VICK MAY LEAVE JAIL SOONER THAN EXPECTED

Imprisoned Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick could be getting out of federal prison and back in the NFL by the 2009-10 season after applying for a prison-monitored drug rehabilitation program done only in Leavenworth, KS.


Yahoo! Sports is quoting an official with the Federal Bureau of Prisons who said Friday that Vick was being transported to a minimum security satellite prison that is under the jurisdiction of the Leavenworth facility.


Under the program, Vick could be released after serving only 12 months of the 23-month sentence he was given Dec. 10 in Richmond, Va. His exact release date remains fuzzy, as it is unclear whether the 12-month stretch would be counted from the day he entered Leavenworth or the day he voluntary entered prison in November.

Two sources tell Yahoo! Sports that Vick qualified for the drug program because his 23-month sentence included his failed drug test for marijuana after pleading guilty to the dog fighting charges.

As it stands, Vick's 23-month prison term could translate to a release in the summer of 2009, putting his attempts at a return to the NFL for that season in jeopardy. But if Vick were to be released in late 2008 or early 2009, his opportunity to return to the league after missing only two seasons would be boosted significantly.

WE WANT OUR MONEY BACK

VICK GETS $ACKED

By CLEMENTE LISI


October 10, 2007 -- Disgraced quarterback Michael Vick has to return $20 million in bonuses to the Atlanta Falcons, an arbitrator ruled yesterday.
The decision came in the wake of the former NFL superstar's guilty plea to federal dogfighting conspiracy charges, team officials said.

The Falcons argued that Vick violated his $130 million contract when he admitted his role in a dogfighting ring.

The team also argued that Vick used proceeds from his contract to bankroll the illegal operation, and sought the repayment of $19.97 million in bonuses he was paid since 2004.

Vick, who has been indefinitely suspended by the NFL, will be sentenced Dec. 10.

He faces up to five years in prison.

He is also facing state charges in Virginia.

Stephen Burbank, a University of Pennsylvania law professor who presided over last week's arbitration hearing, sided with the Falcons after hearing from team officials and NFL Players Association lawyers, who represented Vick. The union plans to appeal the decision. With Post Wire Services

FALCONS WANT MICHAEL VICK'S BONUS MONEY BACK

Suspended NFL quarterback Michael Vick stands to lose $22 million in bonus money from the Atlanta Falcons, who sent reps to Philadelphia Thursday to plead their case before an arbitrator.

The Falcons, represented by team president and general manager Rich McKay and three more team officials, argued that Vick knew he was in violation of the contract when he signed the $130 million deal in December of 2004, and that he used proceeds from the deal to fund his dogfighting operation, reports the Associated Press.

New York-based attorney Jeffrey Kessler, who represented Vick and the NFL Players Association, countered that the collective bargaining extension agreed to last year prevents forfeiture of bonus money even if the player contract says otherwise, union spokesman Carl Francis said.

A decision on the matter is expected sometime before Oct. 12, according to Stephen B. Burbank, the University of Pennsylvania law professor and special master who led the arbitration hearing.

Vick has pleaded guilty to helping to kill six to eight dogs and bankrolling the dogfighting operation that was based in Virginia and extended into other states.

Vick also faces new state felony charges in Virginia on two counts — beating or killing or causing dogs to fight other dogs and engaging in or promoting dogfighting. An attorney for the suspended player appeared in Surry County Circuit Court Wednesday and was asked to return Nov. 27 to set a trial date.