Each label depicts a different dog at the Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in Utah, and the set goes for $672, or $40 a bottle. Each label also has a brief story about the dog. Ten percent of each sale goes to Best Friends.

“Everybody has their favorite and people are buying for different reasons,” said Matt Hahn, co-owner of Carivintas Winery. “Some people will drink the wine, some will never open the bottle.”

I prefer collie, but if pit bull is all that's available, I guess I have no choice. I hope you know my dinner party is ruined, however.

Some are just fine with it, though.

Also, Deuce of Davenport wonders, will these wines be sold at The Tasting Room?

Vick Dogs Featured On Wine Labels [AJC Pets]

Today: The Atlanta Falcons. Your author is Zach Hislip who writes at TakeThatSatan.

Where does one begin to discuss the clusterfuck that is the Atlanta Falcons? Should I start at the beginning and discuss how the Falcons started as an expansion franchise in 1966 in an effort to bring substandard football to the people of Georgia and have failed to produce back-to-back winning seasons ever since? Should I bring up the fact that the Falcons traded a young Brett Favre for a bag of wishin’ beans? Should anyone, anywhere ever speak of the “Dirty Bird” again. No. As you and I both know, you cannot discuss the current state of the Atlanta Falcons without first speaking of two men: Michael Vick and Bobby Petrino.

A Brief History in NFL Douchebaggery

Part 1: Ron Mexico is a bad, bad man

In 2001, the Falcons were a couple of bad seasons removed from their improbable appearance in Super Bowl XXXIII (a 34-19 "squeaker" that the Broncos eventually won when they showed up for the opening kickoff and then most of the Atlanta secondary was arrested for soliciting prostitutes during the halftime show). Desperate to get back to Show, the Falcons made a blockbuster trade for the #1 pick in the Draft. With it, they selected future Hall of Fame RB LaDanian Tomlinson. Sorry. I can dream, can't I? In reality, the Falcons front office traded several high picks and a bit of their souls to get Michael Vick.

From the beginning Vick was filled with promise (and apparently marijuana, herpes, and an inexplicable hatred for man's best friend). He had a rocket arm, unreal speed and agility, and an uncanny ability to elude tacklers. We fell in love with him, in a football sense. Arthur Blank, however, seemed to literally fall in love with Vick to the point where one could imagine Blank sitting in his office late at night, doodling Vick’s name in his trapper keeper. As a result, Blank signed Vick to a record breaking contract (if memory serves, it was something in the neighborhood of 20 years, $3 trillion, $500 billion guaranteed) By all indications, the endorsement of Vick's new contract came with an exchange of friendship bracelets and an official signing of yearbooks. Regardless of the particulars, Vick was essentially made the managing partner of this crazy little enterprise we like to call the Falcons.

Soon thereafter, Vick decided that he wanted to become more than just a running quarterback. This apparently meant becoming more of a refined pocket passer and also a gigantic asshole. Sadly, he only accomplished one of his goals. In the years following the signing of the contract (and Vick’s official designation as Blank’s BFF), Vick unleashed a veritable torrent of bad behavior and uncatchable passes. He and/or members of his posse were busted for weed. We found out that Vick was in the habit of picking up girls under an assumed name and giving them STDs: Ron Mexico and herpes, respectively (it's still mind-boggling that a grown man would choose to call himself Ron Mexico and that a grown woman would have sex with a man that she believed was named Ron Mexico)

Then Vick gave the hometown crowd the finger. (You stay classy, Ron Mexico). But the worst insult of all was the fact that Vick couldn't hit a receiver on a simple slant pattern! He couldn't even dump it off to his running back without throwing it at his feet or sailing the ball five feet over his head. I can't tell you how many times I saw a receiver drop a ball because they were running an underneath route and Vick fired the ball as hard as possible at them.

And finally, in 2007, the final bombshell landed. Unless you've spent the last few years in a hut somewhere in Montana plotting the overthrow of the government, you probably already know that Michael Vick, the starting quarterback of the Atlanta Falcons, was arrested, charged and pled guilty to several counts of felonious dog fighting. Too much has been written and too many emotion-filled debates have been had on this topic for me to even want to touch it anymore. I’ll just say this, I, for one, felt betrayed. It was like finding out that your uncle isn’t really your uncle; he’s just some guy that likes to watch you sleep. . .and he also brutally kills dogs.

Ultimately, we’ll remember Vick as a superior athlete that left us all with a few meaningless records, a crippling lack of cap space and the bad taste in our mouths that for most of us is disillusionment and bitterness, but for a few of us is also herpes.

Part 2: The Devil Came Down to Georgia. . .And Then Left 13 Games Into His First Season

Bobby Petrino is a dick. Pure and simple. You know it. I know it. Hell, Bobby Petrino probably even knows it. The man is an evil, greedy, cowardly buttfuck. He couldn’t treat the players like indentured servants, so he ran away with his tail between his legs. I’m not even mad anymore. I’m just. . .what’s the word?. . .filled with rage. I simply want the man to die, choking on his own excrement. Okay, I was just kidding with those last few sentences. I was never really mad. I was actually happy he left, no matter how bad it made our organization look. He was running the team into the ground. It was near revolt. If it were possible to have a mutiny on a football team, I’m pretty sure we would have seen it by seasons end. Imagine a Gatorade shower, but instead of a shower it’s more like a glass aimed to the face and instead of Gatorade, it’s acid. Yeah. That’s the kind of loathing we’re talking about.

In the end, Bobby Petrino’s brief stint as an NFL head coach will leave a lasting legacy. No college coach will be hired by an NFL franchise ever again. Ever. At least not until the last of the current owners dies off (which is a long way off. I hear that Jerry Jones sleeps in a cryogenic chamber and feasts upon the souls of the damned) Also, it has made the Atlanta Falcons into a laughingstock – the kind of laughingstock where a lumpy, man-boobed ego-manic (*cough -Bill Parcels – cough*) foregoes ridiculous money and the chance to run your organization like a black-hearted tyrant, to take the same job with a team that was one win away from becoming the absolute worst team in the history of professional football for the simple reason that he thought that that team had more potential. That’s as low as it gets, right? It can’t get worse than this, can it?!?

Can I just take a moment here and ask if it would be possible to apply for an official “Curse” designation like the Cubs have and the Red Sox used to have? Only this time, for an entire city? The Braves suck right now, sitting at approximately 60 games behind the Mets. And the Hawks just lost Josh Childress to the Greek League! Didn’t even know that was an option. Now I have to live in fear that they’re going to trade Josh Smith to the Harlem Globetrotters for $97 and the prop bucket filled with confetti. Oh, yeah, and someone told me recently that Atlanta now has a professional hockey team, but I'm pretty sure that that's just the diseased ramblings of a madman. Anyway, doesn’t this qualify us for a “curse” – the kind that makes people in other states root for you for no apparent reason and makes your merchandise triple in price? We could really use it right now.

2008 Atlanta Falcons

So how bad has it gotten? A few days ago I drafted my fantasy team and did not select a single Falcon. Maybe I’m a homer, but I always found a way to justify taking at least one Falcon. (One year, in a fit of preseason induced delirium, I picked the Falcon Defense and Special Teams. True story. Oh, my league still laughs about it) But as I looked at this year’s roster, I didn’t find one guy worth the pick. Not because there is no talent on Falcons this year. There might be. But we don’t know. Not yet, anyway. As I looked at the “Expert Projections” for the Falcons, I had to laugh. How the hell did they accomplish that feat? Has there ever been a non-expansion team with more question marks than this one? A rookie head coach, a rookie quarterback, a starting running back that spent the last four years as LTs backup, an inexperienced offensive line, and a defense that has lost several key veterans and consists of about half rookies or second year players? I honestly felt bad for those guys trying to make their stat projections. Did they just randomly select digits? Was it Ouija board? Or was there a room full of computers crunching numbers for days at a time?

Head Coach

By all accounts Mike Smith is a fine head coach. From what I’ve read he’s got a good idea of what he’s doing, communicates well with his players and has a plan for this team. But this is Atlanta and frankly we’ve been burned before. We just never know what we’re getting. He could end up being the second coming of Lombardi or we could be watching him sob uncontrollable for the entire 4th Quarter by Week 10. It’s a crap shoot. All I can ask is that you please be tender with us, Mr. Smith.

Quarterback

At least throughout all of the Vick ordeal, Arthur Blank and the Falcons front office learned a valuable, all-be-it, painful lesson: You don’t give a player a huge contract unless he is a proven winner and you certainly don’t give him the kind of guaranteed money Vick received without absolute assurance. Wait a second. . .wait just one second. . .Yep, the Falcons signed rookie quarterback Matt Ryan to unheard of $72 million/$34.75 guaranteed contract. WTF, Blank?!? Is this a cry for help from a desperate man?!? Why would you do that? How can this happen again? And in a stroke of genius, the coaching staff decided to put their 72 Million Dollar Man behind a line that gave up 47 sacks last year. Yes, let’s do try and end his career in his first season. But at least you know exactly what you’re getting with Matt Ryan. After all, he did go against the toughest defenses in the country playing in the ACC! The ACC!! “He played Wake Forest, Maryland, AND Duke!! In the same year, you say!! Sign him immediately!! Pay him whatever he wants!! Of course I’m not concerned that he threw a ton of interceptions. Why would I be?!” Is that what happened, Blank?! Is it?! Is it?! But, Zach, you might ask, isn’t this kid the perfect person to build an organization around? I would say yes, if my organization was some sort of Christian folk singing group. I mean look at him. He looks like he came straight from a Norman Rockwell painting. He looks like some gargantuan Opie or Howdy-Doody. He’s going to be great at rebuild the Falcons’ reputation in the community. But on the football field? No idea.

I rest easy at night, though, knowing that we have such quality options at backup quarterback if Ryan were to go down. They’re like a good insurance policy. . .because you can never have enough insurance, can you? If you or someone you love is interested in obtaining more information about affordable insurance, just see our friendly associate, Chris Redman. . .Oh wait, that’s right, Chris Redman is no longer selling insurance, he’s the Falcons backup quarterback.

Running back

During the off-season, Atlanta signed career back-up Michael Turner to a hefty contract. And why the hell not? Why would you want to know what you’re getting into when you’re trying to rebuild a franchise? Just sign someone and fast! “What, he’s got only 225 career carries? But he was backing up LT! He’s just got to be good!” Am I getting closer, Blank?! Turner has looked good in the preseason, but then again its only preseason. And as for his stats, they don’t really tell me anything considering that he got most of his snaps in junk time when LT had already worn defenses out. I pray he’s good. I mean, I like Jerious Norwood. Had him on my bench all last year. But he is not an every-down back and I think we all know that.

Tight End

Apparently no one told the Falcons that it was advisable to have a tight end on their roster, so they didn’t bother. Seriously, though, I just looked at the depth chart and their starting TE is some guy named Ben Hartsock. I’m pretty sure that’s a made-up person. Good thing you released Crumpler in the off-season to make room for this Chaz Thrustbone character. Wouldn’t want to have a sure handed, big bodied tight end for your rookie QB to throw to or anything. . .

O-Line

The Falcons will be starting a second year player, last year’s second round pick, Justin Blalock, and a rookie, this year’s other first round pick, Sam Baker, on their offensive line. Depending on how you look at two fresh, inexperienced faces on a line that gave up 47 sacks last year, this could be a really good or a really bad thing.

Defense

Atlanta lost some talented defenders during the off-season, CB DeAngelo Hall and DT Rod Coleman. And they have replaced them with. . .well, they haven’t replaced them. I’m not sure if they were planning on it and just didn’t get around to it or if they spent all of their money on their new handsome, dog-loving quarterback. I guess they’ll have to make do with what they have. They did get Grady Jackson back anchoring the defensive line (or anything else that he stands on or around) which means that they should be stout against the run. . .provided that opposing teams decide to run straight into Jackson’s enormous gut. The pass rush should be. . .well. . .who knows. Former first round pick, DE Jamaal Anderson (not sure if they drafted him based solely on his name but it’s looking like another of a long line of bad draft picks) needs to vastly improve on his rookie season in which he recorded exactly zero sacks. The good news is that seems almost impossible not to do. RDE John Abraham is due for his next serious injury in about two weeks, so that should be fun. See you in 2009, John!

The one strength for this team should be their linebackers. Michael Boley is a solid player, Keith Brooking moves back to his natural position at OLB, and rookie Curtis Lofton looks like he could be the answer at MLB that Edgerton Hartwell never was. Conversely, the secondary looks like a veritable who’s who of unknown veterans and rookies or second year players. . .all except Lawyer Milloy who seems to be channeling Deon Sanders these days – in the off-the-field distractions and contract demands, not in the football skill department.

All-in-all, it should be one hell of a season!

What to Look For in ‘08

1. Arthur Blank’s relationship with Matt Ryan – will they start going steady immediately or will they just play it cool for a while? Will Arthur need some time after his messy breakup with Michael or will he just jump back into the dating scene right away? Tune in and find out!

2. 6th Pro Bowl for Brooking? Will he amass 250 or so tackles when no one else on the defense seems willing or capable of tackling anyone?

3. Which used car dealership will Joey Harrington be working in by season’s end? After being cut by the Falcons, several used car lots expressed interest in Harrington with Ted’s Pre-Owned Autos in Phoenix, AZ making a strong offer to “give him a shot” if Harrington could avoid the major screw-ups that hampered his NFL career. Or will Joey want to remain closer to home?

4. What will be the next scandal that throws the team into a tailspin and shakes the faith of the fan base? Will Roddy White punch a baby in a supermarket? Will new kicker, Jason Elam, be caught robbing graves by torchlight? Will head coach, Mike Smith, fake his own death and flee to Honduras?

Predictions

The Falcons end the season 2-14, rallying behind Chris Redman (who replaces Matt Ryan in Week 8 when Ryan goes down with a fractured pelvis and lacerated spleen) to win the last game of the season to avoid equaling the worst win total in team history. Also Joey Harrington throws everyone a curveball and decides to sell carpet in Michigan City, Indiana.

Go Dawgs!!

Now, they finally have someone to namedrop during television promos (Sunday, Reggie Bush, Drew Brees and the Saints take on um ... um ... um ... the Falcons!). Ryan is more than a quarterback. He is one of America's greatest heroes. He fought terrorists, taught at the naval academy, helped capture a Soviet submarine captained by a defecting Russian officer with a strange Scottish accent, and even became president of the United States.

Oops, that was Jack Ryan.

Matt Ryan's just a quarterback from Boston College. Golden Eagle quarterbacks come in all shapes and sizes. Some are tall, like Ryan (a strapping 6-4 plus change). Some are short, like Doug Flutie (but with scrappiness to spare!) Some are bald, like Matt Hasselbeck. Some are married to cute-yet-shrewish succubae, like Tim Hasselbeck. Some, like Brian St. Pierre, just are.

And Ryan is a better prospect than any of them, better than Flutie, better than Hasselbeck the non-Elizabeth Encumbered. He isn't getting the superstar treatment some top quarterback prospects earn, in part because he broke his foot in his junior year and has a Favrish tendency to throw interceptions right into defender's chests. But Mike Mayock (who knows a little something about this stuff) points out that Ryan had no one to throw to at BC and often had to force passes just to generate offense. And once the foot healed last year, we saw that he had mobility to match his arm and decisiveness. Ryan is ready to play right away.

And I'm told that Ryan simply loves animals.

Vick appears to be hanging in.

Michael has written a couple times. I've written him back. We have that kind of relationship. Despite the mixture of frustration, anger and disappointment in him, I believe in second chances and redemption. I would love to see Michael pay his debt to society and come out and play again in the NFL. I think he could also be a big help to ... speak to people about some of his choices.

Q: Would you welcome him back to the Falcons?
A: I would not say yes. I would not say no. At this point, Michael is in a federal penitentiary [on a dogfighting conviction] and is suspended from football. We have to move forward. We are moving forward. We have to assume he's not coming back. I do wish him well. I'd love to see him play again. It would be good for the NFL.

Vick has messed with Blank's life so much at this point that we can only assume he will return to the NFL, sign with the Panthers, win two Super Bowls and then swallow Blank's goldfish, Fish Called Wanda-style.

Has Arthur Blank Been Getting High Off His Own Supply? [Deuce Of Davenport]

Erstwhile Chargers running back Michael Turner, best known to fantasy players as the guy you picked up in a late round in hopes that LaDainian Tomlinson would get injured (BUT NNNOOOOOO HE HAD TO WAIT FOR THE PLAYOFFS FOR THAT), got on the 6-year-deal train which seems so popular this off-season and is now heading to the Falcons.

Falcons fans seem a little elated, and when your other option is Jerious Norwood, why wouldn't you be? But this "beginning of an era" stuff might be a touch hasty. I mean, the team has two running backs, no quarterback and no receivers. Doesn't that just make you the Vikings?

Yes, Lawyer scratched out Petrino's name and wrote in "COWARD." He then eagerly provided it to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

We're not sure leaving a job as coach of the Atlanta Falcons qualifies someone as a "coward," but hey: We're no lawyer.

Milloy Replaces Petrino Signature With Coward On Farewell Letter [Sports By Brooks]
Letter From Petrino Elicits 'Coward' Reply [Atlanta Journal Constitution]

Anyone who wasn't Bill Simmons could see the Falcons were toast the minute Vick went bellyup — they were probably toast before that, actually — and it all led to Coach Petrino deciding that he'd rather deal with those maniacs in Fayetteville. That can't be a good sign.

As you'd probably expect, Falcons fans aren't particularly fond of Mr. Petrino right now.

I honestly can't believe that Petrino called in his resignation. To put this in some context, I quit at least four retail jobs in my high school to early college days. I went in to work every time and told my bosses face to face. Not once did I call in. That's right, Bobby: you've been trumped in the decency department by a guy who once sold bikes at Toys 'R Us. Your move, jackass.

Someday, NFL coaches will have to accept that Jimmy Johnson isn't walking through that door.

Some Meandering Petrino Thoughts [The Falcoholic]

It all came down to a bad polygraph.

During that interview an FBI polygrapher found Vick was being deceptive in denying he killed dogs. After Vick's lawyer, Billy Martin, was told this, he asked Vick about the failed test. At that moment, Martin told Hudson, Vick broke down.

"I did it all," Vick said, Martin related. "I did everything. If you need me to say more, I'll say more."

That initial hesitance to take responsibility was the reason the dog-loving judge hammered Vick yesterday, and why he's gonna ESPN's gonna make a lot of money off the Arena League in 2010.

Vick's Lies Boosted Prison Time [Atlanta Journal-Constitution]
Just How Into God Is Michael Vick? [Deadspin]

Yep, it'll be all-Vick, all-the-time this evening, which is the sort of thing that happens when you have two below-average teams. Sure, we could make some sort of argument that the Saints need a win tonight to keep their playoff hopes alive, but no one's really buying that. We think they should just eliminate the middle man and put Roger Cossack in the booth for the whole game.

Anyway, yeah, football.

The Realests point out the carnage that resulted from Bobby Petrino heading to Atlanta. (To coach Ron Mexico! Ha!) Petrino is 1-5 with the Falcons. His replacement, Steve Kragthorpe, is a massively disappointing 4-4 at Louisville. His replacement, Todd Graham, has frittered away all the improvement at Tulsa, falling to 4-3. And his replacement, David Bailiff, is 1-6 at Rice.

If Joe Torre takes another job, we'll be tracking.

Coaching Carousel From Hell [The Realests]

Sure, we suppose you could track this ongoing "resurgence" of the New York Giants, but that's hardly inspirational. We suspect the majority of the coverage tonight is, once again, going to focus on Michael Vick, and hey, whatever averts our eyes from Joey Harrington.

We're told Jimmy Kimmel is popping by the booth tonight. The game will need all the life it can get, not that we'll particularly be watching.

Five Questions With The Falcoholic [Big Blue View]

The NFLPA immediately appealed the arbitrator's decision, and, frankly, we think they should. We're not sure Vick deserves that money but ... well, we'll feel a lot better about the whole business when they make the Falcons, you know, return all the money they've made of Vick jerseys for the last three year. We doubt they'll be doing that.

No matter what, it must have made a fascinating conversation between Vick and his lawyer.

Falcons Could Recoup $19.97 Million From Vick [Atlanta Journal-Constitution]
You Want Me To Give Back $19.9 Million? Man, F—k That [Kissing Suzy Kolber]

We know how the NOIS folks think about this, but some in Atlanta felt ESPN got what it deserved for trying to invent some sort of TV "controversy" that exploited racial biases.

Maybe these loudmouths represent the true voice of Atlanta, a voice which believes Michael Vick was somehow the victim of a massive conspiracy designed to run the most gifted athlete Atlanta's ever seen, a guy who was almost singlehandedly responsible for transforming the team from doormat into perpetual sellout, out of town. Maybe that's it. Or maybe the vast majority of Atlantans have had it with discussing a confessed dogfighter, and are sick to death of manufactured, made-for-TV "events" that try to drive racial wedges into a city that's got enough problems seeing beyond black and white as it is.

Man. We're pretty glad we didn't watch this.

ESPN Reminds You That Black And White People Hate Each Other [The Fynal Cut]
Vick Divides Us This I Know / Because ESPN Tells Me So [Atlanta Magazine]
It's The Falcons' Fault [NOIS Blog]

Anyway, Falcons fans are tongue-in-cheek about their savior.

The Atlanta Falcons DID wandereth the desert for two games, and verily they DID sucketh it hard. Lo, they DID raise their cry to the sky and ask for help in their most sucktastical journey. And in answer to their calls, The McKay DID send a most wondrous Byron Leftwich in response. Placated, the Falcons DID rattle off 14 wins in a row on way to a most glorious Super Bowleth victory.

We'd think they would have to change their offense from what they were initially planning, because not only would the same offense not work for Byron Leftwich and Ron Mexico, we're not even sure they're playing the same sport.

Byron Leftwich Signs A Two Year Deal [The Falcoholic]

The thing about this division is that there are three teams who have the feel, to us, like ones that are going to implode this year. But they can't all implode, we suppose.

Some picks!

• AJ Daulerio: Saints, Falcons, Panthers, Buccaneers.
• Kissing Suzy Kolber: Saints, Panthers, Buccaneers, Falcons.
• Robert Weintraub, Slate: Saints, Panthers, Falcons, Buccaneers.
• Matt Pitzer, USA Today: Panthers, Saints, Falcons, Buccaneers.
• Aaron Schatz, Football Outsiders: Saints, Buccaneers, Panthers, Falcons.
• Sports Illustrated: Saints, Panthers, Buccaneers, Falcons.
• DEADSPIN: Saints, Falcons, Panthers, Buccaneers. No matter what happens, deep down, Mr. Mexico's problems might end up helping more than they hurt. Eventually. Long time from now.

As always, we know nothing.

Fortunately, we cynics did get a reward; Vick started talking about Jesus. We don't remember Jesus coming up that often when he was bringing weed on planes — ahem — and electrocuting dogs, but apparently that was when there was just one set of footprints in the sand. We want to give Vick the benefit of the doubt and believe this transformation, but it's not really our decision anyway. Vick's going to have a lot of time to figure out what's real and what isn't. Football is the least of his concerns, and, frankly, since we weren't gonna draft Joey Harrington anyway, it's the least of ours.

Michael Vick ... Born Again? [Ballers, Gamers And Scoundrels]
Michael Vick Q&A [SI.com]

That is to say: It didn't seem like the Atlanta Falcons, playing last night on another excellent "Monday Night Football" broadcast, didn't appear all that broken up. It's not that they didn't like Vick or anything, but when your job is to run out onto a football field and tackle people — or avoid the large men who are attempting to tackle you — what Nancy Grace is yammering about is the least of your concerns.

Which means you can shave messages in your head. Someday, we're just gonna do this site through a straight razor and a Web cam. We're a little concerned about how the links will work, but we'll figure it out.

DeAngelo Hall's Message For Ocho Cinco [Mr. Irrelevant]

Jones, of course, was suspended for the season despite never being legally convicted of anything, but instead for violating Goodell's player conduct policy. Meanwhile, Vick's guilty plea on dogfighting-related charges will put him in prison for no more than five years. Upon news of the guilty plea — and therefore, legal confession — Commissioner Goodell suspended Vick indefinitely.

Aw, life's no fun with stuff makes sense.

An aside on the English language: I never cared for the word "indefinitely" in context to suspensions. He's definitely suspended. "Goodell suspended Vick definitely." Makes more sense to me.

So instead of a hilarious inconsistency from the commissioner's office, methinks the Vick suspension will surpass that of Pacman's, justice will be served, and Goodell will be able to continue ruling the NFL with further ironfistery. By the way, did you hear about his proposed rule changes for this year's NFL season?

• No substitutions
• No penalties
• No time limit

Also, hey Vick, nice signature you got there.

C'est la Vie, Michael Vick [With Malice]

Yep, the Arena League boosters are already sensing opportunity.

If Michael Vick wants to revive his career and establish any kind of credibility to his image, he will need to find a home on a football field, and be a model citizen. If I'm Michael Vick, I give Commissioner Baker a call and beg him for a chance to restore himself by playing in the AFL. Vick is a number one overall pick for a reason. He holds several NFL records, led his team to several deep playoff runs, and can be a game changer when things look bleak. If Vick were given a chance to play in the Arena Football League, he would most certainly succeed. It would be a great draw for the AFL fans across the country, and as long as Vick is sincere in his efforts to redeem himself, could be a great figurehead for the AFL.

To AFL owners, go on and take a chance. Everyone deserves a second opportunity to redeem themselves. Who knows, the gamble might end up in a giant payday: an Arena Bowl Championship.

Of course, by "giant payday," we mean, "500 bucks, plus expenses and a decoder ring."

Why Not Vick? [Arena Fan]

Of all the aftereffects to come out following Michael Vick's announcement that he'll be pleading guilty, the one that amazes us the most is that he's gonna have to admit, out loud, that the indictment against him is true. That's not something one can spin; he's gonna have to say, to a judge and to the world, that he electrocuted puppies.

We knew Vick was in deep trouble when he became a story that people who don't care about sports started to care about. It's the Nancy Grace Rule: Once a sports story crosses over to the cable gabfests, it's not about sports anymore, and it has nothing to do with Vick, or the Falcons, or the NFL (or, to use another example, Duke University). All that matters is that the woman down the hall of your office who wouldn't know Peyton Manning if he were standing in front of her is suddenly saying, "He should have to go through the same thing he put those dogs through," even though she couldn't tell you what position Vick plays. That, friends, is when Vick was toast. We'll find out just how toast on Monday.

Top 10 Losers In The Vick Scandal [Five Tool Tool]

"After consulting with his family over the weekend, Michael Vick has asked that I announce today that he has reached an agreement with federal prosecutors regarding charges pending against him," Vick attorney Billy Martin said in a statement. "Mr. Vick has agreed to enter a plea of guilty to those charges and to accept full responsibility for his actions and the mistakes he has made. Michael wishes to apologize again to everyone who has been hurt by this matter.

We lose out on the trial of the century, but hey: At least Tim Donaghy will now have someone to talk to.

By the way, as we begin to say goodbye to the whole ordeal, we thank the fine gents at Log's Blog have developed a drinking game for you to play while reading the gruesome Vick indictment. It has potential, and it will keep us warm during those cold winters days of no trial.

Oh Pretty Prince Of Parties, Where's The Party Now? [Log's Blog]
Michael Vick Indictment [The Smoking Gun]

Your author is Jay Busbee, who runs the Atlanta sports blog Right Down Peachtree, and contributes to ESPN.com, Esquire.com, Bluff, and a bunch of other places. His words are after the jump.

—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-

So, how was your team's offseason?

Atlanta's kind of sucked. Former head coach Jim Mora Jr. talked himself right out of a job. New hire Bobby Petrino had to face accusations of jumping ship at Louisville. Jonathan Babineaux beat his girlfriend's dog to death. A woman was allegedly raped at the Atlanta home of Patrick Kerney, who just left Atlanta to sign with the Seahawks. And then there was...yeah, that.

So you can understand why Falcons owner Arthur Blank might long for the days of his former gig running Home Depot. When the feds bust dogfighting rings, they don't go after the guys who supplied the lumber for the rape stands. At recent press conferences, the once-spry Blank has looked as beaten-down as a lame-duck president at the end of his second term. (Matter of fact, you could say he's aging in...dog years! Wackity schmackity doo!)

He's not alone. The city of Atlanta's suffering through the late stages of Vick Fatigue; you can hear the weariness in the words of the columnists and talk-show hosts who've dissected every element of this case more obsessively than geeks working over a "Lost" season finale. But things aren't as divided as you've been led to believe; even the town's most reliably pro-athlete voices are suggesting that maybe, just maybe, The System has a point on this one.

You can forgive Atlanta for thinking it's snakebit, though. Think back to when Atlanta actually made it to the Super Bowl, back in 1999. The night before the game, Falcons safety Eugene Robinson, hours removed from accepting an award for "high moral character," tried spreading the love with an undercover vice cop. Then, two games into the next season, with the Falcons projected as a strong NFC title contender, running back Jamal Anderson blew out an ACL, torpedoing the Falcons for seasons to come.

We all thought it would be different with Vick, but it wasn't. And now, it's going to take years for Atlanta to get rid of the Vick stain. A check of Google News—the first step for hack snapshot journalism—reveals that while "Atlanta Falcons" brings nearly 15,000 hits, running the same search without Vick's name brings one-tenth that amount.

But that's for the future. Let's talk now. Forgotten in the whole Vick Affair was the fact that Petrino wasn't exactly enamored of Vick's skills from the get-go. Persistent rumors—remember, repeat a rumor three times, and it becomes a fact—held that if Vick put together another of his dazzle-and-fizzle seasons, combining hairsbreadth backfield escapes with bounce-pass third-and-longs, the Falcons would have been looking in other directions anyway.

Ah, but would they have looked in Joey Harrington's direction? Would anybody other than Harrington's mom? Like it or not, here we are. Harrington's a competent enough pocket passer, and right in line to helm the very embodiment of Simmons' Ewing Theory.

What about the rest of the team? Further proof that God must have lost money on the Falcons last season came right after training camp began, when Warrick Dunn, one of the NFL's unimpeachable good guys—he gives homes to poor people, for chrissake—went down with a back injury, costing him most of the preseason. Fellow backfielders Jerious (rhymes with "Carry us!") Norwood and Ovie Mughelli (tastes divine with a light cream sauce and cracked pepper), along with rookie Jason Snelling, may be a fantasy owner's worst nightmare, but they should prove a decent enough ground attack, even if they can't continue the three-year-old streak of leading the league in rushing.

The receiving corps is another concern. The Falcons signed ageless almost-wonder Joe Horn to combine with a couple make-or-break guys in Roddy White and Michael Jenkins. Alge Crumpler's one of the best tight ends in the game and should make for a nice little security blanket for Harrington. Petrino favors an attack that spreads the field, which means both receivers and runners will have room to move—hopefully downfield.

Even with the loss of Kerney, the defense should be solid enough, particularly with DeAngelo Hall and Lawyer Milloy deep and Keith Brooking centering the linebacker corps. Rookie defensive end Jamaal Anderson—no, not that one—should make an immediate impact, and hopefully not rupture an ACL doing so.

Fortunately for Atlanta, the schedule's got its share of sixteenth-seed creampuffs, including the Vikings, Texans, Titans and Cardinals. Which is good, because it's not like we'll get any kind of breaks in our own division. Federal prosecutors must have studied Tampa Bay's defense for tips on how to run Vick to ground. The Carolina Panthers don't much sweat the two annual I-85 showdowns. And we can't even kick around New Orleans anymore. Time was, the Saints were the Gary Cherone to our Sammy Hagar; the A.J. to our Paulie. As crappy as we were, we always knew we had New Orleans to cushion our fall. No more.

So, hey, in the end, who knows. Atlanta won't go 4-12, like plenty of people are predicting, but unfortunately, they won't be throwing a scare into the '72 Dolphins either. And maybe somewhere, ages hence, we'll all look back on this supreme misfire in the grand Falcons saga and manage a rueful smile. Some of us from lockdown, perhaps, but still.

It feels like the end of an era. Not just the end of a once exciting NFL career, but the end of any trust athletes could have in their posse. Aren't these guys supposed to be protecting them?

Perhaps athletes now will be more mindful of their circle, more discerning even. At least we can hope. Athletes often believe in their own invulnerability. And some of them will continue to do so. But when they do, they should only think of Vick, who, sadly, looks to have lost it all - for his posse.

We're not big Entourage viewers, but if Turtle sold Vince out to the feds on a drug bust, that would inspire us to tune in, regularly.

Vick Fallout: End Of The Posse? [Ballers, Gamers And Scoundrels]
Vick's NFL Future Could Be Bleak [ESPN]

(UPDATE: The Smoking Gun, as always, is all over it.)

With Vick under the gun in every possible way, his lawyers — one of whom, in a symptom of just how crazed this case has become, felt obliged yesterday to point out that he is a dog lover — are almost certainly going to take a deal that limits Vick to one year in jail, or something around that. The idea is to salvage his NFL career, or what's possibly left of it.

We're not sure if jail time served counts as part of Vick's suspension, or if he has to sit through another suspension when he gets out of jail ... but it looks like he's going to jail. Imagine that.

Vick Attorneys Negotiating Plea [Atlanta Journal Constitution]
Ookie Is Screwed [Rumors And Rants]

Well, we might be in luck. Vick appears to see the writing on the wall. His co-defendants are testifying against him, and any potential jury pool clearly is not gonna be leaning in his direction. (If they're white, anyway.) Therefore, he could be considering a plea agreement.

Sources told ESPN's Kelly Naqi that Vick attorneys Larry Woodward and Billy Martin met with federal prosecutor Michael Gill and the investigators on Monday afternoon. The attorneys planned to speak with the quarterback in the evening to see what direction he wants to go in.

They say he has until Friday to decide, or the appropriate trial documents will be filed. So, it's possible this could be over faster than we realized. There might be no place left for Vick to scramble.

Vick Must Decide Whether To Accept Plea Agreement [ESPN]

King says the larger concern for commissioner Roger Goodell is allegations that people were gambling on the dogfights, which sort of makes sense; if you're going to watch two animals rip each other the shreds, you should at least have some money riding on the outcome. The supposed suspension, according to Yahoo!, should come down this week.

We would point out that Vick has yet to be convicted of anything, therefore making it odd that you could deprive him of his livelihood, but, of course, Goodell's making a habit out of this, Pac Man Jones, et al. (We'll be back to Pac Man in a bit, by the way.) It's probably unfair, but it's consistently and fairly unfair, so, there's that.

Meanwhile ... we repeat: Vick's not gonna ever start an NFL game again. Fortunately, you can still gamble on those.

Vick Suspension Near [Yahoo! Sports]
Newsmakers [SI.com]

(UPDATE: The NFL is officially denying the Yahoo! story.)

The comments were made on KDKA's "Sunday Sports Showdown."

"It's really a sad day in this country when somehow ... Michael Vick would have been better off raping a woman if you look at the outcry of what happened. Had he done that, he probably would have been suspended for four games and he'd be back on the field. But because this has become a political issue, all of a sudden the commissioner has lost his stomach for it."

We think there is a slight, tiny kernel of truth in what Ziese said; we think Roger Goodell is letting political issues affect his decision making process. This seems reasonable, though; he is, after all, the commissioner. Dealing with political issues is part of the job description.

But even though some have tried to defend Ziese, we have a hard time falling into line here. We understand that he made some major mistakes with his word choice — if at all possible, it's probably wise to avoid using the words "rape" and "better off" in the same sentence, particularly when you're on Sunday morning television — but we don't think his fundamental premise is sound. Players who have been accused of rape have hardly been getting off scot free. Kobe Bryant, when he was accused of rape, lost all of his sponsors and only got him back because he was cleared of the charges (and can score 80-plus points a game). If Vick is cleared of all charges down the line, he'll be back in the NFL. He'll surely be booed ... but definitely not any more than someone who had, you know, been convicted of rape.

We understand the point that Vick has turned into Public Enemy No. 1 even though other players beat their spouses and other human-related offenses. But we can't be with Zeise here; next time, Paul, say he would have been better off if he had killed an innocent woman in a drunk driving accident. That would have been far more accurate, and cutting.

Free Paul Zeise [PGH Bloggers]

In an interview with "The People's Station," V-103 in Atlanta, Vick said ... well, he said that people should stick with him, or something.

"I just want to thank all my fans and all my support and all the people that are praying for Mike Vick and are in my corner right now. It's a crisis situation for me, but I'm going to get through it and I feel, by the grace of God, that's the only way. I believe in the outcome at the end, and that's why I put my faith in the man upstairs. It pains me not be down there right now because I know so many people want to see me and I want to be there."

The interview was with Porsche Foxx, which is an awesome name. Coincidentally, "Porsche" and "Foxx" are two great dog names.

V-103 Exclusive Interview With Michael Vick [V-103]

Via The Big Lead, it turns out that the NFL has officially banned Deion from writing the column anymore, specifically a column in response to the reaction to his last one. (Apparently, people were upset.)

Understandably, the NFL did not like that one of the faces of its network was being portrayed as a Vick apologist. Deion sent a column responding to the criticism to The News-Press and the NFL Network on Friday morning.

That night, [Deion's editor] received an e-mail from Thomas George, the NFL Network managing editor, which read: "This column and subsequent variations of it (are) not approved by NFL Network. It cannot run."

We find this disappointing; we encourage anyone at the offices of The News-Press to send us Deion's yanked column. We will happily run it — it seems wrong not to include his defense, no? — and anonymity is guaranteed. Though it will be sad not to have the "approval" of the NFL Network. Whatever will we do?

NFL Network Puts Hold On Deion Column [News Press] (Via The Big Lead)

Tony Taylor, 34, of Hampton, Virginia, appeared in Richmond's federal court to change his plea under the plea bargain. He will be sentenced December 14.

The indictment says Taylor discovered the site that became the Bad Newz Kennels — the staging area for housing and training the pit bulls and hosting dog fights. Prosecutors also accuse Taylor of helping to buy pit bulldogs and puppies, and of executing at least two dogs "who did not perform well in 'testing' sessions ... by shooting one dog and electrocuting the other."

In other words, they're not going to be letting up on this Vick business. But you knew that. Also, over the weekend, Upper Deck announced it wouldn't be making a Vick card for this season. We understand sponsors dropping Vick, but sheesh, doesn't everybody get a football card? If just so we can read the fascinating "personal facts" on the back.

Vick Co-Defendant Pleads Guilty [CNN]
Michael Vick Indictment [The Smoking Gun]

(UPDATE; The Smoking Gun has the "statement of facts" from Taylor, and, all told ... it could be worse for Vick.)

Prosecutors claim Taylor, 34, found the Surry County property purchased by Vick and used it as the site of "Bad Newz Kennels," a dogfighting enterprise. The Hampton man also allegedly helped purchase pit bulls and killed at least two dogs that fared poorly in test fights.

Plea Deal For One Of Vick's Co-Defendants? [MSNBC]

And oh, thanks to Dan for the amazing pic. You're the man now, dawg!

Before you couldn't buy a Ron Mexico jersey from NFL.com. Now you can't buy a Vick jersey anymore.

"We have suspended sales of Vick-related merchandise on our official league e-commerce site, NFLShop.com," said NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy. "This includes Vick jerseys and collectible items such as autographed balls and other memorabilia." McCarthy said the decision was made because it was "not appropriate under the circumstances." The suspension will take place for the immediate future.

It's kind of a fascinating decision, though we suppose it makes sense that you wouldn't want to sell a piece of official merchandise that people will just pick up dog excrement with. But yeah: Hang onto those Vick jerseys: Could be a collectible!

Michael Vick: NFL "Sacks" Sales of His Jersey [CNBC]

Witness, in this op-ed, what Deion had to say in Vick's defense. Prepare thyself.

This is all the result of perspective.

What a dog means to Vick might be a lot different than what he means to you or I. Hold on, don't start shaking your head just yet. Listen to me. Some people kiss their dogs on the mouth. Some people let their dogs eat from their plate. Some people dress their dogs in suits more expensive than mine, if you can believe that.



And some people enjoy proving they have the biggest, toughest dog on the street. You're probably not going to believe this, but I bet Vick loves the dogs that were the biggest and the baddest. Maybe, he identified with them in some way.

Oh, there's more.

I believe Vick had a passion for dogfighting. I know many athletes who share his passion. The allure is the intensity and the challenge of a dog fighting to the death. It's like ultimate fighting, but the dog doesn't tap out when he knows he can't win.

Uh .... well ... yeah.

Don't Be Too Quick To Judge [The News Press] (The Fanhouse)

One (anonymous) player says Vick should keep a close eye on his blind side (though, we are aware, that's not really possible; it's a blind side, after all).

The (anonymous) high-profile NFL player—whose team will play Vick's Atlanta Falcons during the 2007 season—tells Radar that a number of the league's canine-friendly players are licking their chops at the opportunity to inflict some on-field vigilante justice on the world's most famous alleged pup-drowner. Trying to kill the opposing quarterback is nothing new in the NFL, but the player believes the attacks on Vick will be especially brutal and dirty, and may even be aided by the Falcons offensive line, who, according to the source, have indicated that they will make sure the opposition has all the room and time that they need to land a hit that will send the quarterback into early retirement.

Frankly, we're not sure we quite believe this story — no matter how much a Falcons lineman loves dogs, we can't imagine them legitimately trying to end the career of their own quarterback — but if Vick ever does make it back, it's something to look out for.

NFL-ers Gunning For Michael Vick? [Radar Online]