Vick's water bottle raises suspicion, but no charges

JP · 01-18-2007, 06:43 PM

Vick's water bottle raises suspicion, but no charges

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. -- For the third time in nine months, Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick is making headlines for all the wrong reasons.

Vick reluctantly surrendered a water bottle to security at Miami International Airport that officials said smelled like marijuana and contained a substance in a hidden compartment. He was not arrested and was allowed to board an AirTran flight that landed in Atlanta before noon Wednesday.

Miami police said Thursday it could be weeks before a decision is made on whether to file charges against the three-time Pro Bowler, who this season became the first quarterback in NFL history to rush for 1,000 yards.

"With respect to this particular issue, Coach [Bobby] Petrino and I met with Michael this morning and expressed our displeasure," Rich McKay, Falcons president and general manager, said in a statement Thursday afternoon. "I think Michael is sorry."

Under Florida law, possession of less than 20 grams of marijuana is a misdemeanor punishable by up to a year in prison and a $1,000 fine. First offenders rarely do any jail time.

"We'll do an analysis and see what it is. There's no sense of urgency to it," detective Alvaro Zabaleta said Thursday.

The NFL's substance abuse policy states any team can decide that a player's "behavior, including but not limited to an arrest," can warrant a physical exam from its appointed medical director. NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said no decision had been made in Vick's case.

"We have a process that provides guidelines for every situation," Aiello said. "Our doctors conduct a lengthy evaluation, if necessary, and then decide if enrollment in a treatment program is necessary."

Vick did not return a phone call Thursday. The Falcons said they would have no further comment until they discussed the matter with Vick, who finds himself mired in another embarrassing situation.

In November, Vick made an obscene gesture toward Atlanta fans who heckled the team as it came off the field after a 31-13 loss to New Orleans. Vick apologized profusely, paid a $10,000 team fine and donated another $10,000 to charity.

On Wednesday, two Transportation Security Administration screeners recognized the 6-foot, 215-pound Vick when he was reluctant to turn over his 20-ounce bottle.

The bottle was found to have a compartment that contained "a small amount of dark particulate and a pungent aroma closely associated with marijuana," a Miami police report said. The compartment was hidden by the bottle's label so that it appeared to be a full bottle of water when held upright, police said.

Vick, 26, just finished the second year of a 10-year, $137 million contract he signed in January 2005. While he remains one of the NFL's most potent scoring threats and athletic performers, he has also been questioned for his consistency, particularly as a passer. However, new Falcons coach Bobby Petrino said earlier this month that he intends to design the team's offense around Vick.

In 74 career NFL games, Vick has completed 930-of-1,730 passes for 11,505 yards and 71 touchdowns with 52 interceptions. He had career bests of 20 touchdown passes and 1,039 yards rushing in 2006.

Source: ESPN.com

StylesÃ‚â„¢ · 01-19-2007, 12:33 AM

Knowing the Vick family ways he could easily have had some Mary Jane if you know what I mean, he's getting on some of the Falcon's leaders and fans last nerves and his stay in Atlanta could be coming to an end in the next year or two...

PY · 01-19-2007, 12:11 PM

Thank god I came here to see this.. I been trying to find out wtf they were talking bout on cold pizza.. I was charged for the same thing, just got probation no jail time.. Whats confusing me, is why he had trees in a water bottle?

Hope it all works out for him

JP · 01-19-2007, 07:51 PM

This is such a bad move on his part, his is a professional and has many fans looking up at him and when he performs something like this it may give kids ideas. He should know by know that Airport Security is awesome and doesn't allow much by. In my eyes Vick has lost much respect and is considered a Moron in my book.

StylesÃ‚â„¢ · 01-19-2007, 07:59 PM

Lost some respect? He's probably lost it all! Flicking off the fans didn't do enough this just made it worse...He's suppose to be one of the greatest quarterbacks in the league, if he was a running back he'd be great, but as a quarterback he's extremely overrated...

Johnny BlazE · 01-19-2007, 08:01 PM

This has got to be one of the stupidest things I have ever heard. Who did he think he was James Bond?

FSUViking · 01-19-2007, 10:17 PM

If I'm Matt Schaub I have a little extra bounce in my step right now....

The Wonder Chimp · 01-19-2007, 11:15 PM

If I was Schaub I had bounce in my step when I heard Petrino was coaching me...

But anyways, this is stupid by him, alhough the secret compartment is something I would want to see lol, I have seen hats like that. He needs to get his career under control, but then again, every time you look, a Vick is associated with marjiauna

StylesÃ‚â„¢ · 01-20-2007, 11:38 AM

Yea him and his brother have really done stuff that can really screw up their career...Drugs, Stepping on another player, getting in fights, disobeying school and team rules, flicking the fans off, just to name a few...

Vick's water bottle raises suspicion, but no charges

This is a discussion on Vick's water bottle raises suspicion, but no charges within the North American Sports forums, part of the Sports Forums category; Vick's water bottle raises suspicion, but no charges FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. -- For the third time in nine months, Atlanta ...