Babineaux Cleared

Animal cruelty charges against Atlanta Falcons defensive tackle Jonathan Babineaux have been dropped by suburban Atlanta authorities. In February, Babineaux was charged with killing his girlfriend's pit bull mix. An autopsy concluded that the dog died from blunt force trauma to the head. It was alleged that Babineaux had hit the dog in the head with a hammer after fighting with his girlfriend. However, further investigation could not rule out that the dog died from hitting the wall after being spun around on a leash. The dog had a history of unprovoked attacks and a dog trainer had instructed Babineaux to spin the dog on a leash when it became aggressive. So, it seems Babineaux isn't cruel, just too stupid enough to realize that too much spinning makes you uncontrollably dizzy.

So, I guess I'll need a new double standard to harp on when I complain about Michael Vick. Sigh. Like I don't have enough to do.

Active Animal Cruelty Charge, Active on the Roster

The AJC reports that Atlanta Falcons defensive tackle Jonathan Babineaux's felony animal cruelty charge is still winding it's way through the legal system.

Babineaux was charged in February in the death of Kilo, a pit bull-mix owned by his girlfriend.

Babineaux's girlfriend said she and Babineaux argued on February 18 and that Babineaux later suggested she return home to check on the dog after she went out to a movie.

The girlfriend told police she found Kilo in "severe physical distress". Initial tests showed that the dog died of blunt force trauma to the head, likely by hammer.

The dead dog has been frozen and will re-examined by an expert.

Jonathan Babineaux is active on the Falcons roster and is projected to be a starter.

The pic is of Lucky, a pit bull brought into an Atlanta shelter this week. The knife was removed today and her prognosis is good. Hopefully, she will be adopted by someone not on the Atlanta Falcons roster.

Hypocrisy Abounds

Not much is making sense about the Michael Vick situation.

Jonathan Babineaux is facing five years on a felony animal cruelty charge for killing his girlfriend's pit bull mix puppy and he remains on the Falcons roster. At the press conference yesterday, Rich McKay said that the Falcons are "monitoring that case."

Also, Nike, who suspended the release of Michael Vick's latest shoe has shown a prior interest in fighting dogs. Not from the Peta perspective though. About 20 seconds from the end of this Nike basketball commercial, you can check some pit bulls getting crunk for a fight. Okay to use fighting pits to sell shoes that time, but I guess times have changed.



Hat tip to Krista and Adweek

Precedent Supports Due Process in Atlanta

Shockingly, an Atlanta Journal Constitution columnist published an article in support of Michael Vick. I know this was difficult for them to do, so I will acknowledge the effort. Mark Bradley basically acknowledged that the Falcons are in a "damned if you do, damned if you don't" situation. He also brought up some interesting situations of current and former Atlanta athletes who found themselves in the legal hot water.

• Jonathan Babineaux is still on the Falcons roster. Jonathan has an active felony charge for animal cruelty. He allegedly killed his girlfriend's puppy with his own hands. He has not been cut from the team, suspended or placed on any sort of leave. Arthur Blank said the following about his case in February: “There’s this thing called the legal process that’s even above the NFL and sports … [Cutting Babineaux] would be the worst possible thing we could do. It would be a slap in the face to the judicial system. Making the concession of throwing somebody on the fire would be the worst thing for our organization and the worst thing for Atlanta.”


• Tony Martin was a wide receiver for the Falcons during their Super Bowl season. The Falcons released after he was indicted on federal money-laundering charges (Vick is also the subject of a federal indictment). He was acquitted and wound up catching 67 passes for the Dolphins that fall. Two years later he returned to the Falcons for his final pro season.


• Rafael Furcal played for the Atlanta Braves in the 2004 division series after having being sentenced, earlier that same day, to three weeks in jail for violating probation. Not many exprssed moral outrage when Furcal hit the home run that won the game.