When the Michael Vick story first broke, I thought--as I noted here--that the league would have to let him play while his due legal process played out. Innocent until proven guilty and all that. Well, but last night NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell told Vick to stay away from training camp while the NFL reviewed his case; Goodell clearly indicated that Vick could be suspended or worse way before any trial, given that the commissioner has the right to suspend players if they're found to be in violation of the NFL's personal-conduct policy.
And having thought about it, i can see the commissioner's point. He has to look out for the league and its image. In doing so, he's not bound by the Bill of Rights. He suspended Tank Johnson and Pacman Jones and others before the conclusion of any public trial. And it's hard to imagine Vick playing for the Falcons right now, and the games involving the team going on as usual, with this huge cloud--heck, it's practically a tornado, now--hanging over Vick. Michael Vick had a chance to be a huge, popular superstar. He may have thrown it all away. Here's an example of the anger against him. UPDATE: and by the way, it's not just dogs that get abused in this way.
