Suspended NFL quarterback Michael Vick plans to plead guilty to state dog-fighting charges in effort to get an early release from federal prison.
If the plea deal goes as planned, it would help Vick overcome several obstacles in his goal to return to professional football next year.
Vick’s attorneys filed papers in the Circuit Court seeking permission to let Vick plead guilty via video-conference call from the federal prison in Leavenworth, Kan., where he is serving a two-year term for dog fighting.
The papers say that Vick needs to resolve his state charges before he can be eligible for entry into a halfway house. Vick’s scheduled release date is July 20 and the soonest he could enter a program is six months before that.
No court date has been set officially, but the Surry County Court next convenes on Nov. 5.
Surry County Commonwealth’s Attorney Gerald G. Poindexter has not been available for comment so far today.
ESPN News reported yesterday that Vick wants to play in the NFL next year and that he’s been “doing bench press” to stay in shape.
Well that must be comforting to any team that might want to sign him. I can hear a NFL general manager talking to his coach about the situation right now:
“Listen Coach, I know Mike has had some questionable off field hobbies, has been living in a halfway house the past six months, can’t read NFL defenses and couldn’t hit water if he threw a rock into the ocean. But once I heard he was repping 225 for 17 in the slammer, I was sold.”
