Clampdown on Vick after failed drug test (w/photo)
Cox News Service
Thursday, September 27, 2007
ATLANTA — Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick tested positive for marijuana, has been confined to his Virginia residence at night, forced to wear an electronic monitoring device and ordered to receive mental health counseling, according to court documents filed recently.
Vick tested positive in a urine sample submitted on Sept. 13 — 17 days after entering a plea agreement in federal court on felony charges related to dogfighting. He faces up to five years in prison on those charges and will be sentenced Dec. 10.
The failed drug test by Vick, who has been suspended indefinitely by the National Football League, could further jeopardize his career as NFL commissioner Roger Goodell's decision to lift the suspension could be impacted by this latest development.
"This doesn't affect his status in the league because he is indefinitely suspended," NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said.
There was mixed reaction from Vick's teammates.
"I talk to Mike every other day," receiver Joe Horn said. "He's going to be my friend. He didn't pass his drug test. That's OK. He's going to have to cross that bridge when he gets to it again. It's another obstacle in his life that he has to [overcome]. So I'm still going to call. I'm still going to be his friend if he plays another down of football or not."
"I just want to play ball and I want to win," safety Lawyer Milloy said. "I'm tired of every thing else that I can't control and has nothing to do with us. ... I've got Houston to worry about. I've got a run game that I need to get fixed. Me sitting in there watching the news about what's going on with Mike, that's not going to help my situation out on the field."
In January, Vick was stopped at a Miami International Airport security checkpoint for carrying a water bottle with a concealed compartment that "contained a small amount of dark particulant and a pungent aroma closely associated with marijuana," according to a police report. No charges were filed. Vick later said he carried jewelry in the concealed compartment.
As part of his pretrial release, Vick agreed to "refrain from use or unlawful possession of a narcotic drug or other controlled substance."
Probation officer Patricia Locket-Ross petitioned Judge Henry E. Hudson to impose stricter conditions on Vick.
In court documents, Hudson ordered that Vick submit to any method of testing "for determining whether the defendant is using a prohibited substance." Such methods may be used with random frequency and include urine testing and the wearing of a sweat patch.
According to the National Institute of Drug Abuse, marijuana "can be detected by standard urine testing methods several days after a smoking session. However, in chronic heavy users, traces can sometimes be detected for weeks after they have stopped using marijuana."
In other conditions ordered by the court, Vick is restricted to his Virginia residence every day from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. The home confinement will include electronic monitoring and Vick must pay for the service. The judge also ordered Vick to continue in a substance therapy program and to participate in mental health counseling.
The court order comes one day after Vick was indicted by a Surry County grand jury on two state felony charges related to dogfighting. Vick will be arraigned Wednesday in the state case.
Vick was suspended by the NFL for violating the league's player conduct policy on Aug. 27, the day he entered his federal plea agreement. According to league's substance abuse policy, first drug offenses are kept confidential. A second failed test results in a four-game suspension.
"We're all cheering for Mike," Falcons coach Bobby Petrino said Wednesday. "He's got to make some changes in his life and [the failed drug test] would be another one that he needs to make sure he gets straighten out."
One of Vick's co-defendants in the federal case, Quanis Phillips, was taken into custody at his plea agreement hearing on Aug. 17 for admitting to the use of marijuana. He later petitioned the court to be released, but the motion was denied.
— Chris Vivlamore writes for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. E-mail: cvivlamore AT ajc.com. Staff writers Steve Wyche and D. Orlando Ledbetter contributed to this article.