Vick's judgment to be questioned
The Philadelphia Inquirer Blog - Eagles
Vick's judgment to be questioned
Jeff McLane, Inquirer Staff Writer
Whether Michael Vick had any connection to the early Friday morning shooting that allegedly occurred outside a Virginia Beach party celebrating his 30th birthday or not -- and apparently he didn't, according to a Virginia Beach police spokesman -- what may be of more consequence for the Eagles quarterback is his team's and the NFL's reaction to his apparent involvement in the incident.
As of now, both the Eagles and the league are in the process of gathering facts from the shooting that injured one of the co-defendents in Vick's dogfighting case, Quanis Phillips.
The Eagles released the following statement Friday afternoon: "We are aware of the incident that occurred in Virginia early this morning and are in the process of gathering all of the facts. Until then, we will not have any comment on this matter."
NFL spokesman Greg Aiello responded in an e-mail that the league was "looking into" the matter "to determine the facts."
Vick, of course, was put on a short leash after his return to the NFL last July after he served 18 months in a federal prison for dogfighting crimes. At the time of his reinstatement, commissioner Roger Goodell said, "Needless to say, your margin for error is extremely limited."
Said Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie on the day the Eagles introduced the newly-signed Vick last August: "There is no room for error on Michael's part. There are no third chances and we know that. That's the thing, if this isn't fulfilled the way we expect it to be then that will be the end."
Vick has managed to avoid anything that could be labeled as erroneous since Goodell's warning. However, his judgment in regards to the location of his party, the number of invitees -- up to 300 people, according to various reports -- and his allegedly coming in contact with Phillips could come into question. Vick isn't supposed to associate with anyone from dogfighting circles, according to his probation.
As far as Vick's involvement in the shooting that left Phillips with a non-life-threatening leg wound, Virginia Beach police have "no information that [Vick] was involved in any way, shape or form," according to spokesman Adam Bernstein.
Vick's lawyer, Larry Woodward, told the Associated Press that Vick was not present at the Mexican restaurant where the festivities were held when the shooting occurred. Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Roddy White, who was indentified at being at the party, told the Hampton Roads Daily Press that he and Vick had already left the party before the shooting.
"We were already gone by the time that stuff started happening, so I don't know what's going to go on with that or whatever, but we didn't have anything to do with it," White said.
Daily Press columnist David Squires wrote Friday on his blog, citing sources, that Vick and Phillips had an earlier argument about the possible smearing of the birthday cake on Vick's face. Squires wrote that Phillips had threatened to smash the cake in Vick's face.
He then cited another version of the story that said the cake smearing happened -- or was going to happen -- to Phillips. Nevertheless, the dispute eventually moved outside, according to Squires, where the shooting occurred. Bernstein said that the victim and any other witnesses to the shooting have been "uncooperative."
A message left with Vick's agent, Joel Segal, was not immediately returned.
Just another cake-smearing gone bad.— MG44- Where are Father of the Year ANdy Reid and Tony Dungheap now?— Dr. Michael
- For you folks that blame Vick for being associated with this incident. I guess that means everyone in Philly is a thug just because you live in the city. Vick wasn't even at the party when this happened. Sheesh, you have me defending the guy and I don't even like him.— PhillyFanSouth
- Last year I disowned my team The Philadelphia Eagles even though we have season tickets for over 25 years. Michael Vick needs to go. I do not care where away from my beloved Eagles. Mcnabb is gone so lets make it a two for Mr. Lurie, mrs. Lurie, Mr. banner and Mr. Roseman and please, Mr. Reid, let o of this man now, please or it will affect the 2010 season,enough said.— badbirdz
- gee, Vick in trouble? Reid Banner Lurie Dungy: great judges of character. pffft. Can we trade this ownership/management team to Cincinnati? idiots.— raoool
- Ron Mexico still has not learned his lesson.— badbirdz
- You can take the boy out of the ghetto, but you can't take the ghetto out of the boy.- Confucius.— hititwheretheyaint
- Sometimes you can't get out from under negative percerpetions no matter what. Remember that when you're minding your own business and an incident happens near you and you have to take heat for it - regardless of your past.— GodivaMD
- Where it counts most, Vick is a non-factor. If the Eagles want to pay $5 mil for a guy that's gonna play maybe 50 plays all year, they're dopes.— micken
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Some people just don't get it! Ever wonder why today's youth, for the most part, are heading in the wrong direction. Seems our leadership tend to ignore major transgression; murder (people/animals), abuse of women, drug abuse. Maybe I don't get it!!— EZG1- this is the end of the mike conVick experiment-book it..bye bye-punk..wolf.— wolf 4
- Vick is scum. I still cant believe he is a member of my beloved Eagles team.— force10
- tombrookshire: It's racial, sad to say. For some reason African Americans feel like verbal attacks on Vick are a slight againt ALL African Americans, when they are not. They are verbal attacks against a man who showed no remorse for fantastic crulety, commiting felonies (across state lines), covering up, and then feigning remorse to revitalize his football career. Were the great Dr. Martin Luther King alive today, he would have nothing but condemnation for Vick, for Dr. King was a man of the highest character and preached such everyday of his illustrious life. People want to defend "their own",but objectivity and the truth are inherent. What people want to claim is "Big deal, he killed some dogs". That is not the issue, it is the MANNER in which he did, the cover up, and the illegal industry in which he took prt in. If a person kills another via a gunshot, it is murder. If a person kills another through torture and brutality, it is not only murder, but mental illness as well. If Vick had merely shot these dogs it would have been one thing, he electrocuted them, drowned them, and slammed their heads against concrete..clearly the man has some issues "upstairs". THESE are the facts that get glossed over and why Vick is so reviled. For if you can devalue one lifeform, you can devalue any..including your fellow human beings.— flyerdog
- flyerdog-amen brother amen..wolf.— wolf 4
