Should The NFL have the right to add additional punishment to M. Vick? Is that not Double Jeopardy ?

Question

I’m not a Michael Vick fan, But once Michael Vick has served whatever jail time he gets handed, and pays all of his fines, and does all of his community service should he not have the right to go back and play in the NFL if there is a team willing to take him? It's not like he broke an NFL rule, he broke the state of Virginia’s rule, and at that point the state would have already administered it’s punishment for breaking that said rule. The NFL commissioner has started his own independent investigation Of Vick. This now officially equals Vick’s 2nd investigation (The other was by the state obviously) He will serve his sentence for the guilty plead he entered. Should the Commissioner then have the right to step in and have an additional hearing for the same charges? (Thus the double jeopardy)& hand out an additional punishment that might prevent Vick from making a living.

Answer 1

Yes. This is clearly anything but a case of double jeopardy as you hypothesize. Double jeopardy refers only to cases in which the same defendant is tried by a court for the same crime twice.



The NFL is a private corporation and all employers have a right to extend, or restrict, employment based upon their own decisions. I own several businesses but that doesn't mean I have to hire you for any of them.

Answer 2

The NFL is not a court of law and can inflict any punishment it sees fit on any individual that has violated it's own rules of conduct. Even though M. Vick may do his time in Federal Prison, that does not give him the right to automatically return to the NFL. Double Jeopardy only applies in the court of laws. Look what happened to O.J. Simpson...he was found not guilty in Circuit Court, but the families took him to court under a civil infraction, and he lost and to this day he has not been able to earn a penny, the same thing could happen with Vick. If the NFL commissioner adds additional charges against Vick, only the commissioner and his governing body can decide if Vick will ever earn a living within the NFL, Vick may have to find another line of work to earn a living.

Answer 3

Well, what the NFL is doing to Vick isn't even related to double jeopardy -- double jeopardy is when the government tries you more than once for the exact same crime.



First of all, the NFL isn't even remotely a government agency, so it's impossible for double jeopardy to apply.



Second, Vick hasn't been tried, he's pleading guilty, so that also stops jeopardy from attaching.



Third, as Vick's employer, they can do whatever they want as far as disciplining him in addition to whatever punishment he gets from the state or the feds. If you worked at the Gap and went to jail for stealing, your boss could fire you, too, because you're potentially risking the business.



Fourth, Vick TOTALLY broke the NFL's rules! Hello? Gambling is a big no-no when you're in pro sports -- ask Pete Rose and Tim Donaghy. Even if the NFL could ignore the dead puppies and the public relations nightmare that Vick has become, they couldn't ignore the gambling.



I mean, think about it: as fans, we can ignore drugs, violence, drunk driving, strippers on a boat, etc -- but when gambling comes into it, we start to think that maybe football isn't honest anymore! If we think that the game is fixed, that's when we stop going to games and stop watching games on TV -- pretty soon, we stop wearing jerseys and hoodies and caps. That's what the NFL is trying to avoid at all costs.

Answer 4

This will be an interesting story to follow. Michael Vick, while guilty of doing some idiotic things, does not have a comparable criminal history to that of Pacman or Chris Henry. If sufficient evidence is brought against Vick to take him to trial, then he may have a lot more to worry about than an NFL suspension. Dog fighting is a felony and Vick might spend some time behind bars. He would probably be incarcerated during the off-season like Jamal Lewis. Vick has a history of being an idiot but not being a criminal. As a result I would be surprised if he was suspended for longer than 4 games. If he messes up again after that then he could be in a world of hurt.

Answer 5

He did break NFL rules when he broke the law (and got caught). No he doesn't have the "right" to go back and play; most regular employers do not hold someone's job because they have to serve jail time. And no, technically I wouldn't call it Double Jeopardy either because the NFL isn't a legal forum therefore are not actually "trying" him on the case. It'd be like telling a parent they can't ground their child after the child was found breaking into a house and was punished in a court system.

Answer 6

The NFL is not part of the legal system and can function by their own "internal rules" - much like, if you work for a company - they can impose their own rules of conduct (such as dating within the company... particular dress codes... rules against doing particular things while under contract with them, etc.)



The NFL and its commissioner is not "punishing" Michael Vick in the legal sense - however, they have the right to not allow this person to be hired by any of their franchises.

Answer 7

michael vick doesn't have the right to play in the nfl. he has the privilege to play in the nfl, which can be revoked. and there have been numerous allegations that he bet on the fights, which would violate the nf's personal conduct policy. double jeopardy refers only to the criminal justice system. as vick's employer, the falcons and the nfl have the right to determine if he broke any of the contracts he signed with them or violated any of the policies he was subject to.

Answer 8

It's not double jeopardy, one is a legal punishment, and the other a professional. He's being suspended because he violated the personal conduct code of the NFLPA agreement. Look at it like this... if i went out and did something really stupid like smoked crack and crashed my car and got arrested, i would face legal punishment. I would also face suspension, and possibly dismissal from my employer because i violated my employer's no drug policy. Commish Goodell is investigating in a different manner than law enforcement authorities because he likely wants to make sure vick gets fair treatment from the league. He violated his contractual obligation and goodell is determining what is a fitting consequence of that.

Answer 9

The NFL and the government are 2 completely different things. It would be double jeopardy if the government was charging him 2 times. The NFL, as his employer, has every right to investigate and terminate him.

Answer 10

The NFL is not a government entity. It is a private entity. It is free to do whatever it wants. It will make its decision based upon revenue considerations. Which will detract more from projected revenues, Michael Vick's presence or Michael Vick's absence?

Answer 11

Yes, they should, and as I understand it he did break an NFL rule on gambling. I think th eNFL should kick out all guys who are busted for drugs, dog-fighitng or any felony. If you get paid that much money, you owe a duty to the sport and to the fans not to act irresponsibly. Vick did (as others have done) and his career should be over. This was not a little "Oops" onetime mistake.

Answer 12

Double jeopardy means being prosecuted for the same crime twice. His employee has a right to terminate him as a consequence of the same crime.



The concept of double jeopardy is a protection from the government. It is in no way meant to save one from the results of one's actions.

Answer 13

An employer can decide not to hire you if you have a felony on your record. The NFL is an employer.

Double Jeopardy? No, the Fifth Amendment does not apply to the NFL. Sorry.

Answer 14

It has absolutely nothing to do with double jeopardy. He is not being tried a second time for the same crime.



The NFL can choose if they want to employ him or not, for any reason except a hand full proscribed by law (race, religion, etc).

Answer 15

I think that by lying to the commissioner, then later admitting he lied, he opened himself up to sterner punishment from the NFL. Had he been up from with the commish, he may have only gotten a year ban.

Answer 16

It would not be double jeopardy. That jerk should be canned and never allowed to work in the NFL again. People in professional sports are supposed to be role models for our kids. Mr. Vic is not what I picture as a role model I would want my kids to follow. He is tarnishing the good reputation of his team and the NFL.

Answer 17

How is this double jeopardy? Because of his personal illegal and immoral activities which he entered into freely, he is unable to meet his commitments to the NFL which had paid him an incredible amount of money. This happens and he only has himself to blame.

Answer 18

If I get convicted for drug charges or drunk driving my employer has every right to NOT hire me back after I serve time.



The NFL has every right to ban him from ever playing again if they so choose.

Answer 19

Of course, they are the nfl and Vick worked for them.

Answer 20

The NFL has rules too! and a reputation.

Answer 21

Double jeopardy refers to official legal proceedings.



If you got into legal trouble and your job fired you because of it, that wouldn't be double jeopardy.

Answer 22

I just read an article on line that said that he will be welcomed back to the Falcons when all this has blown over. It all boils down to money. The falcons realize that if they drop him completely then they are putting there franchise in jeopardy.

Answer 23

Vick is an employee and companies have the right to fire their employees if the employee does something illegal.

Answer 24

He violated his contract and NFL rules.



Unfortunately, the most he can get is just 5 years.



He should have gotten life in prison for what he did.

Answer 25

The NFL also has the right to tell him No.

Answer 26

Reinstate Pete Rose too while your going.

Answer 27

Two violations: Legal and contractual. Two penalties.

Answer 28

I think so since this athletes make a lot of money and they are rolle models to little kids.

Answer 29

Once he serves his time, if any team still wants him (doubtful), I say. they should .. 'go for it'.



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