Wednesday, November 26, 2008

Michael Vick pleaded guilty yesterday to a state dogfighting charge in Sussex, Va., and was sentenced to a suspended jail term.

The resolution of the state charges against Vick, the Atlanta Falcons quarterback who is serving a 23-month federal prison sentence and is on indefinite suspension by the NFL, could hasten his prospective return to football. With no further charges pending against him, Vick becomes eligible to serve the final portion of his federal prison sentence in a halfway house.

"I want to apologize to the court, my family and to all the kids who looked up to me as a role model," Vick told the judge during yesterday's hearing, according to the Associated Press.

Vick pleaded guilty to one count under a plea deal. Another count of animal cruelty was dropped by the prosecutor. Vick was sentenced to a three-year suspended jail term and probation. The jail term will remain suspended as long as Vick completes four years of good behavior.

Surry County Circuit Judge Samuel Campbell approved the plea deal. He had not been bound by it in sentencing Vick.

Vick is serving his federal prison sentence in Leavenworth, Kan., for his role in a dogfighting operation based at a home that he owned in Virginia. He is scheduled to be released on July 20.

· QUINN DONE?: There are reports tonight that Cleveland Browns quarterback Brady Quinn will miss the remainder of the season.

Fox and ESPN are reporting that Quinn will be shut down for the rest of the season because of the broken index finger on his throwing hand.

· SCORING FRENZY: The NFL had the highest-scoring weekend of games in its history. According to the league, the 837 points scored in this past weekend's 16 games, including 80 Monday night in the Saints' 51-29 triumph over the Packers, broke the previous record of 788 points that had been accomplished three times, most recently last December.

· TEXANS: RB Ahman Green was placed on the injured reserve list because of a sprained knee, the Houston Chronicle reported. Green is the Texans' second-leading rusher with 294 yards.

-- Mark Maske

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