Desperate Vick attorneys throw red challenge flag at sentencing

RICHMOND, VA — With their client already in jail and seemingly no recourse remaining to them, Michael Vick’s attorneys launched a last-ditch effort to stop their client from going to jail for 23 months for dog-fighting and killing pitbulls.

When district judge Henry E. Hudson announced the verdict – putting Vick in federal prison until well into 2009 – Vick’s attorneys produced a red handkerchief similar to those used by NFL coaches to challenge plays, and fired it into the air.

“We want a booth review,” the attorney said. “We have timeouts to spare, and we understand the risk. We want a booth review.”

The judge promptly informed the attorneys that in federal court, the rules and regulations of the NFL do not necessarily apply.

“In this courtroom, we abide by the laws of the United States of America,” Judge Hudson proclaimed. “The rules and regulations of Mr. Roger Goodell and the National Football Association have no bearing here.”

The attorneys are planning on appealing the judge’s decision to the NFL head office, and a hearing has been scheduled for late December. At that time, the league will also consider special provisions to protect Vick while he is in prison.

This is not the first time in the trial that Vick’s attorneys have employed NFL tactics to gain an advantage. On several occasions, they piped in noise to obscure the testimony being given, and this morning they called a last-second timeout to “ice” Hudson before he announced the decision.

It’s going to be tough for this sport to sweep any nations, but it’s still pretty frickin’ cool!