'Cruel and Reprehensible'
"Your admitted conduct is not only illegal, but cruel and reprehensible," NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell wrote in a letter to Vick dated August 24. Vick's infraction not only violates federal law in the United States, but also violates the NFL's Personal Conduct Policy that Goodell instituted on April 10. Associating with gamblers can lead to a lifetime ban from the NFL under the policy. A player's participation in gambling raises questions about the integrity and legitimacy of the sport, and Vick having exposed himself to gambling is, "in derogation of one of the most fundamental responsibilities of an NFL player," Goodell wrote.
Goodell suspended Vick indefinitely without pay. Vick signed a 10-year, 130-million dollar contract with the Falcons in 2004.
Vick was the #1 overall draft pick in 2001
Fourth to be Sidelined
Vick becomes the fourth player suspended for violating the League's Personal Conduct Policy. In addition to Vick, the suspended players include:
- Adam "Pacman" Jones, suspended for the upcoming season after being arrested five times and questioned by police 10 times since being drafted by the Tennessee Titans in 2005. Jones is currently working as a professional wrestler for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling.
- Terry "Tank" Johnson, waived by the Chicago Bears on July 25, was suspended by the league for eight games after violating probation on a gun charge that stemmed from a raid on his home. Johnson served a two-month jail term in March.
- Chris Henry, a wide receiver for the Cincinati Bengals, also suspended for eight games. Henry was arrested four times in 14 months beginning in December 2005, and he served two days in jail in January 2007 for providing alcohol to minors.
Of the four suspended players, only Henry is currently playable in Madden NFL 08. "It's very straight forward for us," said Tyrone Miller, Senior PR Manager for Electronic Arts. "If they are playing on a team this year, they will be in the game. If they aren't, they won't. It has nothing to do with the players themselves."
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