Mike Vick pleads guilty

Falcons ex-quarterback Mike Vick has pleaded guilty to federal charges of dog fighting and crossing state lines to commit a felony.

Vick, 27, had been in talks with his attorneys last week and over the weekend. The trial was set to begin Nov. 26, after 11 games of the Atlanta Falcons' 16-game regular season would have already been played.

The charges could bring a maximum of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine for each defendant. Sources say it might not be possible for Vick to avoid prison time.

The pressure was on for Vick -- one co-defendant entered into a plea agreement last month, and the remaining two men appeared in court Friday and did the same. Prosecutors reportedly offered Vick a plea deal that included at least a one-year prison sentence.

The government was set to possibly add more charges -- such as racketeering -- based on allegations contained in the co-defendants' statements of fact that Vick financed the alleged gambling operation associated with the suspected dogfighting ring.

Vick, the Atlanta Falcons' starting quarterback, and his three co-defendants had all originally entered not guilty pleas July 26.

A week earlier on July 17, the federal government had filed an indictment against the foursome.
You can view the full indictment against Vick by clicking here.

Prosecutors say Vick, Purnell Peace, Quanis Phillips and Tony Taylor used a property Vick owns in Smithfield, Va., "as the main staging area for housing and training the pit bulls involved in the dogfighting venture and for hosting dog fights."