Michael Vick tests positive for marijuana

From the "oh wow you have to be freakin' kidding me" department, a urine sample submitted by Michael Vick during pretrial services last month has come back positive for marijuana. All of the sudden, the guy that many thought was wrongly labeled a scapegoat in this felony case, Michael Vick is getting hard to root for. If there was one person that was trying to pull behind this guy (and there was many more than one) and try to make people believe that Vick was a decent person with deep rooted mistakes it was me. Now, I'm wondering just how long has Vick been pulling the wool over the public's eyes?

It is like Jim Rome said on his daily ESPN television show, Jim Rome is Burning, "This man should not be jaywalking, let alone burning the hippie lettuce."

And why is Vick NOT in jail now. Due to this positive drug test, Vick is now on home confinement that is regulated by electronic devices? Is it because he is "more than likely" selling out other dog fighters to the feds? Whatever the reason, if you didn't feel like it before, you definitely should now. Vick should be locked up. Let's face it, I would be.

So everyone that is clutching on to your 7s, sitting and waiting for Michael Vick's triumphant return to football... fold it up and put it away. Far away, so you won't have to think of this guy anymore. Find another hero, Atlanta, because Vick is done. He will spend at very least 1 year in jail on federal charges, and now he is facing charges from the state of Virgina that could tack on more prison time. Now, what does he have to present to Mr. Goodell? Not good behavior, a drug charge.

I was ready to welcome Michael Vick back in a Raiders' jersey in a few years, doesn't look like that will happen now. Goodbye Michael Vick, and good luck because you need it.

Technorati!

Technorati Profile
To claim my Technorait account..

Don't take the entertainment out of entertainment

In the wake of Roger Goodell's "Iron Fist Era" there is something in the league that is really beginning to irk me. It seems like all of the sudden, the NFL is beginning to nickel and dime the players for everything.

Terrell Owens had a brilliant touchdown celebration last weekend, in which he poked fun at Bill Bellichick and the "spygate" scandal. T. O. "hid" behind the goal post and used the ball to simulate a camera. Honestly, one of the funniest things that I have seen in a football game, well, since Owens's "Ray Lewis" dance... in front of Ray Lewis.

The NFL fined Terrell Owens $7,500 for violating the rule concerning touchdown celebrations, in which you are not permitted to use the ball as a prop in any celebration. I'm a huge supporter of Goodell's new rules regarding conduct, and I think that it is doing some good in the NFL which was beginning to be a lighter version of the Indiana Pacers. However, why are we making the game, this form of entertainment, so systematic?

Here's my proposal to fix it. If the celebration is fun and entertaining and not vulgar or indecent; fine. However, I propose that if the celebration is not funny, vulgar, indecent, not well thought out, or even over-hyped, then the player should take his $7,500 fine as incentive to be more creative. Or in one case, shut up and do it. (Right, Chad Johnson?)

Dallas signs "at risk" Johnson

It just goes to show that the Dallas Cowboys will do ANYTHING to win. Earlier this week, the Cowboys signed suspended Terry "Tank" Johnson to replace injured nose tackle Jason Ferguson. However, Johnson is sitting out an eight games suspension for violating the zero tolerance player conduct rule. There is a chance that Johnson can get his suspension reduced by two games to six, but even then he is out for another month, so his impact will not be quick.

Or will it? This week, the Cowboys take on the Chicago Bears, Tank's former team. Maybe I'm just getting all caught up in this "spygate" scandal, but it does seem like every team in the league is trying to get any advantage at all costs. I'm sure the Cowboys had every intention to sign Tank but honestly, there was no rush. So it is possible that Dallas picked up Tank to pick up some "watergate" type information on the Bears.

"I know I'm not a risk," said Johnson. Well, that makes one of 350 million. You're not a risk, Tank? You know, I'm all about giving people second chances, but it does seem like Tank gets, in an algebra sense, nth chances, and he just keeps getting on.

"We're going to welcome him just like the guys welcomed me," commented Terrell Owens.

Yes, that Terrell Owens. That's exactly who I wanted to hear from in conversation about character.

It is Cleveland.

The shock of the Michael Vick dogfighting case doesn’t even touch this story… Cleveland Browns starting cornerback Leigh Bodden was arrested at a Cleveland airport as first reported by the Associated Press in Berea, Ohio. No, seriously… the Cleveland Browns? Com’mon fellas, it is CLEVELAND.

Apparently, Bodden was spotted driving in reverse down a one way street and then was “verbally abusive” with the police that instructed him to pull over. After getting out of the car, Bodden more or less began to resist arrest before being place in handcuffs and transported to a nearby jail, where he sat for nearly five hours.

I’m going to say it again, this is Cleveland. I’m almost beginning to think that players are going out of their way to get in trouble. This isn’t a “Pacman” incident where he is “making it rain” in a strip club. Nor is it a case where he is being blatantly inhumane. This is not even your normal bar fight. More or less, Bodden was driving in reverse. It is a traffic violation. A normal individual pulls over, apologizes to the officer and goes along with his day. It seems the NFL players, and maybe athletes in general, are TRYING their hardest to get arrested. I mean, as I understand from Cleveland (both from what I see and being there) that one would have to actually wake up in the morning and think about how he is going to get arrested.

And besides, Bodden, you play for the Browns. Don’t you think the team has enough problems of its own? First, they were flipping coins to determine the starting quarterback. What is going on now? A fun game where a flip of a coin determines who is going to go out and get arrested?

Creativity gets you bonus points.

The possible punishment for sign stealing?

In a story that is probably not as uncommon as it sounds, the NFL is evaluating the charge of the New England Patriots using a video camera to steal defensive signs from the New York Jets in last Sunday’s game, ESPN’s Chris Mortensen reports. Roger Goodell is waiting on the Patriots defense on this matter before deciding on what punishment is going to be dealt.

Basically, the Patriots had someone on its staff in charge of a video camera. His sole purpose was to record the Jets’ defensive coach’s signs, that way they could possibly be studied during halftime or otherwise. Certain signals mean certain things, and knowing a piece of information like where the blitz is coming from is a huge competitive advantage.

This story is amazing to me. First of all, the league is expecting its players to conduct themselves with dignity and respect, but right under its nose this blatant act of cheating is going on. Of all organizations, the New England Patriots!

So what punishment is Goodell expected to deal? Rumors are that the Patriots will be docked a draft pick and possibly multiple picks. What does an anti-New England sports anything person like myself want to see? Make them forfeit the game. If the league wants to stop these actions right now and never have it be a question again, Mr. Goodell should award the game to the New York Jets. If this happens, then all of the sudden the Patriots are 0-1 rather than 1-0, and the loss is a divisional loss. Instead of being way ahead of the eight ball as it seemed the Patriots are, they are starting from behind.

When you think about it in this light, it really tarnishes that high power offense, doesn’t it? If this has been going on for a long time (which this is not the first time the Patriots have been accused of this act, just the first time they have been caught) it’s no wonder that Tom Brady could pass for near 4,000 yards to the likes of Reche Caldwell!

Or better yet, ban Bill Belichick. Forever. That would really show these cheaters!

A follow up of sorts...

The NFL took back the suspension of Bengals DE Frostee Rucker that I wrote about a few days ago. However, Rucker is ruled out due to injury...

Atleast he's getting paid, right?

Also, it doesn't deal with the NFL or really player conduct for that matter but I decided that it was note worthy.

SI.com reported this afternoon that feel-good story-of-the-year and Cardinals pitcher turned outfielder Rick Ankiel received eight shipments of the performance enhancing drug human growth hormone from January to December 2004. MLB did not ban HGH until 2005 and still does not test for it, but any player that is caught using it or possessing it is banned for 50 games.

However Ankiel did not technically break any rules if these reports are correct, it really puts a damper on this feel good story, does it not? Instead of a pitcher gone bad that changed his game and turned adversity into success... he becomes just another player in a long line that ethically cheated to get ahead.

It's sad to say that you can't enjoy performance by any player anymore without first considering what this guy is "all juiced up on."

I guess it is our fault for believing in a fairy tale.

Which is worse?

As if the “Summer of Sin 2007” needed another story, the NFL has a new blunder to worry about; performance enhancers (namely Human Growth Hormone also known as HGH). Recently, New England Patriots’ safety Rodney Harrison and Dallas Cowboys’ quarterback coach Wade Wilson were suspended due to their involvement in an illegal internet drug operation that is currently being investigated by the Albany, New York District Attorney’s office.

Harrison is, some would say, the emotional leader on a strong New England defense, and it is hard to believe that the brash, hard-hitting, up-front safety would ever be involved in a drug case. However, in this day and age, it is not out of realism to expect ANY athlete to be doing something he or she should not be doing.

Ever since Commissioner Roger Goodell took over one year ago, he has demonstrated his heavy hand of discipline on the “evil-doers” of the NFL. Just ask Chris Henry and Adam “Pacman” Jones how friendly the Commissioner is regarding repeat criminal offenses. But it is a good point to raise, which is worse; the use of performance enhancing drugs (cheating) or the breaking of the law?

I’m not suggesting that either case is lighter than the other, but from a commissioner viewpoint where the integrity of your league is of dyer importance (right Commissioner Stern?), is it more important to focus heavy judgment on those that make fools of themselves off of the playing field, or should Mr. Goodell be focusing much of his “hammer-hitting” on these ever arising performance enhancing issues?

For example, San Diego Chargers DE Shawn Merriman tested positive for steroids, faced his 4 game suspension, came back to a monster year and is regarded by many as one of the best defensive players in the league. Almost as if he had never cheated. However, for troubled youth “Pacman” Jones, it’s not out of the question to think that he may not ever play again.

But which is worse?

The NFL to suspend Bengals DE Frostee Rucker for violation of Personal Conduct policy

As first reported by FOXSports.com, the NFL is to suspend Bengals defensive end Frosty Rucker for violating the league's personal conduct policy which stems from the settling of a domestic violence case in April.

The suggested suspension is proposed for one game, but Rucker and his agent are taking an appeal to the NFL Players Association. Their base of appeal is that the incident in question was in 2005, while Rucker was attending the University of Southern California.

"We're confident in the merits of our appeal of the suspension," agent J.R. Rickert said. "We're not aware of any case where the personal conduct policy has been applied to a person for an offense that occurred while they were in college." (ESPN.com)

The question is do Roger Goodell and the NFL have the right to suspend someone for actions that occurred while their player was actually not their player at all. The personal conduct policy was put in place to make the NFL players more or less "think twice" before they put themselves in situations that could make them, their team, or the league look bad. However, how can the league justify suspending a player for any amount of time if the player was not under these set of rules?

If Rucker loses the appeal and is suspended, he will be the third Bengals player to be suspended for the season opener. Rucker is also one of 10 Bengals players to be charged with criminal charges in a 14 month span. (ESPN.com)

Groups of players like these have been the basis for Commissioner Goodell's "Zero Tolerance", but there is no precedent set for suspending a player that was in violation while he was not a legal member of the NFL. Goodell's case may be made on the fact that even though the incident didn't occur while Rucker was a Bengal, the files were charged two months after he was drafted.

Mostly, the personal conduct policy has been great for the NFL in sending the message that if a player is going to act in a negative way, off the field; he is going to pay the price on it. However, in this case, I feel that Rucker is being treated unfairly. If the incident happens at a later date, maybe the impending conduct rule would be enough for Rucker to keep his cool. However, at the time Rucker was in college and still a student. That does not give him a pass on criminal charges, but maybe it is true that his bad decisions as a student should not follow him around in his career.