Three years after signing the richest contract in the history of his sport, this quarterback pleaded guilty to a federal charge and served twenty-three months in prison before playing another professional game.
The full story
In December 2004 Michael Vick signed a ten-year extension with the Atlanta Falcons reported at $130 million, at the time the richest contract in NFL history by total value. On 27 August 2007 he pleaded guilty in the Eastern District of Virginia to a federal conspiracy charge under 18 U.S.C. 371 relating to interstate travel in aid of unlawful activities and sponsoring a dog in an animal-fighting venture, connected to the Bad Newz Kennels operation at his Surry County property. He was sentenced on 10 December 2007 to 23 months and served at USP Leavenworth, filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2008. He also pleaded guilty to a state dogfighting felony in Surry County in November 2008. The NFL reinstated him conditionally in July 2009; he signed with the Philadelphia Eagles and was named NFL Comeback Player of the Year for the 2010 season. He has since worked with the Humane Society of the United States against dog fighting.
The clues we handed out
— The charge was conspiracy connected to an interstate dog-fighting operation run from a property he owned in Virginia.
— He filed for bankruptcy while incarcerated, having lost the contract and every endorsement.
— He returned to the league in 2009 and was voted its Comeback Player of the Year for the following season.
— He has since campaigned publicly against dog fighting alongside the Humane Society.
— Initials: M.V.
How this case played
ALLEGEDLY* edition No. 86. Three strikes to name Michael Vick, with a free clue
unlocked after every miss.
*A blind item you can check. Every puzzle is drawn from the public record —
court records, official rulings, and moments that unfolded on live television — and the
records are linked above. Allegedly.
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