Grand Jury Indicts Vick

[Schneed10]

Within Goodell's policy is a clause stating that if you're a repeat offender of the conduct policy, your due process need not be played out in order to receive a suspension. That's what happened with Pac Man and Henry. They were repeat offenders, with several arrests and run-ins with the law, and hence Goodell did not wait for verdicts to be rendered on their latest cases; he went ahead and suspended them.

This is where it gets interesting for Vick. He is not a repeat offender in the same way that Pac Man and Henry are. Sure Vick had the water bottle with the hidden compartment, and he gave the finger to the fans, but neither of those situations ever brought on an arrest or charges from the cops. So technically, this is Vick's first run-in with the law. And Goodell's policy clearly states; if you're a first time offender, you will be allowed your due process before a suspension is levied.

I think Goodell has to let this one play out. Then when he's eventually convicted (based on the evidence in the indictment, I'd be SHOCKED if he wasn't convicted), he'll get at least a season ban if not more.