Earlier today we published an article titled Tony Dungy is Michael Vick’s Dupe of the Season, we basically started out the article saying that ‘it didn’t matter if Michael Vick didn’t follow Tony Dungy’s advice’ about not drinking. 

Apparently we were half right and half wrong.  As one of our astute readers was able to point out to us in an email today.

Its true that it doesn’t really matter if Michael Vick ignores half of what Tony Dungy says, but (and this is a big one) Michael Vick IS REQUIRED TO FOLLOW THE CONDITIONS OF HIS PAROLE & (another big one) Michael Vick IS REQUIRED TO FOLLOW THE CONDITIONS OF HIS CONDITIONAL NFL REINSTATEMENT.

By going to a bar and drinking Vodka with friends after his First day back on the job in the NFL, Michael Vick likely violated both his parole and his NFL reinstatement.

But don’t take our word for it, check out the terms of Michael Vick’s reinstatement as quoted from Roger Goodell’s letter to Michael Vick.

“Among the conditions of this reinstatement, you are required to abide by the terms of the supervised release that were imposed on you by the court, which include not committing any further crime, limits on who you may associate with, prohibitions regarding drug and alcohol use, possession of a firearm or other dangerous weapon, and forbidding you to own, possess or be involved with the sale of any dog.”  Source NFL.com

So the New York Post caught Michael Vick drinking Grey Goose Vodka on his first day back on the job.  If that allegation of the Post holds up, then Michael Vick may have just sabotaged his latest and often repeated ‘second’ chance.

We’d like to call on both the NFL and Parole officials to investigate whether or not Michael Vick violated his parole.  Truthfully, it would be painful to watch this man go back to jail, especially just 5 days after his younger brother was sentenced to 20 days for violating his own parole, but we were one of the first groups to say that Michael Vick should not be in the NFL and it could very well be that his latest actions prove this yet again.

Open Questions

As things stand, I am personally unclear as to whether Michael Vick is on parole in Virginia, Georgia, Pennsylvania or possibly at some federal level since he was released from Federal prison.

If someone could shed some light on this, I think it might help.  It would then be a likely next step for us to review parole conditions for whichever jurisdiction Michael Vick must report, to determine if Roger Goodells letter talking about parole requirements is accurate.

Update

It would appear that Michael Vick is under the jurisdiction of Virginia.  Furthermore, the conditions of his parole suggest that consuming alcohol may have violated his probation.  From the overall scope of Michael Vick’s judgment the root of the issue seems to hinge on Michael Vick’s substance abuse issues.  You may recall that while he was still negotiating with the courts in 2007 he tested positive for marijuana and had to undergo a special substance abuse program in prison, which helped to fast track him for an earlier release.

There are two clauses in his judgment that relate to alcohol:

1. the first states that ‘the defendant shall refrain from excessive use of alcohol’
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2. The second item in the Special Conditions of Supervision seem to be where Michael Vick may have already run into trouble, it states “The defendant shall participate in a a program approved by the Probation Office for substance abuse, which program may include residential treatment and testing to determine whether the defendant has reverted to the use of drugs or alcohol”
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3. Based on the New York Post article it would appear that Michael Vick DID use alcohol after that first day of work with the Eagles.
4. It now remains to be seen whether
1. Michael Vick’s probation officer will take action and what that action might be
2. Will Roger Goodell hold Michael Vick to the NFL letter which specifically prohibited alcohol.

At a minimum it looks like Michael Vick may have broken his most recent commitment to Roger Goodell and the NFL, it remains to be seen if he broke any laws.

Its true that several major news organizations have also questioned whether Michael Vick just flamed out before our eyes and no one noticed, but obviously a little grass roots action may be required to actually get something done.

The Eagles seem to think that Michael Vick’s alcohol consumption in a bar was not a parole violation but they are not in charge of the Michael Vick’s parole nor the NFL.  The real authorities have yet to weigh in.