Vick Takes Plea Deal, Avoids Additional Dogfighting Charges

I cannot say that I feel any sorrow seeing Michael Vick face prison time for his illegal and immoral dogfighting operation. Hopefully, the NFL will punish him as well, making for once and example that sports stars are not above the law:

Atlanta Falcons quarterback and Hampton Roads native Michael Vick has accepted a plea deal - and a likely prison sentence - to avoid additional federal charges related to a professional dogfighting operation, according to one of Vick's attorneys. Vick is going to enter a guilty plea to the felony conspiracy charge at 10:30 a.m. next Monday, said Lawrence Woodward, one of The deal, in its form last week, was expected to include a recommendation from prosecutors that Vick serve at least a year in prison, according to two sources familiar with the discussions. The judge will have the final say in sentencing.

It is unclear how the plea deal will affect Vick's NFL career. League Commissioner Roger Goodell said last week that the NFL was still working on its own review of the case and is closely monitoring talks between Vick's lawyers and prosecutors. Vick's defense attorneys. The NFL's recently toughened player conduct policy empowers Goodell to fine, suspend or impose a lifetime ban on a player for criminal behavior. He's levied harsh penalties on players even for being arrested.

At Virginia Tech, where Vick starred in college, his former coaches said last week they didn't want to talk about the case until it was over. Said head coach Frank Beamer: "Michael is one of ours, and we want the best for him. But I'm going to wait until I hear the final word."

Perhaps if Coach Beamer had not treated Vick like a spoiled prince at Tech, Vick would have learned sooner that the same rules apply to him as everyone else.