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The other three plea bargained him to the authorities. He was given a deadline to agree to a plea bargain Friday, for one year in jail, and the usual fines and stuff. Otherwise, the feds were threatening to tack on other charges, so he could wind up in jail for six years.
Details of what happened weren't released, but Vick still seems to be negotiating for some type of plea, even after the deadline. Meanwhile, there are hints of even darker issues going on. First, the feds want him to turn over names of other players involved in the dog fighting, but the feeling is that if Vick does this, he'll never play again. There seems little question that others were involved. Second, there was gambling involved in the dog fights, so Vick is also being investigated to see if there was an organized crime connection or a gambling connection to Vick.
Meanwhile, apparently Vick and his lawyers have been calling Roger Godell to find out what penalties he would apply for what charges if Vick pled, or if he was found guilty in court. Typical lawyer stuff. Supposedly, Godell is refusing to make any deals like that, so Vick won't know what will happen until he enters his pleas. However, word is that Godell will suspend Vick for at least a year, and will not allow that year to be counted while he is in jail, so that Vick won't be able to play until a year after he is out of jail.
And there is another federal grand jury considering other charges against Vick in Virginia.
Most of that is hearsay, but it looks like Vick is really screwed. Those who want his blood will likely see it. A one year prison sentence to most people would be bad enough, but with everything it will mean to Vick's career, endorsements, and everything else, he's going to pay severely. And that's if he only gets one year. He'll be lucky to play again, and barring something no one is expecting, he won't play for another three years if he does.
I'm really not a geek on this, I just heard Peter King explaining it at halftime in tonight's exhibition game. :)
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