Atlanta Falcons QB Michael Vick has found himself in a dog fight.  According to ESPN, he’s out there now interviewing lawyers to beef up his defense.  Let’s face facts, Vick (not to mention the Falcons) have a lot to lose here.

So where does a star NFL quarterback go when he accused of being a hot dog?

The Vick camp has solicited recommendations and is believed to have interviewed at least one prominent defender from the prestigious Washington, D.C., firm of Wilmer Hale.

Screeching halt.  Wilmer Hale?  Prestigious?  Do they have a dog killer defense team?  Given Michael Vick’s last string of bonuses (amount to something like $37 million), he can afford to hire anybody he wants.  But that begs the question, why Wilmer Hale?

Sure, they no doubt do the white collar defense thing, where they march you into the US Attorneys office, bring in a few Starbucks lattes and work it all out like gentlemen (provided the best dresses gentleman doesn’t mind the next 36 months at quiet federal camp).  But dog fights are a specialty.  And I bet they don’t get many dog fighting cases at their fancy Washington offices.  If they did, you would probably see some stains on the carpet to prove it.

So, I offer this piece of unsolicited (and uncompensated, though Mike, feel free to send a few grand if it helps you any) advice.  Get a real lawyer who knows how to defend people accused of real crimes.  You can keep the fancy Washington-type guys if you need a front or want to impress your friends, but the person up front needs to know how fight.  This dog doo is not a tea and crumpets deal, this is war.  Don’t go in there unarmed.

Oh yeah, I forgot to mention that if you need a recommendation, call me.  Collect if you have to.