With that said, the latest development in Vick's case is jarring. Vick has until Friday to accept a plea agreement, take his medicine, and go to jail. Otherwise, he's fighting all of his co-defendents who have already pleaded guilty. As profootballtalk.com eloquently states, Vick clearly is guilty. Mike Florio writes,

"It is a tremendous dilemma for Vick. The man who has spent his life escaping with ease from difficult situations is now backed into a corner. One option means certain imprisonment for a relatively short period of time. The other option means a strong likelihood, but not a certainty, of an even longer period behind bars."

That Vick is guilty is not shocking, but the speed in which he's gone from one of the faces of the NFL to impending jail time is eye-opening. Only five months ago, I was still trying to trade for him in one of my keeper leagues. Glad that didn't work out.

I keep thinking of 2002, when Vick went to Green Bay and helped the Falcons become the first road team to win a playoff game at Lambeau. Vick was the future. He was going to change the way the quarterback position was played. But as it often happens in sports, that first moment of great promise was the best it ever got.

Florio thinks that Vick will never play in the NFL again, but I'm not so sure. Talent rises, and this is a forgiving public given time. Let's say Vick could return to the NFL in three years. He'd be 30 years old. I'd bet at least one owner in 32 would give him another chance. Vick should spend a minute in jail every night praying that Al Davis stays healthy.