Sports Views

By the Netitor of the Word NetPaper

It has long been noted with more than a little bit of irony that Americans will hate you more for hurting animals than people. Combine such alleged crimes with being a wealthy African Descended sports figure and the problems quickly compound.

Such it is for Michael Vick, QB for Atlanta, who finds himself facing a federal rap. His jury trial on dogfighting charges is scheduled to begin in November; his multimillion dollar gig is on hold at the preseason, and once lucrative commercial sponsors are jumping ship. It is estimated that Vick made approximately $25 million last year in NFL salary, products and endorsement deals.

Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick hasn’t heard a peep from the NFL after Commissioner Roger Goodell made a decision last month to bar him from attending training camp.

The league says it has yet to complete its investigation of Vick, who has been charged with operating a dogfighting ring on his Virginia property. Eric Holder, a former deputy attorney general retained by the league, continues to gather facts on Vick's situation, NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said Monday.

"The commissioner has not made any decision," Aiello said.

Meanwhile, the show must go on for Vick’s teammates. Falcons running back Warrick Dunn says he recently spoke with the 27-year-old quarterback to offer his support, but added that the team must forge ahead and prepare for the Sept. 9 season opener at Minnesota without Vick.

"I don't think anybody on this team right now is hoping that Mike comes back," Dunn said. "If he comes back, that's great, but I just think right now we're at a point where the guys that are here are trying to get better and move on down the road. Mike is going to be missed and has been missed, but at the same time you have to go on."

In the mean time, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the two remaining co-defendants in the case are expected to plead guilty this week as part of a deal with prosecutors, indicating they could testify against Vick.

Purnell Peace, 35, of Virginia Beach, has a plea hearing scheduled for Thursday in Richmond federal court at 9 a.m., while Quanis Phillips, 28, of Atlanta, has a plea hearing set for Friday at the same time. The hearings showed up Monday on U.S. District Court Judge Henry E. Hudson's docket.

The third co-defendant, Tony Taylor, 34, of Hampton, pleaded guilty July 30 and agreed to cooperate with prosecutors in their case against Vick. Just days earlier, Taylor had joined Vick and the others in pleading not guilty.

As reported, Vick, on the other hand, plans to keep fighting the charges