Vick Offered Minimum One Year Prison Sentence as Part of Plea Deal

ARTICLE: Vick offered plea deal recommending at least a year in prison (The Virginian-Pilot - HamptonRoads.com/PilotOnline.com) (http://content.hamptonroads.com/story.cfm?story=130378&ran=147795&tref=po)

Federal prosecutors have offered Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick a plea deal that would recommend he serve at least one year in prison on a felony dogfighting conspiracy charge, according to two sources with knowledge of the discussions.

getting off easy

ARTICLE: Vick offered plea deal recommending at least a year in prison (The Virginian-Pilot - HamptonRoads.com/PilotOnline.com) (http://content.hamptonroads.com/story.cfm?story=130378&ran=147795&tref=po)

Federal prosecutors have offered Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick a plea deal that would recommend he serve at least one year in prison on a felony dogfighting conspiracy charge, according to two sources with knowledge of the discussions.

I had heard about that on the radio yesterday. I say that he accecpts the plea bargain. At least then he might be able to save a few years of his life and quite possibly his career. I will find the source as soon as I post this, but the NFL is planning on a one year suspension for Vick as well. So, if he only serves a one year Prison sentence, he could be back on the field some time next year having learned a valuable lesson.

Sources: Vick suspension near - NFL - Yahoo! Sports (http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news?slug=jc-vick081207&prov=yhoo&type=lgns)

Yahoo! Sports had said earlier this week that the NFL was going to suspend him for a year, but the NFL denied that the next day.

I don't know that Vick can just bounce right back. He's likely done in Atlanta, and we'll see what team will step up and sign him.

Until then the question is...will he share a cell with Maurice Clarett?

I had heard about that on the radio yesterday. I say that he accecpts the plea bargain. At least then he might be able to save a few years of his life and quite possibly his career. I will find the source as soon as I post this, but the NFL is planning on a one year suspension for Vick as well. So, if he only serves a one year Prison sentence, he could be back on the field some time next year having learned a valuable lesson.

yeah exactly, and he'll probably get off for good behavior too.

Yahoo! Sports had said earlier this week that the NFL was going to suspend him for a year, but the NFL denied that the next day.

I don't know that Vick can just bounce right back. He's likely done in Atlanta, and we'll see what team will step up and sign him.

Until then the question is...will he share a cell with Maurice Clarett?

Yes I have just read where the NFL denied it. I also remember last year that a certain Adam Shefter said that the Raiders were going to fire their head coach. The Raiders denied that report and what happened? They fired their head coach. I think that there is some truth to that report.

I do not see him being out of the league forever, baring he doesn't accecpt the plea bargain.

Unless the Falcons can recoup some of the money (salary cap hit) that they are reqired to pay Vick over the next few years I do not see Atlanta parting ways with him after only a one year suspension. Even if they do part ways there is no way that he will end up like Quincy Carter, he is just too talented to pass up.

As the great Lionel Hutz once said, "I think we should take it."

Yes I have just read where the NFL denied it. I also remember last year that a certain Adam Shefter said that the Raiders were going to fire their head coach. The Raiders denied that report and what happened? They fired their head coach. I think that there is some truth to that report.

I do not see him being out of the league forever, baring he doesn't accecpt the plea bargain.

Unless the Falcons can recoup some of the money (salary cap hit) that they are reqired to pay Vick over the next few years I do not see Atlanta parting ways with him after only a one year suspension. Even if they do part ways there is no way that he will end up like Quincy Carter, he is just too talented to pass up.

Very true about Schefter and the Raiders.

As for Vick and the Falcons, I would think that if he is actually sentenced to serve in prison then they can void their contract with him. There must be some "If you have to serve over a year in prison, the contract is terminated" clause in the contract.

Very true about Schefter and the Raiders.

As for Vick and the Falcons, I would think that if he is actually sentenced to serve in prison then they can void their contract with him. There must be some "If you have to serve over a year in prison, the contract is terminated" clause in the contract.

I do not know about that because his whole contract was a concern for the Falcons when all of this came up. Once again it was Shefter that pointed it out. Much of Vicks money was guaranteed, little of it was to be paid through bonuses. Releasing Vick can result in a huge cap hit as well. The Falcons would need some sort of relief from the league to not count Vicks salary against the cap. I am not saying that it cannot be done, but saying that it needs to be done.

Also, I wouldn't be surprised if any suspension kicked in AFTER he was released from prison. It would be very reasonable for the NFL to say - yes you've served your time BUT before we let you play in OUR league, you gotta spend some time living the quiet life to prove to US that this behavior will not recur.