Vick, dismissed by Hokies, says he will turn pro

[mary]

RICHMOND, Va. -- Virginia Tech quarterback Marcus Vick told The Virginan-Pilot that he would enter the NFL Draft on Friday, hours after he was dismissed from the team as a result of numerous legal transgressions and his unsportsmanlike conduct in the Toyota

University president Charles Steger announced the dismissal on the same day that coach Frank Beamer met with Vick and his mother in their Hampton Roads home, the school said in a statement. Beamer informed them of the decision during the meeting.

Friday night, Marcus Vick told The Virginian-Pilot that he would turn professional. "It's not a big deal. I'll just move on to the next level, baby" he said at a Virginia Beach restaurant, the newspaper reported Friday night on its Web site. Asked if that meant he would enter the NFL draft, he said, "Yeah, definitely."

Vick, the younger brother of Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick, was suspended from school in 2004 for several legal problems. The junior came under new and intense scrutiny this week after replays showed he stomped on the left calf of Louisville All-American defensive end Elvis Dumervil during the Jan. 2 bowl.

No penalty was called on the play and Vick claimed its was accidental. He further hurt his cause by claiming to have apologized to Dumervil, the NCAA sacks leader, but the Louisville player said no such apology was ever offered.

On Friday, it was revealed that Vick had been stopped for speeding and driving with a revoked or suspended license in Hampton on Dec. 17, Cpl. James West said. Vick's license had been taken away in August 2004 when he was cited for reckless driving and marijuana possession in New Kent County.

Steger suspended Vick from school at that time, and warned that any additional problems would effectively end his time as a member of the Hokies' football team.

"The university provided one last opportunity for Vick to become a citizen of the university and readmitted him in January 2005, with the proviso that any future problems would result in automatic dismissal from the team," Steger said Friday.

Beamer said in a statement that he was disappointed with the outcome. "We wanted what's best for this football team and Marcus," he said. "I certainly wish him the best."

School officials said in a statement that there would be no further comment until a news conference Saturday. Beamer, Steger and athletic director Jim Weaver, who said the stomping embarrassed the university, were all expected to attend.

The Virginian-Pilot said Beamer met with Vick, his mother, Brenda Boddie, and Vick's attorney, Larry Woodward, at about 4 p.m. Friday. Woodward said Vick planned to issue a written statement Saturday afternoon. "The meeting, it was emotional," said Woodward. "It was not a fun meeting for anybody, but Marcus will look to the future, and we'll have something on that [Saturday]."

Vick said before the Hokies' 35-24 comeback victory in the Gator Bowl that he planned to return for his senior season. Now, his choices are to declare for the NFL Draft by the Jan. 15 deadline or transfer to a Division I-AA school so he can play next season.

Vick entered this season knowing he would face hostility from opposing fans, mostly stemming from his drug arrest and another for serving alcohol to underage girls during the 2003 school year.

He said he was ready for it, but reacted to chants of "rapist" and "child molester" at West Virginia on Oct. 1 by making an obscene gesture in the direction of the crowd. He met with Beamer following that incident and apologized to the team.

In the ACC championship game against Florida State, he drew an unsportsmanlike conduct flag for spiking the ball after a touchdown run with the Hokies trailing, and following the 27-22 loss, walked by reporters after the game without commenting, saying he didn't have to.

He finished that game 26-for-52 for 335 yards with one interception and a fumble near his goal line that teammate Duane Brown recovered. Vick threw one scoring pass and ran for two more touchdowns, but also was sacked six times for minus-35 yards.

On the field, he was often dazzling, but sometimes tried to do too much.

The Hokies started 8-0 and were No. 3 in the polls when they hosted Miami on Nov. 5. But Vick threw two interceptions and fumbled the ball away four times in a 27-7 loss.

This season, he was runner-up to Wake Forest's Chris Barclay as the conference's offensive player of the year, and was voted the first team quarterback on the all-conference team.

In 24 career games, the last 13 starts, Vick was 207-for-346 for 2,868 yards, 19 touchdowns and 15 interceptions. He also rushed 184 times for 492 yards and six TDs.

Marcus Vick Timeline
Sept. 2, 2003: Suspended for one game by coach Frank Beamer for undisclosed reason.
Feb. 17, 2004: Arrested without incident and charged with four misdemeanors -- three for allegedly allowing underage girls to have alcohol and one for allegedly having sex with a 15-year-old at a January party. Released on $2,500 bond.
May 14, 2004: Convicted of three counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor and sentenced to 30 days in jail and fined $2,250. Found not guilty of having sex with the 15-year-old.
July 3, 2004: Charged with reckless driving and possession of marijuana after a traffic stop about 25 miles east of Richmond, Va. at 2:30 a.m. Police said he was clocked at 86 mph, 21 mph above the speed limit, and that the vehicle smelled of marijuana.
July 6, 2004: Indefinitely suspended from football team for off-field problems.
Aug. 3, 2004: Suspended from the university for the 2004 season on same day he pleads guilty to reckless driving and no contest to marijuana possession in New Kent, Va. Is fined $300, has driver's license suspended for 60 days and is placed in a first offender program on the marijuana charge, requiring that he perform 24 hours of community service, undergo drug counseling and random drug tests, and give up his driver's license for six months.
Sept. 13, 2004: In plea deal, pleads no contest to one misdemeanor count of contributing to the delinquency of a minor. Receives 30-day suspended jail sentence, is fined $100, ordered to perform 24 hours of community service and stay away from the teenage girls.
Jan. 17, 2005: Cleared to rejoin football team and re-enroll at Virginia Tech.
Oct. 1, 2005: Leads No. 3 Hokies to 34-20 victory at West Virginia, and makes obscene gesture to fans who have been calling him names related to past problems throughout the game. He apologized a day later.
Dec. 17, 2005: Pulled over by police in Hampton, Va. for driving 38 mph in a 25 mph zone and driving with a suspended license.
Jan. 2, 2006: Leads Virginia Tech to a 35-24 win over Louisville in Gator Bowl. In the game, he stomped on the left calf of Cardinals All-American defensive end Elvis Dumervil, the NCAA sacks leader. Claims the incident was accidental and that he apologized to Dumervil, who denies ever receiving apology.
Jan 6, 2006: Is kicked off team at Virginia Tech for legal trouble and unsportsmanlike conduct in Gator Bowl.

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/bowls0...ory?id=2282642

[dude1394]

Feb. 17, 2004: Arrested without incident and charged with four misdemeanors -- three for allegedly allowing underage girls to have alcohol and one for allegedly having sex with a 15-year-old at a January party. Released on $2,500 bond.
May 14, 2004: Convicted of three counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor and sentenced to 30 days in jail and fined $2,250. Found not guilty of having sex with the 15-year-old.

Nice....sounds like he should be in jail. I just saw the "stomp" need to check that guy for steroids.

[jthig32]

Couldn't happen to a nicer guy.

What a knucklehead.

[Big Boy Laroux]

dude, did you find a link to the stomp? i didn't watch the game or highlights.

[Drbio]

He deserves to be booted, but I always find it sad and disturbing when a college (or high school) kid gets into trouble. I wish we could reach them somehow. This is unfortunate.

[dude1394]

Nah..it was on sportscenter..

[mary]

http://media.putfile.com/VT-THUG-1

[Drbio]

Originally Posted by mary

http://media.putfile.com/VT-THUG-1

Thanks for the link mary. He claimed that it was an accident, but he stomps on the guys leg at least twice.

[sike]

Bob Sturm seems to think the kid is quite the headcase.....

[vjz]

He's nuts! Where'll he go in the draft?

[capitalcity]

Lil' Mexico? - That dude has Lawrence Phillips written all over him.

[Big Boy Laroux]

geez... yeah, i finally caught it on sportscenter this morning, but thanks for the link.

how he can even remotely say that's an accident is beyond me.

[chumdawg]

The Hokies started 8-0 and were No. 3 in the polls when they hosted Miami on Nov. 5. But Vick threw two interceptions and fumbled the ball away four times in a 27-7 loss.

Just goes to show. Lead some people to the promised land and see how quick they turn on you.

See. How. Quick.

I'm getting sick and tired of the sanctimonious sums-a-bitches who want their quarterbacks to sell Girl Scout Cookies in their spare time.

Because...those guys don't lead you to 8-0. I'm just sayin'.

[XERXES]

Originally Posted by vjz

He's nuts! Where'll he go in the draft?

I can't understand the logic behind any team drafting him anywhere. I mean maybe a late late round flyer and hope that he's been to a couple of revival meetings...but seriously, he'll probably spend the rest of his life living off of his brothers cash.

[mary]

Originally Posted by XERXES

I can't understand the logic behind any team drafting him anywhere. I mean maybe a late late round flyer and hope that he's been to a couple of revival meetings...but seriously, he'll probably spend the rest of his life living off of his brothers cash.

Oakland?

[Dtownsfinest]

I think he's gonna be a second day pick. Anywhere from the 5th-7th round. Sort of like when Drew Henson was drafted. Someone will take a gamble on him but they won't risk a meaningful pick on him.

[Five-ofan]

If you can get him with a 4th or 5th round pick then you do it. I hate to say it but talent wins and the guy is actually more talented than big bro as a passer though not as good of wheels.

[#1MavsFan]

He'll get picked on the first day since the jersey still say's "Vick" on it.

[Jbrjo]

LINK
SUFFOLK, Va. -- Former Virginia Tech quarterback Marcus Vick was charged Monday with pointing a gun during an altercation with three teenagers.

Vick, kicked off the team last week after a series of transgressions on and off the field, surrendered at the Suffolk magistrate's office after three warrants were issued for his arrest Sunday, Magistrate Lisa Noel said.

The 21-year-old Vick was charged with three misdemeanor counts of brandishing a firearm, and was released on $10,000 bond. The parents of a 17-year-old boy said Vick pointed a weapon at their son and two others during an altercation at a McDonald's on Sunday, police spokeswoman Lt. Debbie George said in a statement.

On Friday, Virginia Tech kicked Vick off the team, citing the cumulative effects of numerous legal problems and his unsportsmanlike conduct in the Gator Bowl, where he was caught on tape stomping on the left calf of Louisville All-American Elvis Dumervil.

Vick is the younger brother of Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick.

[capitalcity]

Flashing a gun at teenagers - Wow this guy is a grade AA douchebag and a moron to boot.

Whatta ya think about your boy now John Saunders?

[Five-ofan]

Never mind on the 4th or 5th round thing. I dont want him on this team at any cost and because of his size he was already a long shot.

[snoop]

I know this sounds crazy but if this kid is there in the 5th round you jump on him if your the cowboys. With the right guidance (Parcells) he might be less carzy and he is very talented.

[dude1394]

If the NFL is lucky the jerk will be in jail way before then.

[Drbio]

So basically....Vince Young is turning pro

And Marcus Vick is turning Con.....

[#1MavsFan]

wow, a double post...

[#1MavsFan]

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/colum...ene&id=2287414

Interesting article on Marcus and Clarrett.

[rabbitproof]

Vick to...


DAHHHH RAIDAHHHHHSSSS

[Arne]

Teach the 'Good Kids'
With Real Consequences for Bad Behavior

By John Feinstein

Wednesday, January 11, 2006; Page A21

The easiest thing in the world this week is to pile on Marcus Vick, the disgraced Virginia Tech quarterback who was thrown off the team after a series of embarrassing incidents on and off the field.

Even after Virginia Tech President Charles Steger announced last week that Vick was no longer welcome on the team after his eighth and ninth traffic violations since he enrolled and since he stomped on the leg of a Louisville player during the Gator Bowl game Jan. 2, Vick kept finding trouble. This past weekend, it was charges of brandishing a gun at three teenagers in a fast-food shop's parking lot.


Virginia Tech quarterback Marcus Vick is off the team and planning to turn pro. (By Mark Gormus -- Associated Press)


So let's all pile on Vick. His response to being thrown off the team was to drop out of school and announce he'd follow his older brother, Michael, the Atlanta Falcons' Pro Bowl quarterback, to the National Football League. His comment on his dismissal from the team put him near the top of the list of athletes sounding arrogant beyond belief: "It's not a big deal. . . . I'll just move to the next level, baby."

And the truth is that if he can play, he'll be welcome at the next level. Professional sports teams don't care if you've been to jail, been stopped a hundred times for traffic violations, stomped on 10 opponents' legs or made profane gestures at opposing fans (which Vick did at least once this season). They care if you can play. Period.

All of which brings us to an issue that goes well beyond the troubles of Marcus Vick. His story reflects a much larger problem at all levels of sports: the existence of a place that we might call, for want of a better term, "The Land of Never Wrong."

This is where truly gifted athletes live. They are given second, third, fourth and 15th chances solely because of their talent. That's why so many of them come to believe that rules and laws, even rules of decent behavior, don't apply to them.

Certainly Virginia Tech deserves no credit for finally cutting the cord with Vick. In addition to his many driving infractions, Vick had twice faced criminal charges during his time at the school. That led to a suspension in 2004, but he was allowed to return in 2005, despite having shown little regret for his infractions. Why? Tech needed a new starting quarterback.

Indeed, until the school learned that he had been charged on Dec. 17 with speeding and driving on a revoked or suspended license, it was planning to suspend him for just two games for the Gator Bowl incident. Vick had claimed that the stomping was an accident, despite clear evidence to the contrary on videotape, repeated endlessly for national TV audiences. Then, the second he was off the football team, Vick dropped out of school. So much for yet another "student-athlete." (He also claimed that he had apologized to Elvis Dumervil, the player he stomped on. Dumervil said he'd never heard from Vick.)

Throughout Vick's time at Virginia Tech, football coach Frank Beamer has maintained that he is "a good kid." They're always good kids when they can play. What Beamer should have done -- long ago -- and what other coaches with talented but troublesome players should do is stop making excuses for such "good kids." If Beamer had suspended Vick when he first began to get in trouble, and told him that next time he'd be gone, Vick might have gotten a different message.

But it's not fair to single out Virginia Tech -- what goes on there isn't unusual. Look at the University of Colorado, where Gary Barnett was kept on as head football coach even after his players were accused of sexually harassing women and hiring prostitutes during recruiting parties. It was only after his team lost its final three games this season, badly, that Barnett was fired. When a University of Virginia player was involved in an incident at Boston College this season that was just as ugly as Vick-Dumervil, it wasn't the school that suspended him for one game but the Atlantic Coast Conference. When Virginia coach Al Groh was asked if he felt badly that his player hadn't called the player he had injured (after the whistle), he was baffled the question was even asked.

The list goes on. And not just in football. Sixteen years ago, John McEnroe, the brilliant but hot-tempered tennis superstar, was thrown out of a match during the Australian Open after he directed a series of profanities at a chair umpire and his supervisor. McEnroe was 30 at the time. A couple of months later, reflecting on his punishment, he said: "If someone had done that to me when I was 18, I honestly think a lot of things would have been different. The message I got early on was that I could get away with just about anything on the court. No one wanted me defaulted. The tournament director didn't want me defaulted; neither did the TV people. But if someone had nailed me, cost me a big tournament, the chances are I would have learned my lesson and not done it again. I mean, I'm not stupid. Tell me where the line is and I won't cross it. The message I got until Australia was that there was no line."

That's the message most star athletes get. If Marcus Vick wished to remain in college, you can bet that even now there would be schools that would take him in a second. Until the people around star athletes stop telling them -- and us -- that they're "good kids," when they're actually behaving very badly, nothing is going to change in The Land of Never Wrong.

The writer is a contributor to The Post. His latest book is "Next Man Up: A Year Behind The Lines in Today's NFL."