Update on Vick's Money

[SirFozzie]

Well, at least he'll have money to pay for all those dogs care.. Methinketh the NFL is a bit perturbed at this ruling:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080204/ap_on_sp_fo_ne/fbn_vick_signing_bonus

MINNEAPOLIS - Jailed quarterback Michael Vick can keep all but $3.75 million of the nearly $20 million in bonus money he received from the Atlanta Falcons following a ruling Monday by a federal judge. The Falcons sought to recover the bonuses after Vick pleaded guilty to federal charges in a dogfighting operation. The bonuses were paid from 2004-07.

A special master ruled in October the Falcons were entitled to recover the bonuses. The Falcons argued Vick used proceeds from a contract he signed in 2004 to finance his illicit activities.

But U.S. District Judge David Doty of Minneapolis ruled that recovery of most of the bonus money by the Falcons would violate the NFL collective bargaining agreement. The agreement does not allow roster bonus money to be forfeited once it's been earned, the judge wrote.

[Atocep]

I'm sure the NFL, and specifically the Falcons, are pissed. But this was the only logical way to look at it considering the bonus money was labeled as a roster bonus.

[SirFozzie]

Oh the Falcons are probably VERY pissed. Now they can't get their rebate on their 09 Cap like they were wanting, and the Judge apparently shot down trying again, this time in state court.

Any money recovered would be credited to Atlanta's future salary cap.

Doty also ruled the Falcons may not use state law, even in a grievance procedure, to try to recoup Vick's bonus money

[stevew]

Well, hopefully teams have re-worked their grevience procedures in their new contracts. There's no way I'd ever want to give another roster or option bonus as part of a contracts signing bonus now. I'd think teams have already, or will soon just start guaranteeing certain amounts of future salary, instead of the split provisions.

Horrible ruling for the NFL contract structure, as I'm sure it was never intended as a true Roster bonus, but merely a split provision of the original renegotiation's bonus.