and in future years."

In a highly technical, nine-page ruling, Burbank said the Falcons were entitled to $3.75 million of the $7.5 million bonus that Vick was paid after signing the deal in 2004, $13.5 million of the $22.5 million in roster, reporting and playing bonuses he was paid in 2005 and 2006, and $2.72 million of the $7 million roster, reporting and playing bonus that he received this year.

Read the whole story at the link above. This isn't as if Vick were the victim of some accident. He created the situation which led to his own downfall - and knew he was violating the terms of the contract when he signed it and took the money. So, in addition to being a torturer of animals and a funder of illegal gambling, he is also a thief, a fraud, and a liar - but the sort who deals in millions.

Thanks to reader "Peter F." for bringing this to our attention.

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Comments (13)

Was that prepayment part of... (Below threshold)

1. Posted by Allen | October 11, 2007 7:06 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

Allen:

Was that prepayment part of his contract? If so, then the players association may be correct. Maybe the NFL team owners will start to wise up and not make stupid prepayment to those over payed players.

Before you jump all over the players association, (union bashing) find out the honest information on his contract, and then ask yourself why the owner agreed to such contract.

There are two sides to every argument.

Posted on October 11, 2007 07:06

I will jump all over the pl... (Below threshold)

2. Posted by Ryan | October 11, 2007 7:27 AM | Score: 0 (2 votes cast)

Ryan:

I will jump all over the players union regardless. It isn't as if pro sport players are an "Abused and powerless' class. They can hire expensive lawyers. Having a Union represent them as if they were poor factory workers is a farce.

Posted on October 11, 2007 07:27

"[H]e is also a thief, a fr... (Below threshold)

3. Posted by brainy435 | October 11, 2007 7:56 AM | Score: 1 (1 votes cast)

brainy435:

"[H]e is also a thief, a fraud, and a liar - but the sort who deals in millions."

Think Hillary will hit him up for campaign donations? He seems to be her type of donor.

Posted on October 11, 2007 07:56

Vick admitted to criminal c... (Below threshold)

4. Posted by hermie | October 11, 2007 8:00 AM | Score: 1 (1 votes cast)

hermie:

Vick admitted to criminal conduct, and is being prosecuted for other crimes. The union hasn't figured out the difference between the 2nd string player who wants a future after his playing years are over, and common thugs who commit crimes.

Posted on October 11, 2007 08:00

A union of extreme but rand... (Below threshold)

5. Posted by kim | October 11, 2007 9:22 AM | Score: 1 (1 votes cast)

kim:

A union of extreme but random talents does not fit the usual 'union' paradigm, no matter how hard some may try to make hay of the misconception. It would be like rainmakers unionizing. That said, 'What Would Curt Flood Do?'.
========================

Posted on October 11, 2007 09:22

It is more than Vick who lo... (Below threshold)

6. Posted by Corky Boyd | October 11, 2007 9:56 AM | Score: 1 (1 votes cast)

Corky Boyd:

It is more than Vick who loses here. Both his agent and the union are on a percentage basis of Vick's earnings.

The union position here is not one of altruism. They are losing big time.

Posted on October 11, 2007 09:56

This episode will probably ... (Below threshold)

7. Posted by Imhotep | October 11, 2007 10:30 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

Imhotep:

This episode will probably change the way contracts are written for NFL players.

Hopefully, they will think twice before doing dumb things with their 'homies'.

Posted on October 11, 2007 10:30

That's the point of having ... (Below threshold)

8. Posted by kim | October 11, 2007 11:09 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

That's the point of having homies. To do dumb stuff with. Home is where they have to take you in when you show up.
===================================

Posted on October 11, 2007 11:09

If nothing else, this is pr... (Below threshold)

9. Posted by BrandonInBatonRouge | October 11, 2007 12:00 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

BrandonInBatonRouge:

If nothing else, this is probably going to cause the owners to invest a ton of money in PIs to follow potential high first-round picks around before the draft.

This was already going on before to some extent, as #1 overall pick JaMarcus Russell was definitely tailed before the most recent draft.

Posted on October 11, 2007 12:00

I can't blame the NFLPA for... (Below threshold)

10. Posted by pennywit | October 11, 2007 2:07 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

pennywit:

I can't blame the NFLPA for stepping in for Vick. After all, the group's job is not to represent some abstract "justice," but rather to represent players' interests.

--|PW|--

Posted on October 11, 2007 14:07

$15,000.That figur... (Below threshold)

11. Posted by Peter F. | October 11, 2007 3:37 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

Peter F.:

$15,000.

That figure keeps running through my head. For $15,000, the most I've read that he wagered on fights, Vick pissed away $150-200 million. Wow.

Posted on October 11, 2007 15:37

And PETA has been usinng hi... (Below threshold)

12. Posted by Spurwing Plover | October 12, 2007 12:36 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

Spurwing Plover:

And PETA has been usinng him to raise more money to kill more animals

Posted on October 12, 2007 00:36

Wow, thats crap. I hope th... (Below threshold)

13. Posted by Greg | October 12, 2007 11:31 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

Greg:

Wow, thats crap. I hope they dont win, I say take his money away. I mean look at the house where the dog fighting was, he had to much money and was a sick sick man...http://www.housefront.com/660646

Posted on October 12, 2007 11:31

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