: ATLANTA, Georgia (AP) — Imprisoned former National Football League star Michael Vick will not have to repay a 20 million-dollar bonus to the Atlanta Falcons thanks to a federal judge's ruling on Monday.
US District Judge David Doty's ruling at Minneapolis overturned an earlier arbitrator's ruling that had allowed the Falcons to recover their money from Vick, who was unable to play after being convicted in a dogfighting scandal.
Vick, 27, was suspended by the National Football League even before his December 10 sentencing to 23 months in prison. He is in a drug rehabilitation program at Leavenworth, Kansas, in hope of cutting his time behind bars.
Vick might have to repay some portion of the 20 million dollars that came in the form of a signing bonus under NFL union rules but he could keep other bonus payments thanks to a ruling that the NFL called nonsensical.
"It makes no sense that an individual who wilfully violates his contract is entitled to be paid tens of millions of dollars even though he is in jail and providing no services whatsoever to his employer," NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said.
But the NFL Players' Association called the ruling a complete victory for the union and the embattled quarterback who hopes to return to the NFL, perhaps as early as 2009.
"Standing alone, Michael's contract would have allowed the Falcons to reclaim his roster bonuses, but as Judge Doty ruled, our 2006 extension agreement prevented that by prohibiting forfeitures of bonuses 'already earned'," union general counsel Richard Berthelsen said.
"We are not only pleased for Michael, but his case sets a valuable precedent for other players as well."
The Falcons wanted the money back because they could write any repaid funds off their NFL salary cap limitations after one year.
In a reaction statement on Monday, Falcons president Rich McKay made it clear that team executives are still pondering legal moves to try and recover the money.
"As to our future legal strategies, we will meet with our legal representatives to more fully understand our options before making that determination," McKay said.
The loss means the Falcons will not recoup any of the 37 million dollars in bonus money spent upon Vick but will be unable to spend 15 million dollars in 2009 and 2010 they might otherwise have used on salaries for other talent.
"While we are disappointed by Judge Doty's decision, this ruling does not affect our salary cap management for the 2008 season," McKay said. "Any potential recovery would have only affected our 2009 salary cap.
@ paf
I know. he through away everyting for something so stupid. i think that 23 months is a little extreme for dogfighting. on the other hand... I think that 23 months is not enough for being a dumb a$$. he had so much talent and is loosing millions upon millions of dollars because he wan to still act like a NI&&a. I say he dont deserve the 20 million either. he is not playing for two years. if I dont go to work for two years because i commited a felony, then I don't get paid.
@mightyc42 it's not 4 work he hasn't done it's 4 the years he played for them that's like your job taking money back from you after u got fired it's not money that he would have earned if he still was playing.. if anything he will need that interest on the money he still has kids to take care of that are human(not animals)
DUBR.
you are right. they *** take money that he has been paid for work done. I may be wrong but didnt he get paid the bonus for his ENTIRE contract. the money should be prorated if that is the casewhich it seems like it has since the are keeping 3.7 mil. then if he was worried about his kids. he would not have been commiting multible felonies.
I like dogs but i dont care that much about dogs. but i think torturing anything with a brain is wrong. if he were gambling and training dogs to fight so as to make sure his kids had food on the table i would understand, if he were poor and starving and ate a dog, i wouldnt care. he chose to do wrong and now he is paying he for it. I hope he gets out early and I am happy that he is playing the system to get out early. If the government left a loophole, exploit it.
but he is stupid. like paris hilton and lindsay lohan drunk driving. they should have served more time. it makes no since that these girls have so much money that they can pay for a driver to take them home but will drive drunk. same for vic for losing 1loosing 100 mil for something. and if he does the whole 23 months. so what
Good for U Mike...He already had EVERYTHING taken from him so it's good they let him keep what he earned...I'm a Mike Vick supporter ALL DAY EVERYDAY, everyone makes dumb mistakes (some more extreme than others), and I'm sure he has learned so much from his!!!! I LOVE U MIKE!!! and to MTO, Thank You for not using that busted a$$ mug *** pic this time, he is SO F~ing SEXY ya'll should show it :-)!!!!!!!!!
FREE MIKE VICK
ok honestly, that whole "i'm going to put you under the jailhouse for a dog, b/s is crazy anyway. i'm glad that he gets to keep the money. he worked hard for it, even though he made some bad decisions, still doesn't justify the amount of publicity that the media gave this story. quite frankly, there are plenty of people that are in jail for a lot more, for a lot less time. i'm glad about this and i just hope that vick rises above all of those backstabbers (his family) and do something positive! GO VICK!!
@ Caramelsunshine24
Let me finish that sentence for ya!
"IF I WASN'T MARRIED AND IF VICK WASN'T IN JAIL......." you would be taking herpe meds under the alias Ronita Mexico.
Give me a fookin break. If the guy hadn't been caught, would he have stopped?
Some people need to fall REALLY hard on their *** before a sign of maturity will appear. Maybe he won't take things for granted now.
I don't feel sorry for him one bit. You want to play ghetto, you should be broke just like them.
No remorse from me.
MIKE VICK IS FAR FROM BROKE....
And yes I'm one of the ones that's GLAD that he gets to keep his money. Hell he earned that money as many playoff games he's been in....almost took them to the Superbowl. The only quarterback I know who has over 1,000 rushing yards. HE'S WORTH EVERY PENNY OF DAT $20 MILLION.
He is suffering the consequences enough by turning himself in and serving his sentence early. Actually the man will never have to play again if he chooses not to. He already is worth $100 million anyway.
Plus there are murderers who are walking around scott free. Not saying that cruelty to animals is a good thing but there's something very wrong with the system to give stiffer sentences to dog killers than murderers, child molesters, etc.
AT LEAST HE WON"T BE BROKE WHEN HE'S OUT OF JAIL. Good for him.
IF MIKE IS A LOSER WE ALL ARE LOSERS BECAUSE WE ALL HAVE DONE SOME STUPID SH#T IN LIFE,FIGHT DOGS CHEAT,DRUGS WHAT EVER IT DOEN'T MAKE YOU BETTER BECAUSE YOU DIDN'T FIGHT DOGS SO GET OVER YOURSELVES I'M GLAD THAT HE IS BLESS TO GET ANOTHER CHANCE JUST LIKE I WOULD ANYBODY ELSE,THATS WHY ARE COULD NEVER BE GOD!!!
ladytee35 Flag post They need to stop messing with my boy. This entire thing has been taken way out of control. It kills me how we have laws that are more harsh for people who do things to animals than those who molest and rape kids. This world is backwards. --------------- Same Toilet Different SH*T!
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I completely agree w/ you. And good for him.
