Vick's next role is an unsavory one: Government informant

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/columns/story?columnist=bryant_howard&id=2990177 ^ | 8-24-07 | Howard Bryant

[Hydroshock]

The plea agreement is 11 pages long, the summary of facts another 10. But the endgame for Michael Vick can be reduced to one simple goal: Stay out of prison, no matter what the cost.

According to federal documents, Vick will cooperate in full with federal prosecutors to tell them everything he knows. To save his hide, he becomes an informant.

He may be called a snitch, but aiding federal authorities is the most honorable thing for this disgraced man to do at this late date. It could even be the beginning of his redemption.

For a moment late Thursday night, when the crawl line across the television screen announced the breaking news that Vick would not admit to killing dogs or gambling on dogfights, it appeared the government's case had fallen apart, that somehow Vick was prepared to stand defiant in defense of his past actions and future.

But that was merely an exercise in language massage. The truth is different, hard and justly unsympathetic.

Vick's admissions in the summary of facts filed in federal court Friday are purposely murky. Perhaps they are worded to persuade an angry NFL commissioner about to drop the hammer of a major suspension that Vick isn't quite as guilty as he once appeared. (Didn't work, apparently. Roger Goodell suspended him indefinitely later in the day.) Maybe they are intended to create an additional shade of doubt in those die-hard fans who don't want to believe Vick is the sort of man capable of electrocuting, drowning and shooting another living creature. Or maybe the words are difficult to understand simply because they were written by lawyers. But do not be fooled:

[ladyjane]

I hope you are right.

[chiefqc]

And with that role he’ll become a dead man walking.

[mtbopfuyn]

And then there’s that.