Bad Newz for Vick and NFL
Not that this is a scientific survey, a clear-cut mandate or a perfect gauge of the public's opinions -- but the very early, very raw numbers tell us that the NFL has a monster P.R. issue to deal with now that Michael Vick has been indicted on federal dog-fighting related charges.
* Within the first hour of ESPN.com breaking the story (about 5:15 today), the number of comments on the story was approaching 300.
* The number of readers responding to a seven-question poll about Vick on the site was approaching 6,000.
* It had shoved a number of significant stories off the site's main page: the toxicology reports on wrestler Chris Benoit, Daunte Culpepper being released, and basketball officials in China drawing a line in the sand with the Milwaukee Bucks over draft pick Yi Jianlian. It's even temporarily silenced the clamor over Gary Sheffield (although the controversial interview itself airs tonight on HBO).
* As of now, six message-board threads have been started on the Vick indictment on CBS Sportsline.com. Fox Sports' Web site has 19 pages of comments and growing. Three "Fanhouse'' blogs on AOL Sports went up even before the site had posted the AP version of the story. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution has a slew of staff-written stories up, starting on the site's front page.
And that's with the news barely an hour and a half old, and it doesn't factor in talk radio. It will only get worse. If it was any other league but the NFL, it would be devastated, in danger of never recovering. Even with it being the Nonstick Football League, this is going to stick.

Comments
Haven't heard a peep out of you - re: a sport for the privileged, since the Duke lax program was exonerated. WHATZZZUUUPPPWIDDAATT?
Posted by: LAXBUM20 | July 17, 2007 10:28 PM
If Tags had not stuck his head in the sand and pretended Vikes run ins with the law would go away 2 years ago he would have saved the NFL some big headaches. IF Becks were not bombing in LA English Football would be making inroade into Amenrican football this year.
Sometines the head in the sand approach to problems works - in this case it failed, big time!
Posted by: Rodney A Stanton | July 18, 2007 8:33 AM
I think that Michael Vick is a dispicable, sadistic, lower than pond scum creature that doesn't even deserve to be called a human being. I would love to see him sit in prison and receive some of the abuse that he's dished out or allowed to happen, but because he is a rich, talented football player, he will probably never see a prison cell. I personally would like to put him in a cage with a couple of wild Grizzly Bears to understand what it means to fight for your life! But since none of that will happen, I can only hope he rots in hell!
Posted by: Irene DiBattista | July 18, 2007 9:09 AM
If Vick is not suspended this year, I will make it a personal quest to go to one of the games he is playing in and sit right behind the bench and berate him as much as I can. This may sounds like small potatoes for the man, but something has to be done. I will not watch any game that he is in if he is on tV. I will cancel my subscription to the NFL network and I will make it my mission in life to see that he goes to jail for a very long time for what he has done. Rae Carruth went to jail for what he did, so should Vick, if it turns out to be true.
Posted by: Dan Grant | July 18, 2007 9:23 AM
Vick has to go - I've been a football fan since the Colts days but this is where I draw my line in the sand with the NFL. I won't put up with this guy being allowed to stay in the league. I couldn't watch the games if he was still in the league. Every time I saw him I'd get mad and upset instead of enjoying the game. Fans across the board are saying enough is enough. Dog fighting is inhumane and unspeakably cruel and he needs to go. I won't have my kids watching him play.
Posted by: Jessie K | July 18, 2007 9:28 AM
Michael Vick does not have the decency to hold a position of respect in the NFL. He and people like him - those who get pleasure from the torture and death of animals, well, it is impossible for me to understand how any professional organization can expect a fan to cheer for a team led by such a flawed individual. I hope he goes to jail for a long, long time. He should be an example that there are limits to this type of behavior. He makes my skin crawl.
Posted by: Cyd Penny | July 18, 2007 11:12 AM
IF MICHAEL VICK CONTINUES TO PLAY FOOTBALL I WILL NEVER WATCH FOOTBALL AGIAN, PUT HIM IN THE RING WITH TYSON LETS SEE WHO WINS IF HE CANT FIGHT WELL YOU KNOW WHAT TO DO.
Posted by: LORI | July 18, 2007 12:29 PM
The thing is really awful about all this from Vick's perspective is the fact that it's dogfighting. You know there are literally millions of people out there who are more outraged by this than if Vick had been charged with repeated counts of assaulting his wife or girlfriend. This is a country of doggie hotels and cat manicurists and pet psychics -- a country that's wacko about its pets -- and this comes from a certified animal lover myself. The stuff that's trickled out about what owners of these animals have done to the "losers" is sickening indeed. Vick may just pass Barry Bonds yet as Chief Sports Villian in the court of public opinion, and I'm not sure I ever would have imagined that.
Posted by: Dr. Tongue | July 18, 2007 5:06 PM
i have had dogs my entire life. they are sentient beings just as we are. they think and feel. they experience fear, joy, guilt, anger, pride.... humankind needs to re-evaluate its relationship to the rest of nature in general, but one of our greatest shames is the way we as a species abuse our animal brethren.
for every vick there is a human being of merit and promise. there must be more good than bad or we'd already be gone.
that said, sick vick should only be able to remain in the league if he does the following:
-- lead a vigorous 10 year nationwide animal rights campaign against the bloodsport of pit fighting and devote 20% of his nfl earnings during that decade to the humane society and other animal rights foundations. he must also testifying without reservation against those who and participate in the pitfighting bloodsport.
-- or, he must enter himself into a hand v fang pit fight to the death with10 mankilling pitbulls at once -- last monster standing wins.
Posted by: J from oakland | July 18, 2007 6:31 PM
Look Micheal vick made a bad decision and sure he will be held reponsible for it ...But damn the white media is loving it hang that darkie or i told you that darkie's could not make a good quarterback , bad role model
just as you trying to hang barry , and now tiger with steriods ...have fun with it but remember inocent until proven guilty ..
Posted by: jake long | July 19, 2007 9:20 AM
Tiger does steroids?
Posted by: jknef | July 19, 2007 11:32 PM
Jake Long, you can't be serious. Michael Vick did not make "a bad decision", he did these things systematically over a period of years. Unless you can specifically point to some element of racism in the news media regarding Michael Vick, please do not detract from the discussion by needlessly pulling the race card.
Posted by: Jake Long Can't Be Serious | July 23, 2007 4:22 PM
Thank you!
Posted by: Anonymous | July 25, 2007 2:35 PM