Michael Vick is a quarterback for the Philadelphia Eagles in the National Football League. He wears jersey number 7. Vick is a backup quarterback, but will get his first start since 2006 in the Eagles' game on September 25 against the Detroit Lions.http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=5584228&campaign=rss&source=NFLHeadlines Vick has played in several Pro Bowl games.
Vick was born on June 26, 1980 in Newport News, Virginia. He attended college at Virginia Tech University and played as a quarterback for the Hokies under coach Frank Beamer. He was later drafted first overall in the 2001 NFL Draft by the Atlanta Falcons. In 2004, Vick signed a 10 year contract extension with the Falcons worth $130 million.http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/19814494/ On August 13, 2009, he signed a two year contract with the Eagles.http://www.rotoworld.com/content/playerpages/player_main.aspx?sport=NFL&id=2107&sn=t
Dogfighting Incident
Vick was indicted by a federal grand jury on charges of competitive dogfighting, procuring and training pit bulls for fighting and conducting the enterprise across state lines. He agreed to cooperate with prosecutors and entered a guilty plea on August 20, 2007. Vick was sentenced to 23 months in a federal prison, plus three years of probation on December 10, 2007.http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/seahawks/2008295227_nfl22.html On November 25, 2008, Vick entered a guilty plea for a state dogfighting charge in Virginia.http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3725060
In 2007, Vick was indefinitely suspended by the NFL after he was indicted on federal charges of running a dog-fighting ring. He eventually served 23 months in a federal penitentiary. After the Falcons were unable to trade the rights to Vick, he was officially released by the team on June 12, 2009.http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=4253231
Vick was released from the Leavenworth, Kansas federal prison on May 20, 2009. He served the following two months in home confinement in his Hampton, Virginia home. He was released from federal custody on July 20, 2009. Vick will be on probation for three years. http://views.washingtonpost.com/theleague/nflnewsfeed/2009/07/vick-decision-looms-for-nfl.html
Financial Troubles
TMZ.com reported on November 25, 2008, that according to tax records, Michael Vick owed the IRS $1.2 million. He had reportedly failed to file his 2007 tax return.http://www.tmz.com/2008/11/25/irs-whistles-vick-for-incomplete-tax/ He was later accused by the Department of Labor of illegally withdrawing over $1.3 million from a pension plan. The claim stated that Vick transferred the funds from a pension plan supposed to cover nine employees of MV7, a celebrity marketing company owned and operated by Vick.http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=4015919
According to statement made by Vick's attorneys at his bankruptcy hearing on April 2, 2009, Vick had a construction job lined up after his release from prison.http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/football/nfl/04/02/vick.ap/index.html?eref=si_nfl Vick's agent, Joel Segal, also made a statement saying that Vick was in great shape and would return to football in September 2009.http://www.cnn.com/2009/CRIME/04/02/vick.bankruptcy/index.html
Michael Vick Highlights
During his college career, Michael Vick played for the Virginia Tech Hokies. He was drafted to the Atlanta Falcons in 2001 and played with the team for six years. In that time, he rushed for nearly as many yards as he threw. The video above shows some of the highlights of Vick's career with both teams.
