Political Publicity Stunt? Or Just Plain Stupidity?

By Scott Daniels, Esq., NFL Draft Bible

Mission Statement of the Utah Attorney General's Office

The mission of the Office of the Utah Attorney General is to uphold the constitutions of the United States and of Utah, enforce the law, provide counsel to state agencies and public officials, to work with law enforcement and protect the interests of Utah, its people, environment and resources.

With our team of highly qualified attorneys, investigators and staff members, we ensure the law is upheld and the rights of all citizens – no matter how young or old – are preserved. We especially focus on protecting children. We also make every effort to educate the public about safety, justice, liberty and equal opportunity.

As we see it, it is our duty to diligently work with integrity every day to fulfill these responsibilities as we serve the citizens of Utah. That is our entire focus. That is our mission.
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Mark Shurtleff, Utah Attorney General, appears to have misinterpreted his own mission statement.

Apparently, Shurtleff feels that the good people of Utah were legally harmed by the evil Bowl Championship Series. Afterall, it seems perfectly legitimate to launch an investigation into alleged antitrust violations by the BCS immediately after the University of Utah defeated Alabama in the Sugar Bowl, prompting many to argue that Utah should be considered the nation's top college football team.

Is this guy serious? Does he not value his position as Attorney General? And haven't we seen this fiasco once before with the outspoken United States Senator, Arlen Specter, and his crusade against the NFL in the wake of the SpyGate conspiracy?

Shurtleff claims in his mission statement that his office will attempt to protect the interests of Utah, its people, environment and resources. How does going after the BCS in the court of law protect anyone other than the people associated and monetarily connected to the University of Utah? Last time I checked, citizens of Utah were not entitled to any of the millions of dollars given to the University of Utah for participating in this year's Sugar Bowl.

More importantly, how is Shurtleff's pointless attack on the BCS protecting the resources of the state of Utah? We are in a recession. The national economy is in horrible shape. Unemployment numbers are staggering. State agencies are hurting for money and the mighty attorney general from Utah wants to use his scarce resources to investigate an obvious flawed format that is the BCS.

What is it with elected officials and their obsession to be recognized? There is no way this Attorney General can justify an investigation into the BCS. This is college football. The BCS is governed by several collegiate conferences. The University of Utah is not the only school that has been snubbed by the BCS. And the fact that the Utes may be at a financial disadvantage because they are virtually ignored for a National Title bid does not warrant a full scale investigation by the state's highest lawyer by stature.

I don't care how he spins it, Attorney General Shurtleff is blatantly imitating the actions of United States Senator Arlen Specter, who finally gave up his crusade against the NFL after crucial evidence turned out to be bleak at best. Shurtleff may raise valid and thought provoking issues that might influence change to our current BCS format, but he is in no way fulfilling his civil duty as an Attorney General.

REALITY OF THE PLAXICO BURRESS SAGA

By Scott Daniels, Esq., NFL Draft Bible

The Plaxico Burress situation is nothing new. A high profile athlete makes headlines after an incident at a Manhattan night club. Gun charges are the result and another prima donna superstar gets suspended by the NFL. The only difference with this situation is that Burress managed to distinguish himself from most potential felons by shooting himself with an unlicensed weapon he foolishly branded while partying with friends and teammates last weekend.

 

And like every incident involving an NFL superstar, the media is all over it. Even Mayor Michael Bloomberg got some face time. 

 

Rumors have begun to surface. Speculation is already running wild. And everyone with a pulse appears to have some sort of opinion on the Burress situation. But what most people disregard is that there are certain realities within this ordeal. Some may disagree with them, but no one can ignore them.

 

Plaxico Burress Is Not Going to Jail

Burress was charged yesterday morning with two felony counts of criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree. This is a Class C felony and the state of New York carries a mandatory prison sentence for carrying an unlicensed loaded handgun. The mandatory minimum prison sentence in New York is three and a half years.

It would appear to look pretty bleak for Burress, however, he is a first time offender. It is very common in New York for first time offenders to plea down to a lesser charge to avoid jail time. Don't be surprised to see Burress plea down to misdemeanor gun charges and receive a virtual slap on the wrist through probation.

Mayor Michael Bloomberg Could Care Less About Plaxico Burress

The Mayor of New York was quite vocal on Monday in response to the notion that Burress might receive preferential treatment in the eyes of the law since he plays for the New York Giants. Bloomberg's desires to see Burress prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law were loud and clear, but even he neglected to mention that this was Burress' first brush with the law.

Make no mistake about this. This was Mayor Bloomberg's opportunity to get national press coverage through a story that has attracted the attention of the entire country. He knew he had an opportunity to showcase New York's strict gun laws and he seized it by urging prosecutors to treat Burress like anyone else. 

Well, just like everyone else in America Mr. Bloomberg, Burress is afforded the presumption of innocence, a fundamental legal right in our nation's criminal justice system.

Antonio Pierce Should Be Very Concerned

It's still very early in the investigation, but Antonio Pierce appears to have serious legal problems ahead. If police discover that Pierce attempted to cover up Burress' accidental shooting of himself, he could be facing obstruction of justice charges. 

In The NFL, Players Are Not Innocent Until Proven Guilty

Roger Goodell has made it very clear that he will impose penalties on players before the legal system has it's chance to run it's normal course. Burress has already been suspended, without pay, for the remainder of the regular season. So how come the presumption of innocence doesn't apply in the NFL? Because it's a private entity. 

Commishioner Goodell's new personal conduct policy has been the subject of debate since it throws out the notion of "innocent until proven guilty," but it has, for the most part, worked to deter players from off-the-field problems. Goodell's decision to suspend Burress is the result of Burress' complete disregard for the league's image and the New York Giant organization. It's up to the state of New York to decide Burress' alleged disregard for the law.

THE RETURN OF SUPERMAN

By Scott Daniels, Esq., NFL Draft Bible

His talents were like nothing the NFL has ever seen before. His speed was breathtaking. His abilities were endless. He revolutionized the quarterback position. He was a 100 million dollar man and had the city of Atlanta in the palm of his hands. Michael Vick was not only a superstar, he was an icon.

But all the glitz and glamour quickly disappeared after he was convicted of several felonies stemming from a dogfighting operation he ran and funded in his home state of Virginia. For the past year, Vick has been serving a prison sentence handed down by a federal judge in one of the most captivating stories since the OJ murder trial.

It appears Vick is nearing the end of his prison sentence Vick has just plead guilty to state dogfighting charges - a move that should allow him to serve out his remaining prison sentence in a half-way house. Vick could be a free man as early as the Summer of 2009.

Just the thought of Vick returning to the league sparks my imagination.

Will he be the same electrifying talent we are used to seeing? Will he still play the quarterback position? 

Reports are that Vick has been working out and remains ready for a possible return, but will Goodell allow him back in the league?

And if he does, will Goodell impose further penalties on Vick? After all, Goodell technically suspended him indefinitely last year and has probably had little or no contact with Vick since then. If we have learned anything about Goodell's tolerance level, Vick will certainly have another shot to play in the NFL. Adam "Pacman" Jones has had several chances to redeem himself and is currently in rehab for an apparent alcohol problem. My intuition tells me that Jones' problem goes a little further than alcohol abuse.

In focusing on the Vick situation, the dogfighting incident was part of a fairly lengthy list of problems Vick encountered while in the NFL. Even if we assume Goodell allows Vick back in the league, there are several questions surrounding his role on a team that is desperate enough to take him.

Arthur Blank, the owner of the Atlanta Falcons has virtually ruled out the possibility of taking Vick back and rookie Matt Ryan has solidified the starting quarterback role there. Blank has expressed his hopes that Vick does return to the game of football, but with a different organization.

One need not even ask the question of whether there is an NFL franchise that will welcome Vick with open arms. NFL teams care about one thing and one thing only - winning. If a player can help achieve that goal, he is worthy of a contract in the eyes of owners and general managers.

Possible takers? The Detroit Lions and the Oakland Raiders can't possibly get any worse. Vick could only make them a better team. The Chiefs and Bears could use a mobile quarterback. 

The bottom line is, Vick is a commodity. And in this era of superstars and highlight films, commodities in the form of offensive threats will always have a home in professional sports.......regardless of the public relations nightmare that lurks in the background.

Just In Case You Were Wondering.......

Chad Who?

In a move that many saw as not surprising, the Cincinnati Bengals' flashy wide receiver legally changed his name from Chad Johnson to Chad Ocho-Cinco. So why is he still sporting his old name on his NFL jersey this year? Mr. Ocho-Cinco didn't realize that as a player in the National Football League, he automatically has financial obligations to Reebok, the makers of every NFL jersey. Turns out, Ocho-Cinco would've had to reimburse Reebok for every jersey they were left with as a result of his name change. Rumor has it the number was hovering around a few million dollars.

Here's a better question - Who in their right mind is going to purchase a "C. Johnson #85" jersey now when that's not even his legal name anymore?

NFL Has a Trade Deadline?

It falls on the Tuesday after the sixth week of the NFL regular season. It's almost always overlooked since teams are reluctant to deal anyone mid-season. However, this season might be different. All Pro tight end Tony Gonzalez of the Kansas City Chiefs has voiced his desire to be traded to a contender and the Chiefs have expressed interest as long as they are fairly compensated.

Nothing Is Perfect......Except For Overtime In The NFL

I'm so tired of hearing people argue that overtime in the NFL is not fair since both offenses may not always touch the ball. The NFL's decision to implement a sudden-death overtime system was one of the best moves in the league's history. Fairness is irrelevant. This is the pros, not little league.

A professional team's defense has the ability to stop the opposing offense, so what's the problem? Case in point: Dallas Cowboys v. Arizona Cardinals, October 12, 2008. The Cardinals were dealt a blow after losing the coin toss only to block a Dallas punt after the Cowboys were unable to score. The Cardinals scored a touchdown on that same play giving them the victory.

LEGAL LINE SHOW IS BACK - WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 8th - 8:30pm

A Cincinnati Bengal has been suspended by the NFL. Shocker.

Lane Kiffin fired from the Oakland Raiders without pay. 

Lance Armstrong is headed back to France. 

And last but certainly not least, Luke Walton has a stalker......legally.

The city of Philadelphia is buzzing now with the resurgence of the Fightin' Phillies and Craig Robinson will be dropping by to give me the inside scoop on all things in the Philadelphia sports scene.

And finally, I will be introducing my new Resident Odds Maker and sports gambling aficionado on this week's edition of The Legal Line Show on blogtalkradio.

Just click on the link below and you will be directed to my show..........

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/All-Access-Football/2008/10/09/The-Legal-Line-Show

LEGAL LINE RADIO SHOW - Tonight @ 8:30pm

The Legal Line Show is back tonight on blogtalk radio at 8:30pm.

Chris Henry is back with the Cincinnati Bengals...........seriously?

I'll update you on a few key holdouts in the NFL.

Baseball has a situation on it's hands and the NBA's biggest problem yet.......

Click on the link below or click on the title to get to the show. Enjoy


http://www.blogtalkradio.com/All-Access-Football/2008/08/21/The-Legal-Line-Show-Episode-6

FAVRE SAGA FAR FROM OVER

By Scott Daniels, Esq., NFL Draftbible

As Brett Favre emerged from his private plane a few days ago, crowds of fans applauded him as if he were a member of the Beatles. Members of the media rushed for photos and the television networks covered every second of his return to the town that views Favre as a god, rather than a Hall of Fame quarterback.

The Favre saga has officially become a circus. However, it's not surprising. The most popular player to ever don a Packer jersey has just been shipped out of Lambeau and traded for a conditional draft pick. A scenario no one could have conjured.

So it appears the Favre circus has come to an end.

I beg to differ. In fact, this circus has only just begun.

The media has already sunk it's teeth into this situation and that can only mean one thing. Do whatever it takes to get a story. Even if it means employing dirty tactics. After all, dirt sells.

Take a look at every major sports story in the last five years. Once the media starts seriously digging around, it becomes a full fledged soap opera. And unfortunately for the Favre camp, if history has taught us anything, this saga is about to hit new highs.

Barry Bonds
The steroid era in baseball may not begin with Barry Bonds, but he is certainly the catalyst for it. Bonds rose to fame after becoming the homerun king amidst a flurry of allegations that he was taking performance enhancing drugs. After vigorously denying that he took illegal steroids, his media coverage skyrocketed. Networks and newspapers watched his every move.

The result: Bonds did claim the record for most homeruns in history but was subsequently indicted on perjury charges and remains unable to find a job in baseball. His media coverage resulted in numerous books portraying him as a criminal, tons of negative rumors and a reputation that even Mike Tyson wouldn't trade for.

Michael Vick
Vick initially denied taking part in a large scale dog-fighting ring that operated in multiple states. Almost without hesitation, the public and the media saw right through him. Richmond, Virginia quickly attracted media outlets from all over and the circus began. Following a few weeks of investigation and several media discoveries, the most popular athlete in Atlanta - and quite possibly the most exciting player in the league - had fallen.

The result: Vick was sentenced to a lengthy prison sentence and had to forfeit his mega deal he received from the Falcons a few years prior. His legacy will be forever tarnished. His future in the NFL may be dead.

Roger Clemens
Once the Mitchell Report dropped, Major League Baseball was immediately criticized for their lack of effort in battling steroids in baseball. While many claimed the report lacked credibility, several players came forward and admitted to their wrongdoings. Clemens chose to do just the opposite.

Clemens vehemently denied ever using performance enhancing drugs and went head to head with his former trainer who even went so far as to provide old syringes that Clemens allegedly used. The media jumped all over this and began to dig up anything they could find.

The result: Clemens' personal life was ripped open by every media outlet under the sun. Old flings were discovered, connections to underage celebrities, phone records were re-hashed and Clemens lost every ounce of credibility in the process.
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Let me be clear. While I do not agree with Favre's decision to come out of retirement, he has done nothing wrong here. The man has already admitted to retiring early, which by all means, is an honest mistake. But there is a lot of information that we still don't know.

What was really said in those back-door meetings between Packer brass and Brett Favre?

How does Favre really feel about his former head coach and the Packer organization?

Jet training camp is about to be the focal point of the NFL. And Favre will continue to dominate headlines for weeks to come. That we know. What we learn about Favre and the Packers over the next few weeks will surely be interesting. Stay tuned football fans, this circus has just begun.......