Vick Sends Himself to Jail

He just couldn’t stand the suspense. 

From Reuters here:

NFL star Michael Vick turned himself in on Monday to begin serving his prison time for helping to run a dogfighting ring, a U.S. Marshal said, although he is not due to be sentenced until December 10.

Vick, one of the most famous players in the National Football League, pleaded guilty in August to charges that he and three other men took part in an illegal dogfighting enterprise known as “Bad Newz Kennels” at Vick’s home in Surry County, Virginia.

The 27-year-old initially pleaded not guilty to the charges. He faces a maximum of five years in prison on the federal charges, although prosecutors have requested a 12- to 18-month sentence under terms of the plea deal he reached in August.

But in September, a grand jury in Surry County indicted him on new charges for beating, killing or causing dogs to fight other dogs and engaging in and promoting dogfighting.  Those charges carry a potential ten years in a state jail on top of the federal sentence.

Vick was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2001 draft. He had signed a 10-year, $130 million contract and is credited with reviving the popularity of the Falcons franchise.

Vick also tested positive for marijuana use in September and was barred from leaving his home late at night and told to submit to electronic monitoring.

And this closes a sorry chapter on a man who had so much potential but threw it away because he had a fundamental lack of character.