Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick has decided to take a plea deal on the dogfighting charges that he is facing.

A lawyer for Vick says the NFL star will plead guilty to federal dogfighting conspiracy charges,

putting the quarterback's career in jeopardy and leaving him subject to a possible prison term.

The offense is punishable by up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine, although federal sentencing guidelines likely would call for less.

Vick was the lone defendant left in the case after three co-defendants all reached plea agreements with the prosecution.

Lead defense attorney Billy Martin said Monday that after consulting with his family over the weekend, Vick asked that he announce that he has reached an agreement with federal prosecutors regarding the charges pending against him in Virginia.

Martin said Vick has agreed to enter a plea of guilty next week to the charges and to accept full responsibility for his actions and the mistakes.

He said Vick wants to apologize to everyone who has been hurt by the scandal.

Vick is charged with conspiracy to travel in interstate commerce in aid of unlawful activities and conspiracy to sponsor a dog in an animal fighting venture.

Martin's announcement came as a grand jury that could add new charges met behind closed doors in Richmond.

Prosecutors had said that a superseding indictment was in the works, but Vick's plea likely means he will not face additional charges.

Three of Vick's original co-defendants already have pleaded guilty and agreed to testify against him if the case went to trial.

Martin says Vick's plea hearing will be next Monday.

A press conference is set for 2pm Monday afternoon.

Stick a fork in his NFL career - unless any team is dumb enough to sign him. :mad:

Stick a fork in his NFL career - unless any team is dumb enough to sign him. :mad:
Yea It's all over for him but there is always an NFL team dumb enough to sign someone like mike vick

Yea It's all over for him but there is always an NFL team dumb enough to sign someone like mike vick
That is what I fear and loathe. :mad:

That is what I fear and loathe. :mad:
*cough* brett farve's replacement *cough*

I don't understand how a person could hurt and kill poor defenseless animals. My husband told me that he would hate to see Vick play again, just knowing what he did. I just hope he gets prison time.

Yea It's all over for him but there is always an NFL team dumb enough to sign someone like mike vick


I heard on ESPN that he maybe back in the NFL in 2010-lol He would be signed as a PUNTER not a QB

Michael Vick is finished as a top flight player. If he ever plays in the NFL again he'll be a joke.

Mike Vick had the chance to become the greatest QB of his era now in the prime of his career he's gonna be going to jail he's got no chance. He had to make stupid ass mistake like this

Mike Vick had the chance to become the greatest QB of his era now in the prime of his career he's gonna be going to jail he's got no chance. He had to make stupid ass mistake like this
Yea I just don't understand some of these athletes. They got the whole world in their hands and they blow it by doing stupid illegal things.

Yea I just don't understand some of these athletes. They got the whole world in their hands and they blow it by doing stupid illegal things.
Yea I know 1st Odell Thurman and Pacman Jones now Mike Vick damn

That bum deserves to get his head chopped off!

Dear Recipient,


Today, Michael Vick’s attorney announced that Vick has apologized and is taking full responsibility for his actions in relation to federal dogfighting charges. When Vick pleads guilty in court, a case that has jolted the conscience of a nation will have reached something of a conclusion.

But our work is far from over.

I encourage you now to sign our virtual thank you card for U.S. Attorney Chuck Rosenberg and his staff, who have prosecuted this case and helped bring the tragedy of animal fighting into the spotlight. And I ask you to help us bring other horrible crimes against animals to an end by making a special gift to our Animal Cruelty Response and Reward Fund.

The Humane Society of the United States has charted an increase in law enforcement activity since the Vick indictment, with at least 32 animal fighting rings broken up in 15 states in just the last month alone. Vast numbers of other cases, however, need attention -- and to that end, we’ve doubled our standard reward to $5,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of dogfighters.

Our phones are ringing off the hook with requests for help by law enforcement officials, who often want our expertise in both investigating these crimes and coordinating the logistics involved in rescuing large numbers of animals from abusive situations.

In fact, our Animal Cruelty Response and Reward Fund was created to make this work possible. In addition to enabling us to offer rewards, this fund helps underwrite our undercover investigations, our work assisting local law enforcement, our championing of tougher laws, and our highly trained response teams that rescue animals from large-scale cruelty cases.

We must not let the scourge of animal fighting continue after the publicity surrounding the Vick case recedes. Please thank the U.S. Attorneys today, and help make our cruelty response work possible for tomorrow.

Thank you for all you have done to protect animals victimized in these sickening staged battles.

Sincerely,

Wayne Pacelle
President & CEO
The Humane Society of the United States

P.S. Read our latest story and watch our latest video on the Michael Vick case and the dark world of dogfighting.

Yea I just don't understand some of these athletes. They got the whole world in their hands and they blow it by doing stupid illegal things.
Yeah, that is what I told Janice in an email. I mean, how much more money do these athletes need/want? Do they really need their "bling" that much? Do they need all that gold around their necks? Do they need the fancy mansions, cribs, etc? How many strippers do they throw their money at and how much?

I feel so disgusted that a plea deal was even offered. Ok, so be it, it was offered and given to those three other f***** bastards, BUT that should be enough for the D.A. to say, "Hey, we got three witnesses, we have evidence, we have pictures, we have dead bodies and animals that are still alive to tell a story. We will prosecute to the fullest extent." I don't care, spend tax dollars to send a message!!!!!!!!!!!!!:mad:

.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070822/ap_on_sp_fo_ne/fbn_vick_dogs_3

50 Pit Bulls at Vick's House could be euthanized.

Pit bulls at Vick's house face deadline

RICHMOND, Va. - More than 50 pit bulls seized from Michael Vick's property face a Thursday deadline to be claimed. If no one comes forward, they could be euthanized.

Federal prosecutors filed court documents last month to condemn 53 pit bulls seized in April as part of the investigation into dogfighting on the Vick's property. No one has claimed any of the dogs, which are being held at several unspecified shelters in eastern Virginia, the U.S. Attorney's office said Wednesday.

The civil complaint filed by federal prosecutors does not name the Atlanta Falcons quarterback and is separate from the criminal case against him. But it does state the pit bulls were part of the dogfighting operation known as "Bad Newz Kennels," which Vick and three cohorts are accused of operating.

Also included in the document are detailed allegations about the nature of the animals' training regimen and the dogfights occurring at Vick's property at 1915 Moonlight Road in Surry County.

The government filed three public civil forfeiture notices in a Richmond newspaper to publicize the dogs' confiscation, and the deadline for claims is 30 days after the appearance of the final notice, filed July 24.

Federal prosecutors declined to comment Wednesday on the seized dogs. Typically, when confiscated property goes unclaimed, the government asks the court to have the items declared forfeited. In this case, U.S. District Judge Henry E. Hudson will make the final decision on the dogs' fate.

"There's no dispute over who owns the dogs," said Daphna Nachminovitch, a spokeswoman for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. "Obviously this is not going to be a process where someone steps forward and says, 'This is my dog, can I have her back, please?' "

Though Hudson, who also is handling Vick's criminal case, will determine what becomes of the pit bulls, Nachminovitch said that it's likely that they will be euthanized because they're not adoptable as pets.

"These dogs are a ticking time bomb," she said. "Rehabilitating fighting dogs is not in the cards. It's widely accepted that euthanasia is the most humane thing for them."

Vick, 27, said through a lawyer this week that he will plead guilty to a federal charge of conspiracy to travel in interstate commerce in aid of unlawful activities and conspiracy to sponsor a dog in an animal fighting venture. He is scheduled to enter his plea agreement Monday and could face up to five years in prison.

Three Vick associates have pleaded guilty to the conspiracy charge and agreed to testify against him if the case went to trial. They said Vick provided virtually all the gambling and operating funds for the Bad Newz Kennels enterprise. Two of them also said Vick participated in executing at least eight underperforming dogs by various means, including drowning and hanging.

The locations of the shelters holding the dogs haven't been disclosed out of concern that the animals could be stolen, Nachminovitch said.

"They are a hot commodity in the world of dogfighting," she said.

I just feel so bad for those poor animals - no creature should have to suffer like that. Unless, of course, it's Vick and his cronies. :mad:

I just feel so bad for those poor animals - no creature should have to suffer like that. Unless, of course, it's Vick and his cronies. :mad:
Monika don't forget Stephon Marbury