Michael Vick might have broken his NFL rules, if not the law

Published: Thursday, July 01, 2010, 11:08 AM   

Updated: Thursday, July 01, 2010, 2:50 PM

John DeShazier

The Times-Picayune

No law enforcement official is alleging that Michael Vick committed a crime in Virginia Beach, Va., as he celebrated his birthday Friday night. 

The possible contradiction in his timeline isn't evidence that he broke any laws; his lawyer said he left 10 to 20 minutes before a shooting occurred outside the nightclub where his celebration was held, while a spokesman for the nightclub said a videotape showed Vick actually departed about three minutes prior to the shooting.

But you can bet NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell isn't pleased that, perhaps, Vick was in the wrong place at the wrong time. And you can bet that Goodell will have something to say - again - to the Philadelphia Eagles quarterback about the company he keeps and the fact that, of all people, Vick has to appear to be beyond reproach.

Now, maybe that doesn't sound like it's totally fair to Vick. He served his time for his role in a dogfighting operation, and lost tens of millions of dollars - and likely at least as many fans - while he sat behind bars and surveyed his actions. He has paid his debt, and he paid dearly and significantly.

But his re-admission to the NFL came with some caveats, and he knew exactly what those stipulations were. And, obviously, one of them was that he wouldn't be given much benefit of the doubt, that he'd better not even look like he's been anywhere or in any situation that possibly would cause embarrassment for the league.

Being at a party, after which a man is shot, isn't exactly a situation the league will take pride in.

It's even worse when the guy who was alleged to have been shot was Quanis Phillips, a co-defendant in Vick's dogfighting case and, assuredly, a person Goodell warned Vick to not allow to be caught in the same area code as Vick.

True, Vick reportedly wasn't involved in any altercations inside or outside the club. He's not a suspect in the shooting. Phillips wasn't an invited guest and whether Vick left three minutes or 20 minutes before the shooting, the bottom line is that he left before the shooting.

And still, it's hard not to figure that Goodell just might decide that Vick again has brought unwanted and unflattering attention to the NFL shield, and that Vick still doesn't quite understand how important it is for Vick to avoid even the appearance of impropriety.

Does that mean Vick has to avoid being a "regular" person and that he is shackled by the fact that he can't enjoy simple, lawful pleasures like the rest of us?

That's exactly what it means if he wants to play in the NFL, especially if there's a possibility that something bad could break out. That's the position he put himself in as a convicted felon, and it's the rule he's going to have to abide by - the one he undoubtedly agreed to abide by - until he leaves the NFL.

Just because he didn't commit a crime to Virginia Beach law enforcement officials doesn't mean he didn't slip up in the eyes of Goodell. And right now, the latter probably should be more feared by Vick than the former.