Yeah, it's just dogfighting and gambling, not bank robbery and murder. However, the prosecution will be failing the american people if they do the deal. Why? If the federal prosecutors allow Vick to cop a plea, then it will allow the race card to be played in this case, where there is no justification for it.
FAIR PLAY
At first glance the "deal" seems to be fair to all concerned, and it allows the NFL to get on with their season without the sideshow circus freak lawyers monopolizing the airwaves. What a story it would make to allow Vick an opportunity to possibly salvage what is left of a wasted career, and america loves giving second chances to underdogs (no pun intended). The prosecutors get what they want by using Vick to set an example for other celebrity outlaws and it frees up their time to go after the Tim Donagheys of the world.
WE PAID TO SEE THE HAND
Here is the crux of the problem. If the deal is done, the american people, the ones with the vested interest in this case, don't get to see all the cards. If the case goes to trial, the prosecutors get to put all their cards on the table for the world to see and then we get to decide for ourselves if Michael Vick has been overzealously prosecuted, or if he is indeed a down and dirty bird (pun intended). By the same token, Michael Vick also has the opportunity to once and for all prove to everyone concerned that he in no way was associated with this operation and that he rightfully deserves his career back and his endorsement deals restored.
NEVER ENDING DEBATE
If Vick is allowed to fold his hand and accept a lesser punishment, the public is left holding the bag. The debate about his "real" or "perceived" innocence will rage on indefinitely, and in some circles Vick will be hailed a hero for weird and perverse reasons. When the iron bars clang shut behind Mike and his tenuous career, it will be the opening bell of a 15 round racial bout.
LETTING SLEEPING DOGS LIE
The United States government decided to investigate Vick because it had credible evidence that he was involved in an interstate dogfighting venture. They vigorously pursued the evidence to prove that charge. They spent thousands in taxpayer money to get warrants and gather that material. What sense does it make right here, right now, to dig up all those bones, if we are just going to go back to 1915 Moonlight Road and bury them in a different hole? This is a chance for a wakeup call. Don't do the deal.
Fan's Favorites (Other Interesting Blogs on this subject)
It is my opinion that any professional sports player that is convicted of manslaughter, rape, drug charges, dog fighting should be ban from that sport for LIFE!!!
Hence me not supporting the St. Louis Rams who I so dearly loved to watch before they let the "mother killer" keep playing for them. This is a sad state for our country when we keep truning the other cheek because they are good in sports. The general public acts like it did not even happen as long as they can hit a ball, throw a ball, catch a ball. It 's ridiculous!!
Forgotten Fan
With the way the Justice Dept has been performing as of late. They might've thought this was their best shot of getting Vick. Look they got Jose Padilla on very little evidence in the first place. And with all they had on Vick I too thought it prudent that they went ahead with the prosecution. They had his co-conspirators leaving Vick faster than Jim Baker left Jessica Hahn after b*ngin' on her a*s. To me however it'll be an affront if this allowed to proceed. Perhaps the only good thing that'll come out of this is that the presiding judge won't have to live up to the prosection's sentencing recommendations. As it'll be at his discretion and if anything eighteen to twenty four months is far too lenient for such an offense. However his career will be over. And that if anything is what most of want to see.
rampant'
Last edited by rampantfanatic on August 17th at 10:31 AM.
rampant- You make an interesting argument...but a picture is worth a thousand words (or an 18 page indictment) in a conspiracy case. I agree with you that most people just want to see him done with football and the rest is irrelevant.
Twins?
with the vested interest in this case, don't get to see all the cards. If the case goes to trial, the prosecutors get to put all their cards on the table for the world to see and then we get to decide for ourselves if Michael Vick has been overzealously prosecuted, or if he is indeed a down and dirty bird (pun intended). By the same token, Michael Vick also has the opportunity to once and for all prove to everyone concerned that he in no way was associated with this operation and that he rightfully deserves his career back and his endorsement deals restored. 
