Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick has been jailed for 23 months for his involvement in a dogfighting ring.
Disgrace complete for former NFL favourite
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick has been jailed for 23 months for his involvement in an illegal dogfighting ring.
The 27-year-old had already pleaded guilty to a charge relating to the affair and had also voluntarily started serving his prison term three weeks ago.
Vick admitted his guilt in August when faced with a charge of conspiracy for his involvement in the enterprise, known as 'Bad Newz Kennels', between 2001 and April 2007.
He said then he knew that dogs which did not perform were killed and also admitted being involved in the killing of at least eight animals.
Prosecutors have said dogs sometimes fought to the death, while some of those which underperformed were shot, drowned, hanged, electrocuted or killed by being slammed to the ground.
Wearing a black-and-white prison uniform, Vick addressed the courtroom in Richmond, Virginia, and said: "I would like to apologize to the court, to my family, to my kids, for what I have done."
Vick turned himself in on November 19th to begin serving his sentence ahead of schedule - an attempt to show goodwill, according to some legal experts.
Plea bargain
He had faced a maximum sentence of five years but, after plea bargaining, agreement had been reached with prosecutors for a 12 to 18-month prison term.
But presiding US District Judge Henry Hudson had already warned Vick that he was not bound by prosecutors' recommendations.
Commenting on the sentence, Allie Philips, director of public policy for the American Humane Association, said: "It was higher than anyone expected but given the severity and the length of this criminal enterprise and the number of dogs that were harmed in it, it seems a fair sentence."
A strong-armed quarterback and breakaway runner, Vick was a three-time Pro Bowl selection and also the top pick in the 2001 draft, when he signed a 10-year contract with the Falcons worth $130 million.
But his spectacular fall from grace began in July with his indictment - Vick changing his initial plea of not guilty after his co-defendants themselves reached plea deals and agreed to testify against him.
Financial trouble
Once one of the NFL's most popular players, Vick has been suspended indefinitely without pay by the league.
He has also lost lucrative endorsement contracts with companies like Nike and, according to court documents, the scandal has left him in financial trouble.
The Falcons and several financial institutions have recently launched legal proceedings against Vick in order to recover millions of dollars relating to his signing bonus and various loans.
