Although he is the dictator of record, Goodell won’t be making the decision alone to ban Vick for life. Gene Upshaw, head of the Players Association, will sign off on it, too. While Goodell didn’t need prodding in doling out suspensions to Pacman, Tank and Chris Henry, he was cheered on by Upshaw, who in turn was lobbied hard by many players who were tired of having their league tarnished by a criminal element.

Upshaw will look at the severity of these charges, recognize that an indictment by a federal grand jury is a little harder to smooth over than the usual run-in with a traffic cop, and encourage Goodell to cast Vick into exile.

There is a belief in some quarters that only repeat criminal offenders can be suspended. But there is no such specific wording in the league's personal conduct policy, which is posted on the NFLPA.org web site. Instead, the rules provide for a procedure for those charged with a crime that includes 'evaluation and counseling' plus language suggesting that any suspensions or fines will be 'at the discretion of the commissioner' or 'determined by the commissioner.' Considering the extraordinary circumstances of this case, Goodell would face little opposition in immediately imposing a lengthy suspension except perhaps from Vick, his agent and the few fans the QB may have left in the Falcons' organization.

The NFL has issued an early statement on the matter. Said spokesman Brian McCarthy: “The activities alleged are cruel, degrading and illegal. Michael Vick’s guilt has not yet been proven, and we believe that all concerned should allow the legal process to determine the facts.”

But Pacman got a one-year suspension not because the legal process determined the facts, but because Goodell determined he had violated terms of the league’s personal conduct policy.

Goodell doesn’t have to wait until after a federal trial is held in the matter for Vick and his three co-defendants, which could land them all in prison for up to six years. He can read the indictment and determine not whether Vick is guilty of a federal crime, but whether he is guilty of doing what Pacman did — bringing dishonor upon the NFL. It seems fairly clear that he has.

A lifetime ban is completely justified. A dog-fighting ring was headquartered on Vick’s property. Dogs were starved so they’d be hungrier when they fought. Losing dogs were killed by hanging, electrocution, gunshots or being slammed to the ground. Dog carcasses were alleged to have been buried on the property. Vick deserves a lifetime ban even if he wasn’t the mastermind, even if he only had peripheral involvement.

Goodell and his minions can put out all the carefully vetted early statements on the matter that they want, because that’s what their legal playbook probably requires. But the pressure will mount with each new revelation, and Goodell will ultimately decide that Vick’s situation is nothing like Pacman’s.

It’s much worse.

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