Vick's lawyer pleads for compassion for fallen star

RICHMOND, Virginia (Reuters) - The attorney for disgraced football star Michael Vick pleaded for compassion for the former Atlanta Falcon's quarterback who has "fallen so far, and so hard and so fast."

Vick was sentenced on Monday to 23 months in prison for his role in a dogfighting operation called "Bad Newz Kennels" in rural Virginia.

"Michael has known from the very beginning that there were severe consequences to the bad judgment he used in engaging in dog fighting," Vick's attorney, Billy Martin, told reporters outside the Richmond federal courthouse.

"I am willing to say that when Michael gets a second chance either in society or in the NFL, he will take advantage of it. For now, he's closed this chapter of his life and he's prepared to start another one."

A three-time All-Pro quarterback, Vick has lost an estimated $100 million in salary and endorsements from companies such as Nike since trading his Falcons uniform for the black-and- white striped one worn by prison inmates.

"For those of you who understand that in life we all make mistakes (you should) treat Michael Vick, somebody who's fallen so far, and so hard and so fast, as being punished for his mistake," said Martin.

Sports fans were shocked by Vick's indictment in July on charges of conspiracy in dogfighting in which people bet on pit bulls, and which is widely reviled for cruelty. He said he knew dogs that did not perform well were killed and admitted to being involved in the killing of at least eight dogs.

Prosecutors have said dogs sometimes fought to the death and some underperforming animals were shot, drowned, hanged, electrocuted or killed by being slammed to the ground.

Currently suspended indefinitely by the National Football League, Vick's best-case scenario would have him return for the 2010 season. Martin said he hoped Vick would be released in 18 months.

FOOTBALL FUTURE?

The strong-armed southpaw would be 30 years old during the 2010 campaign, young enough to continue his career. However, his time away from the game could prove costly.

Mark Schlereth, a former All-Pro guard who won three Super Bowl rings as a player on the Washington Redskins and Denver Broncos, said he doubted Vick would play again.

"As you age obviously you lose some of that dynamic athletic ability, especially when you're in prison and you're not able to train the way you've trained your entire life," he told ESPN. "That's going to take its toll on Michael Vick.

Schlereth also said the mechanics and nuances of playing quarterback would be difficult for him to recover.

"Would you want as an owner of an NFL franchise to take a risk on Michael Vick and have him come back?," he said. "Not only a guy that's been removed from the game for that long but all the activists at your door protesting that move.

"I just don't see Michael Vick at this point ever playing in this league again."