On Wednesday, Mike Scarce, president of the 300-member Falcon Fan-Atics fan club, invoked what had become in less than 24 hours, the new incantation of the Falcon nation: "Innocent until proven guilty."

Versions of that reaction reverberated across the fan base on the news that Falcon quarterback Michael Vick was indicted for taking part in an animal fighting enterprise and may have been involved in killing losing dogs.

"You can be charged with anything, and he may not have done anything," said Scarce, 48, a mail carrier who lives in Cumming and has owned season Falcons tickets since the Georgia Dome opened in 1992. "He definitely can afford good lawyers, and good lawyers can go a long way in this situation."

Stockbridge season ticket holder Chuck Ruffino said: "I'm hoping for the best and hoping he should be properly acquitted. My feeling that him playing will make the season, and I feel like if he plays it will be a great season."

At the same time loyalists seized the moment to voice frustrations with the quarterback who may have put fans in seats at the Georgia Dome, but has been embroiled in off-field controversies.

"I'm a Vick fan because I'm a Falcons' fan," said Scarce. "But I never thought he would get the team to the Super Bowl because he had never had the right chemistry — he's never been a leader, on or off the field."

Scott Lehman, of Marietta, said he supported the Falcons and Vick because "I live here, and support the city" but feared the allegations are damaging and divisive to the team and city, whether Vick is guilty or not.

"We now will step back several years and have a divide again in Atlanta along racial lines, on the Falcons and life in general," Lehman wrote in an e-mail.

Many fans said they weren't surprised by the indictment.

Fan Doug Miller summed it up this way: "It was something that was expected. It was just a matter of time until something went down."

The greater concern now is whether Vick will play this season. With the recent suspensions of NFL players such as Adam "Pacman" Jones and Tank Johnson, most fans seem to expect the NFL to take similar action on Vick.

"The new commissioner is trying to send a message to the fans," Bobby Russell said. "They may decide to make him the sacrificial lamb. "

Bonaparte said: "I think he'll be suspended for most of the year, if not all of it. He hasn't been in trouble as far as the law, but as far as the court of public opinion, there's a number of different incidents that make him suspect. That's not the wholesome quarterback that a southern city wants."

Few worried that Vick will serve any jail time.

"I think if this goes to trial, it'll be a plea bargain," K'Lee Reeves said. "I think that would be in his best interest. He needs to save what bit of reputation he has. I'm sure the owners are going to still let him play."

Russell said if he wins acquittal then wins on the field, all will be forgiven. "If he has a good season," he said, "the whole thing will get washed under the rug."

Bonaparte was less forgiving.

"Get his behind out of here now," he said. "I think we should have traded him last year, when his market value was still high. He had six years to win the Super Bowl. He said he would win it in five. This is his seventh year. It's time to move on."