Vick decides to plead guilty

Putting his career in jeopardy, Falcons quarterback Michael Vick has agreed to plead guilty next Monday in his federal dogfighting case.

In doing so, the NFL star and face of Atlanta's franchise will admit to taking part in disturbing actions detailed in an 18-page federal indictment that has captured national attention.

In pleading guilty, one of the most exciting and polarizing figures in the NFL faces prison, fines, and a lengthy league suspension. He also avoids the certainty of more serious charges, including racketeering, in a superseding indictment from a grand jury that convened yesterday. Still possible, however, is prosecution by the state of Virginia on animal cruelty charges that could carry up to 40 years in state prison.

According to the Associated Press, a government official speaking on condition of anonymity said prosecutors will recommend Vick be sentenced to between a year and 18 months in prison.

"Mr. Vick has agreed to enter a plea of guilty to these charges and to accept full responsibility for those actions and for the mistakes he has made," Billy Martin, one of Vick's attorneys, said in a statement. "Michael wishes to apologize to everyone who has been hurt by this matter."

A second attorney for Vick, Daniel Meachum, declined to comment about what sentence Vick could get, saying a plea agreement has not yet been drafted.

But if his plea agreement is similar to that of two codefendants who pleaded guilty to conspiracy charges Friday, he faces 12 to 18 months in prison, according to federal sentencing guidelines.

The federal judge in the case, Henry E. Hudson, could go below or above that amount, but not exceed five years. Hudson, who is known for handing out harsh sentences, signaled to Vick's two codefendants last week that he found the facts of the case particularly aggravating.

Hudson announced to reporters that Vick's plea hearing is set for 10:30 a.m. Monday.

In pleading guilty, Vick -- who has a $130 million contract with the Falcons -- could face severe sanctions from the NFL. A federal grand jury indicted him last month on a single count of conspiracy to cross state lines to engage in illegal gambling; to sponsor a dog in an animal fighting venture; and to buy, transport, and receive dogs for animal fighting. Meachum said Vick plans to plead guilty to the conspiracy charge.

Meachum was asked whether the plea offer was structured to avoid any possible gambling exposure that might hurt Vick's chances of playing in the NFL.

"I think it would be disingenuous if I'm focusing on football," Meachum said. "I am concerned about his life. Football will take care of itself. I'm concerned about how he picks up the pieces."

The NFL's anti-gambling policy states that a player can be suspended indefinitely or have his contract terminated if he "knowingly associates with gamblers or gambling activity." The league has suspended Vick pending its own investigation of the case.

"We totally condemn the conduct outlined in the charges, which is inconsistent with what Michael Vick previously told both our office and the Falcons," the NFL said in a statement yesterday. "We will conclude our own review under the league's personal conduct policy as soon as possible. In the meantime, we have asked the Falcons to continue to refrain from taking action pending a decision by the commissioner."

The Falcons also issued a statement, saying, "We are certainly troubled with the news today concerning Michael Vick's guilty plea to federal charges. Commissioner [Roger] Goodell has asked us not to take any action until he has completed his own review of Michael's situation. Accordingly, we will have no further comment until that time."

News of Vick's decision came after the remaining two codefendants in his case -- Quanis Phillips, 28, of Atlanta, and Purnell Peace, 35, of Virginia Beach -- pleaded guilty Friday to a single count of conspiracy and pledged to cooperate with prosecutors in their case against Vick. A third codefendant, Tony Taylor, 34, of Hampton, Va., entered a guilty plea last month as part of a similar plea deal with prosecutors.

Peace, Phillips, and Taylor have each signed documents saying Vick almost exclusively bankrolled their dogfighting business -- called "Bad Newz Kennels." Also, Vick joined Peace and Phillips in executing eight dogs they didn't think would fight well in or about April -- by various means, including hanging and drowning.