[AlexDatig]

If this is true, his lawyers did him a huge favor and he'll likely be able to play in the NFL again.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2989037

Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick will not admit to killing dogs or gambling on dog fights, as detailed in his indictment, when he enters a guilty plea in a Richmond, Va., federal court Monday, a source close to the case has told ESPN. Instead, the one count of conspiracy that Vick will plead to will admit guilt to the charge of interstate commerce for the purpose of dogfighting.
The source told ESPN that Vick's defense team met with federal attorneys Thursday afternoon to determine the "summary of facts" to which Vick will plead, and that his attorneys believed they had a deal. The source said Vick maintains he never killed dogs and never gambled on a dog fight.
He will admit he was present when dogs were killed, but that he did not personally kill any of the dogs.
The allegations of killing dogs and gambling were part of the picture painted by Vick's three co-defendants, all of whom have pleaded guilty.
Vick, 27, is scheduled to enter his plea agreement Monday and could face up to five years in prison.
Vick's co-defendants 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 dogs seen as underperforming by various means, including drowning and hanging.
A government official, speaking on condition of anonymity because the terms are not final, told The Associated Press Wednesday that prosecutors will recommend a sentence of one year to 18 months. However, U.S. District Judge Henry Hudson is not bound by that recommendation or by federal sentencing guidelines that will call for less than the five-year maximum.
It's still unclear whether all this will end the career of one of the NFL's most dazzling players.
Vick has been barred from training camp by the NFL, and commissioner Roger Goodell has asked the Falcons not to take any action until the league rules.
Goodell can suspend Vick under the NFL's personal conduct policy. While the league hasn't said whether a potential suspension would be concurrent with Vick's prison sentence, it probably would take effect once he is released from custody.
That means Vick likely would miss both the 2007 and 2008 seasons.
The Falcons in 2004 signed Vick to a 10-year, $130 million contract, at the time, one of the largest in NFL history. The bonus and guaranteed money he received in his contract totaled $44 million, and the team could try to reclaim part of that.
Vick has also lost lucrative contracts with sponsors. Rawlings, Nike, Reebok and Upper Deck are among the companies that have either ended contracts with him or stopped sales of his merchandise.

[neguoogleX]

Its quite possible that this plea deal would be taken right off the table if he doesn't admit to those things.

And if so, they'll likely add more charges.

His lawyers are clearly looking for a loophole that will eventually grant him the chance to comeback into the NFL.

[Master_B]

Its quite possible that this plea deal would be taken right off the table if he doesn't admit to those things.

And if so, they'll likely add more charges.

His lawyers are clearly looking for a loophole that will eventually grant him the chance to comeback into the NFL.

This is where I was getting confused in the reports I was hearing last night.

It sounded to me like in his plea deal he did not admit to any of the above mentioned, but then it sounded like outside of the plea deal the judge has the determination on whether or not he believes his plea?

[zzarratusstra]

Its quite possible that this plea deal would be taken right off the table if he doesn't admit to those things.

And if so, they'll likely add more charges.

His lawyers are clearly looking for a loophole that will eventually grant him the chance to comeback into the NFL.

You gotta just love our legal system......and defense attorneys.

[ggiifdfalls]

This is where I was getting confused in the reports I was hearing last night.

It sounded to me like in his plea deal he did not admit to any of the above mentioned, but then it sounded like outside of the plea deal the judge has the determination on whether or not he believes his plea?

The only thing I got from what I heard was that perhaps Vick was rushed to the courthouse b/c he didn't want more charges pressed against him, made a plea, but somewhere there was confusion as to just what he was to plead to.

Personally, I just think its Vick's attorneys making sure that Michael will one day get out of jail, go back into the NFL, and pay his enormous bill that he'll owe them.

[juidizHusw]

You gotta just love our legal system......and defense attorneys.

I know.

Its clear to me if the feds allow such a plea, they really dropped the ball.

Somehow I think that won't fly, and the minute he were to plea to gambling, he might face a lifetime banishment from the NFL.

In other words, at this point I wouldn't be surprised if this ends up going to trial afterall.

[Infiseeenvelp]

This is where I was getting confused in the reports I was hearing last night.

It sounded to me like in his plea deal he did not admit to any of the above mentioned, but then it sounded like outside of the plea deal the judge has the determination on whether or not he believes his plea?

the judge does not have to go along with any plea deal in any case.

[new-nickname-zanovo]

You gotta just love our legal system......and defense attorneys.

The defense attorneys can't make any deal if the prosecutors don't agree.

[qCGfQR9T]

in a shocking turn of events an espn story is a bunch of crap.

http://deadspin.com/sports/ron-mexico/-293231.php

[Appeselve]

in a shocking turn of events an espn story is a bunch of crap.

http://deadspin.com/sports/ron-mexico/-293231.php

Ookie?

[Stappipsy]

in a shocking turn of events an espn story is a bunch of crap.

http://deadspin.com/sports/ron-mexico/-293231.php

Michael Vick, aka Ookie....?

[gennickO]

Yep, right there in black and white.

He admitted to gambling and killing 8 dogs.

[SerycegeBunny]

I remember when Marcus Vick ran into trouble, the ESPN heads talked about how he should take a cue from his big brother and act more like him...apparently he already was.

[GinaGomesz]

Yep, right there in black and white.

He admitted to gambling and killing 8 dogs.

I didn't see anywhere that said he physically killed the dogs. I might have missed it, but I see in one part where it said he agreed to have the dogs killed.

[xrumerang]

I didn't see anywhere that said he physically killed the dogs. I might have missed it, but I see in one part where it said he agreed to have the dogs killed.

Top of page 9

[Usendyduexy]

I didn't see anywhere that said he physically killed the dogs. I might have missed it, but I see in one part where it said he agreed to have the dogs killed.

The updated story at the ESPN website says that the plea agreement admits that the enterprise killed dogs and gambled.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2989824

[12Jasoumemoobia]

in a shocking turn of events an espn story is a bunch of crap.

http://deadspin.com/sports/ron-mexico/-293231.php

good find.