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Appeals Court Rules Vick Can Keep Bonus Money

POSTED: 6:41 pm EST November 10, 2009

(Sports Network) - The eighth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled on Tuesday that embattled Philadelphia Eagles quarterback can keep the $29.5 million in bonus money he earned with the Atlanta Falcons prior to his suspension.

An arbitrator originally ruled that Vick had to repay a prorated portion of the money he was paid in bonuses due to the fact that he didn't play the entire length of his contract after being suspended from the league. After an appeal, Judge David Doty reversed that decision, but the league then filed a further appeal, saying the judge was biased, based on comments he made to the media.

The court on Tuesday reaffirmed Judge Doty's decision, citing that the language regarding the differences between "signing bonus" and "roster bonus" were ambiguous at best. When deciding between the NFL's and Player's Association's arguments, the court decided that the NFL's was the "least logical of the two."

"As the League would have it, the forfeitability of Vick's bonuses turns on whether the Falcons guaranteed the bonuses for skill. That distinction makes little sense in the context of forfeiture," the court stated. "Guaranteeing a bonus for skill simply means that a player can keep the money no matter how poor his performance...Accordingly, the district court did not err in determining that the bonuses were earned when Vick met the roster provisions in his contract, and thus not subject to forfeiture."

Vick signed a two-year contract with the Eagles after being conditionally reinstated this past summer but has played sparingly this season. He has made six appearances, throwing for six yards on 2-of-6 throws in addition to 27 rushing yards on 12 attempts.

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