July 17, 2007: Michael Vick Is Indicted

July 17, 2007: Michael Vick and 3 other men are indicted on federal felony charges of operating an unlawful interstate dog-fighting venture, Bad Newz Kennels, in Smithfield, Virginia, outside Vick's hometown of Newport News.

Vick was accused of financing the operation, directly participating in the fights, and even killing some of the dogs that lost.

Vick, a lefthanded quarterback (no longer such a rarity), had one of the best-ever combinations of passing and running. In the 1999 college football season, as a freshman, he led Virginia Tech into the National Championship game, and finished 3rd in the Heisman Trophy balloting, behind Ron Dayne of Wisconsin and Joe Hamilton of Georgia Tech, and ahead of Drew Brees of Purdue.

He left college after his redshirt sophomore season, and was taken as the 1st pick in the 2001 NFL Draft, by the Atlanta Falcons. In his rookie season, he improved them from 4-12 to 7-9. Over the next 5 seasons, he reached the Pro Bowl 3 times, and led them to 2 Playoff berths including a trip to the NFC Championship Game in the 2004 season, losing to the Philadelphia Eagles. It was only the 2nd NFC title game in Falcons history.

In 2006, he became the 1st quarterback to rush for over 1,000 yards in a season, joined with Warrick Dunn as the 1st quarterback and running back on the same team to both rush for 1,000 yards in a season, and set another record, for all NFL players, at any position, with 8.4 yards per carry.

As the 2007 season was about to begin, he was 27 years old, and widely regarded as the best all-around player in the NFL. Although the Falcons had only been 15-17 over the preceding 2 seasons, for Vick as an individual, the sky seemed to be the limit.

But he was arrested, and he knew the evidence against him was overwhelming. On August 20, he pleaded guilty, and admitted that his conduct was "not only illegal, but also cruel and reprehensible." Because gambling was also involved in the dog-fighting operation, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell had to suspend him for the 2007 season, regardless of the result of the legal proceedings. So, even if he had been acquitted, or the judge had thrown the case out, he still would have missed a peak season.

Vick was sentenced to 23 months in prison (a month short of 2 years), and was released on July 20, 1999. For the heinousness of his crime, Vick was now a pariah, and most football fans didn't want him to even be allowed to make a comeback. But, by the letter of the law, he had, as the saying goes, paid his debt to society, and had the right to try to make a living in the job of his choice. But no team was under any obligation to give him the chance.

The Philadelphia Eagles gave him the chance he was looking for, and, for once, the Eagles heard more booing on the road than at home. He backed up Donovan McNabb for most of the 2009 season, and was named the starter for 2010 after McNabb, the most statistically successful quarterback in Eagles history to this day, was traded to the Washington Redskins. Vick led the Eagles to the NFC Eastern Division title, was named NFL Comeback Player of the Year, was named to his 4th Pro Bowl, and finished 2nd to Tom Brady in voting for NFL Most Valuable Player.

In addition, he had paid off his creditors, and established charitable foundations to benefit animals and at-risk youth. He had become a model ex-con, even if some people were still not willing to accept that he had been fully punished for what he'd done.

The rest of his career was less successful. Although the Eagles won another NFC East title in 2013, Vick's injuries meant that Nick Foles won more games as their quarterback. Vick played for the New York Jets in 2014, and the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2015, and retired.

He finished his career with a 56.2 completion percentage, 133 touchdowns against 88 interceptions, 22,464 passing yards, 6,109 rushing yards (at the time, easily a record for a quarterback), 36 rushing touchdowns, and an all-time record of 7.0 yards per carry, breaking Jim Brown's record of 5.2.

In 2017, he served as an assistant coach for the Kansas City Chiefs, under his former Eagle head coach Andy Reid. In 2019, he was the offensive coordinator for the Atlanta Legends of the short-lived Alliance of American Football.

In 2022, Vick is not actively involved in football at any level, but still runs his charities. The house that served as the headquarters of Bad Newz still stands, but, true to Vick's desire to redeem himself, is now an animal shelter named Good Newz Rehab Center.

It's worth noting that Vick played more seasons after getting out of prison than Ray Rice -- who, as far as we know, did one awful thing, one time -- played before his suspension. Vick got another chance, and made the most of it. Rice never got that chance.

UPDATE: Following the 2024 season, Vick was named head coach at Norfolk State University, a historically black college near his hometown. Having become a redemption story, he has even become a role model.

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July 17, 2007 was a Tuesday. These games were played in Major League Baseball that night:

* The New York Yankees beat the Toronto Blue Jays, 3-2 at Yankee Stadium. Robinson Canó won it with a single in the bottom of the 10th inning. Luis Vizcaino was the winning pitcher, in relief of Andy Pettitte.

* The New York Mets beat the San Diego Padres, 7-0 at Petco Park in San Diego. Orlando "El Duque" Hernandez and 2 relievers combined on a 3-hit shutout.

* The Kansas City Royals beat the Boston Red Sox, 9-3 at Fenway Park in Boston.

* The Houston Astros beat the Washington Nationals, 4-2 at Nationals Park in Washington.

* The Cincinnati Reds beat the Atlanta Braves, 6-5 at Turner Field in Atlanta. (It's now named Center Parc Stadium.)

* The Tampa Bay Devil Rays beat the Los Angeles Angels, 8-3 at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida.

* The Florida Marlins beat the St. Louis Cardinals, 4-0 at Dolphin Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida. (It's gone through several name changes since, and is now named Hard Rock Stadium.) It took 6 Marlin pitchers to pitch a 7-hit shutout. 

* The Colorado Rockies beat the Pittsburgh Pirates, 6-2 at PNC Park in Pittsburgh.

* The Cleveland Indians beat the Chicago White Sox, 6-5 at Jacobs Field in Cleveland. (It was renamed Progressive Field the next season.) Ryan Garko won it with a single in the bottom of the 11th inning.

* The Detroit Tigers beat the Minnesota Twins, 1-0 at the Metrodome in Minneapolis. Nate Robertson and 2 relievers pitched a 3-hit shutout.

* The San Francisco Giants beat the Chicago Cubs, 4-2 at Wrigley Field in Chicago.

* The Milwaukee Brewers beat the Arizona Diamondbacks, 3-2 at Miller Park in Milwaukee. (It's now named American Family Field.)

* The Philadelphia Phillies beat the Los Angeles Dodgers, 15-3 at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles. Ryan Howard hit 2 home runs.

* The Texas Rangers beat the Oakland Athletics, 11-4 at the Oakland Coliseum (then named the McAfee Coliseum).

* And the Baltimore Orioles beat the Seattle Mariners, 8-3 at Safeco Field in Seattle. (It was renamed T-Mobile Park in 2020.)