Free Republic

Federal investigators are looking into connections between trained fighting dogs bred by a man found shot to death in rural North Carolina and the dogfighting operation headed by suspended NFL quarterback Michael Vick. The sheriff investigating the North Carolina killing said he plans to pursue links between the dogfighting groups to see if they can answer any questions in the unsolved homicide. But for now, federal investigators are the ones searching the shooting victim's records for more evidence that might implicate Vick and other members of Bad Newz Kennels in interstate dogfighting, the sheriff said. (snip) "Everybody we've talked to...

After long search, football star finds Jesus “hangin’ out” in courthouse restroom Michael Vick trades up! RICHMOND, VA – They say all dogs go to heaven. Well, after punching more than his share of canine tickets to paradise, Michael Vick seems to have finally found a little salvation for himself. After pleading guilty to federal dogfighting charges last month, the world heard Michael Vick proclaim his newfound faith in Christ. “I found Jesus,” Vick told reporters outside the courthouse. “And turned my life over to God.” What most people don’t know is that Vick had actually been looking for Jesus...

I agree with the president of Atlanta's NAACP. The NFL should welcome Michael Vick back to its league once he has finished serving jail time for his involvement in dog fighting. "As a society, we should aid in (Vick's) rehabilitation and welcome a new Michael Vick back into the community without a permanent loss of his career in football," R.L. White said on Wednesday. "We further ask the NFL, Falcons and the sponsors not to permanently ban Mr. Vick from his ability to bring hours of enjoyment to fans all over this country

When one person says something stupid, it's easy enough to laugh it off. But when two people say the same stupid thing, in separate public settings at roughly the same time, it starts to smell funny. New York Knicks guard Stephon Marbury said at an appearance this week: ''We don't say anything about people shooting deers [sic] and shooting other animals, you know what I mean? From what I hear, dogfighting is a sport. It's just behind closed doors, and I think it's tough that we build Michael Vick up and then we break him down.'' And R.L. White, president...

Many of these participants lack any respect for the dogs and numerous dogs are bred to be a threat to other dogs as well as humans. These dogs often have their ears and tails cut off. Even though pit bulls exhibit high levels of aggression toward other dogs, they are considered loyal and gentle companion animals. Today, the increasing level of aggression from dogs is a result of poor training and breeding. A fighting dog’s life is typically miserable from beginning to end. They often live in dreadful conditions at the end of a chain. Fighting dogs that are defeated...

(WSB Radio) -- Michael Vick has been indicted by the U.S. District Court in Richmond, Virginia. The court confirms that Vick has been indicted on two felony counts. One count is sponsoring a dog in an animal fighting venture. The second count is conspiracy. Stay with News/Talk 750 WSB for continuing live team coverage.

Michael Vick has been indicted by a federal grand jury in connection with the dogfighting probe of his house in Virginia. The Falcons quarterback was indicted for conspiracy to travel in interstate commerce in aid of unlawful activities and to sponsor a dog in animal fighting venture in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District in Richmond, Va. Three others -- Purnell Peace, Quanis Phillips and Tony Taylor -- also were indicted by the grand jury on the same charges.

Officials believe there might be enough evidence to indict Vick in connection with dogfighting. Two law enforcement officials familiar with the investigation have told ESPN.com they believe there is sufficient evidence to indict Michael Vick in connection with a suspected dogfighting ring that was run on property the Falcons quarterback owned in Virginia. The sources, however, cautioned this week that, based on the current evidence, it might be difficult to successfully prosecute Vick, who has denied knowledge of dogfighting at the property in Surry County. "There is probably enough there to bring a bill [of indictment]," said one source, "but...

Search warrant not executed at Vick home NFL.com wire reports RICHMOND, Va. (May 29, 2007) -- Authorities have a search warrant to look for as many as 30 dog carcasses on property owned by Michael Vick that is at the center of a dog fighting investigation. But the warrant has not been executed. In a news release, Sheriff Harold D. Brown said the warrant issued May 23 has not been executed at the request of Brown and Surry County Commonwealth's Attorney Gerald G. Poindexter. The release did not say why the two officials leading the investigation into possible dog fighting...

Investigator: Witnesses can put Vick at fights FOXSports.com Posted: 1 hour ago The lead investigator in the dog-fighting investigation at a home that was owned by Michael Vick says there may be evidence that can directly tie him to fights at the property. Yahoo.com's Jason Cole reports that Kathy Strouse, Animal Control coordinator for the City of Chesapeake, says there may be a videotape showing Vick at dogfights and that she has talked with individuals who can "put Vick on the property" during matches. Vick has said that he rarely visited the house and that relatives living there were responsible...

SURRY -- Property in Surry County owned by Atlanta Falcons quarterback and Newport News native Michael Vick was searched Wednesday as part of a State Police narcotics investigation -- and now there are allegations of dog fighting, too. Vick does not live there in the two-story brick house on a couple of acres, but his nephew does, State Police spokesman D.S. Carr said. Vick is not a suspect in the drug investigation, Carr said. After the State Police arrived at the Moonlight Road property, they called in Surry Animal Control. Dogs on the property appeared to be neglected, Surry County...

Atlanta quarterback Michael Vick will be allowed to call the shots.Vick, who wasn't happy about not being able to call audibles under former offensive coordinator Greg Knapp, has been given permission to change plays at the line of scrimmage by new head coach Bobby Petrino. "We're going to put it all on him," Petrino said. "That's something that's new to him. It's something he's excited about. It's the way I believe you train a quarterback. "You make him responsible for the protections; you make him responsible for what I call trumping the center -- when the center makes a protection...

ESPN is reporting that Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick wasn't carrying marijuana when stopped by security last week at Miami International Airport. Citing anonymous NFL sources, ESPN's Chris Mortensen reported Vick wasn't carrying marijuana or any other illegal substance. The ESPN report also cited an anonymous Falcons source, who said the team expects to hear something formal today.

The Atlanta Falcons should now consider a course of action that had previously been inconceivable to them. They should dangle quarterback Michael Vick as trade bait and try to talk the Oakland Raiders into offering their No. 1 pick in return for the promise of what could be if his arm, legs and brain ever decide to work in harmony on a consistent basis. They should do this even though it will leave them with a salary cap nightmare and likely alienate a significant number of ticket-buyers lured to the Georgia Dome by Vick's potential for highlights. They should dump...

Michael Vick is embroiled in a scandal after airline screeners have seized a water bottle the superstar quarterback tried to get through security checkpoints. One problem, it wasn't just a water bottle. There was a "concealed compartment" in the bottle that contained a small amount of pot. Vick was said to be, "reluctant to turn over his water bottle during the screening process" but eventually did. TSA officials are aware of a new tactic by drug handlers, creating a hidden compartment in Aquafina bottles like Vick had so they investigated further.

JANUARY 18--Miami police are investigating NFL star Michael Vick after airport screeners yesterday seized a water bottle from him at a security checkpoint and later discovered that the bottle included a "concealed compartment" that appeared to contain a small amount of marijuana. According to a Miami-Dade Police Department report, a copy of which you'll find below, the Atlanta Falcons quarterback was "reluctant to turn over his water bottle during the screening process" at Miami International Airport (the athlete was booked on an AirTran flight to Atlanta). Vick subsequently relinquished the 20-ounce Aquafina bottle, which was placed in a recycling bin...

MIAMI (AP) — Michael Vick reluctantly surrendered a water bottle to security at Miami International Airport that contained a residue "closely associated with marijuana." Police said Thursday that no charges immediately were filed. The 26-year-old Atlanta Falcons quarterback entered an airport concourse Wednesday morning with the 20-ounce bottle. He eventually handed it over and boarded his flight to Atlanta. But his initial reluctance to turn over the bottle aroused suspicion among airport security screeners, a police report said. Two Transportation Security Administration screeners recognized the 6-foot, 215-pound Vick. The bottle was found to have a hidden compartment that contained "a...

Michael Vick reluctantly surrendered a water bottle to security at Miami International Airport that contained a residue "closely associated with marijuana," police said Wednesday. The Atlanta Falcons' quarterback entered a concourse Wednesday morning at the airport with the 20-ounce bottle. He eventually handed it over and boarded his flight to Atlanta. But his initial reluctance to turn over the bottle aroused suspicion among airport security screeners, a police report said. The bottle was found to have a hidden compartment that contained "a small amount of dark particulate and a pungent aroma closely associated with marijuana," the report said. The compartment...

ATLANTA (AP) - The NFL is trying to stop the spread of Ron Mexico. Since that name was listed as an alias for Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick in a lawsuit filed last month, a number of people have gone to the NFL's online store to order Vick's No. 7 replica jersey with a personalized "MEXICO" on the back. Now, fans trying to order the customized jersey get this message: "The personalization entered cannot be accepted." The alias was printed in court documents in a civil lawsuit filed March 14 that alleges Vick, infected the woman with herpes. Vick has...

Battered Vick questions role after Falcons loss ESPN.com news services Falcons quarterback Michael Vick is beat up and sounds a little fed up after last Sunday's 27-14 loss to the Giants. Vick returned to practice on Thursday after missing Wednesday's session with a sore shoulder, according to a report in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. The newspaper said the quarterback taped a session of Inside the NFL for HBO and told host Cris Carter that getting sacked a career-high seven times by the Giants got to him. "It's the worst I ever felt," Vick told Carter. During the interview, Vick blamed the...