Six years on from being selected as the first pick in the 2001 NFL draft, the Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick should have been looking forward to the best years of his career. Instead, after announcing he would plead guilty to federal dog-fighting charges yesterday afternoon, he is facing a likely sentence of 12 to 18 months behind bars. Whether or not he will ever play professional gridiron again remains to be seen.
Vick, along with co-defendants Quanis Phillips, of Atlanta, Purnell Peace, of Virginia Beach, and Tony Taylor, of Hampton, Virginia, stands accused of operating a dog-fighting ring named Bad Newz Kennels out of a property he owns in Surry County, Virginia. Already banned by the NFL from attending the Falcons' pre-season training camp, Vick had previously denied all charges, but his position was undermined after all three co-defendants pleaded guilty last month and said they would testify against him should the case reach trial.
"Mr Vick has agreed to enter a plea of guilty to those charges and to accept full responsibility for his actions and the mistakes he has made," said Vick's defence lawyer Billy Martin in a statement yesterday. "Michael wishes to apologise again to everyone who has been hurt by this matter."
As well as admitting they had operated the fighting ring with Vick, Phillips and Peace both testified that he had helped execute - by methods including hanging and drowning - at least eight underperforming pit bull terriers. Yet it is the claim made by all three co-defendants that he provided the majority of operating and gambling funds which could be most damaging to Vick's hopes of a return to the NFL, as betting on the fights would represent a specific breach of the league's personal conduct rules. Several US commentators believe the gambling charges alone could prompt a lifetime ban from the league.
"We totally condemn the conduct outlined in the charges, which is inconsistent with what Michael Vick previously told both our office and the Falcons," read a league statement yesterday. "We will conclude our own review under the league's personal conduct policy as soon as possible."
Vick will appear in court to submit his plea next Monday, and although the charges against him are punishable by up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine, a government official told the Associated Press that prosecutors would recommend a sentence of 12 to 18 months. The final say, however, will rest with district judge Henry Hudson, who is not bound to follow either prosecutors' recommendations or sentencing guidelines.
The Atlanta Falcons, as requested by the NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, have declined to comment at this stage, saying only that they are "troubled" by the guilty plea. The NFL Players' Association, however, condemned Vick's actions.
"We believe the criminal conduct to which Mr Vick has pleaded guilty today cannot be condoned under any circumstances," said executive director Gene Upshaw. "Speaking personally, as I have previously stated, the practice of dog fighting is offensive and completely unacceptable. I can only hope that Mr Vick, who is young man, will learn from this awful experience."
Martin, meanwhile, insisted the plea should not be viewed as an attempt by Vick to save his career. "He realised this is very serious, and he decided to plead so he can begin the healing process," said Martin. "Football is not the most important thing in Michael Vick's life. He wants to get his life back on track."