Word just came down that the Falcons are entitled to recoup nearly $20 million - $20 million! - in bonus money as a result of Michael Vick's guilty plea in connection with an illegal dogfighting operation.
Stephen B. Burbank, the University of Pennsylvania law professor and special master who oversaw an arbitration hearing on the matter last week, has sided with the Falcons. The NFL Players Association has vowed to appeal.
"We are certainly pleased with today’s ruling by NFL Special Master Stephen Burbank," the Falcons said in a prepared statement. "It is the first step in a process that our club has undertaken in an attempt to recoup significant salary cap space that will allow us to continue to build our football team today and in future years."
The Falcons argued that Vick, who pleaded guilty to federal charges for his role in a long-running dogfighting operation, knew he was in violation of the contract when he signed a $130 million deal in 2004.
The team claimed that he used money from the contract to fund his dogfighting operation and sought repayment of $19.97 million out of the $22.5 million he was awarded in 2005 and 2006.
Vick was suspended indefinitely without pay by the NFL after entering into his plea agreement.
Vick has also lost out on several endorsement deals, and we suspect that before long, he'll be filing for bankruptcy.
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NFLPA President Troy Vincent remarked "With this decision the league is definitely going to the dogs"