FACTBOX: Vick admits guilt in dogfight case

Fri Aug 24, 2007 6:50pm EDT
 
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(Reuters) - Attorneys for Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick, 27, filed court documents on Friday in which the U.S. football star admitted guilt in a dog-fighting case that threatens his career. The National Football League later suspended him indefinitely.

Here are some facts about Vick.

* Raised in a public housing project in Newport News, Virginia, he was a stand-out high school football player who attended Virginia Tech, where he led the Hokies to a 20-1 record over two seasons before entering the National Football League draft.

* Vick was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2001 NFL draft by the Atlanta Falcons. He was the first African-American quarterback taken with the first choice.

* He signed a 10-year, $130 million contract with the Falcons in 2004 and has made more than $61 million in his six NFL seasons.

* With breakaway running speed and a powerful passing arm, he was selected to the NFL's all-star Pro Bowl three times.

* A federal grand jury indicted Vick and three other men on July 17 on conspiracy charges tied to an interstate dog-fighting enterprise known as "Bad Newz Kennels" from early 2001 through April 2007. The three other defendants had already pleaded guilty and agreed to cooperate with prosecutors.

* Vick has lost major endorsements since the case broke. Nike suspended the release of a new Michael Vick shoe due to hit stores in August and Reebok stopped selling his jerseys.

* The NFL ordered Vick on July 23 not to report to preseason training with the Falcons, pending the league's review of the case. The league has the right to add a further suspension beyond any jail time Vick may have to serve.

 

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