The Future of Michael Vick

Now that Michael Vick has agreed to plead guilty to dog fighting charges in his native Virginia as opposed to going to trial and watching three of his road dogs lay all of the blame and responsibility at his feet, questions loom for the future of one of the NFL's most electric players and sports most dynamic personalities. With prison soon to come and an indefinite suspension from the league on the table, Michael Vick's playing future is a continual depression in doubt. Beyond that, much else is known now that Vick has taken the advice of his attorney's and agreed to a plea agreement as opposed to going to court and trying to fight charges, federal prosecutors are bound to convict him of.

One month ago, Michael Vick stood in front of cameras and the Atlanta Falcons owner and assured them all that he was innocent. He had no idea where the charges were derived from. He was blinded that officials would think he had something to do with something so heinous, so venomous as dog fighting. Just after that press conference, the league thought it had assurances from the prosecutor's office that no charges would be filed and Michael Vick would avoid being indicted on anything having to do with dog fighting. How times change.

With his three co-defendants singing Dixie, Michael Vick had a decision to make; accept a plea agreement and go to jail for 18 months or so or go to trial and face getting sentenced to 6 years. Either of which will be done at the 85% statute for serving time in a federal facility. But is Michael Vick really guilty? Is he guilty of everything or just the fall guy from an operation that he funded but certainly was not the manager of? It is this wrestling match that will make Michael Vick's visit to the Richmond Virginia courtroom so interesting next week. While Vick will not have to be explicit about everything he was involved in, we will hear to what extent he admits involvement and to what extreme his co-defendants are willing to let him walk the responsibility tightrope alone.

When Vick entered the league as a first round draft pick of the Atlanta Falcons after a sterling career at Virginia Tech hype surrounded the young man from an underprivileged background. He had wooed crowds in Blacksburg, Virginia. And Atlanta Falcons fans believed he would do the same for them inside the Georgia Dome. Two years ago, he single-handedly led the Falcons to the NFC Championship game before losing to the Carolina Panthers. That may be the last moment we remember of Vick now that his career appears to be in serious jeopardy. Even though the league may reinstate him some time in the future, nearing the age of 30, his skills will have diminished with two possibly three seasons away from the game to the point that teams would rather use a draft pick on a college quarterback than on a watered down version of a former All Pro quarterback.

Vick's guilt or innocence will not reside with his guilty plea in court next week. It will be adjudicated when he returns from his time in prison and what happens the moment he attempts to return to the game or move on with his life. Those that bought season tickets and Vick jerseys, those kids with #7 Falcons jerseys and Nike products with Michael Vick's likeness will find him guilty or innocent by how they treat him when he makes his return to the world. Until then, Michael Vick will have to live with the consequences that fall those who fail to leave a former life behind. Old friends bring old troubles. Vick did not have to involve himself in dog fighting. He didn't live in Virginia. He didn't make his home there. But he is paying the price of associating with people, three men who failed to have his best interest at heart. That is the price of the game Vick played, not with the Atlanta Falcons but with some dogs.