Michael Dwayne Vick (born June 26, 1980, in Newport News, Virginia) is a professional American football player under contract by the National Football League (NFL)'s Atlanta Falcons as quarterback. He has been under suspension from play by the NFL since August 2007 and incarcerated in federal prison since December of the same year.

As he grew up in an economically depressed inner-city, Vick became a stand-out high school football player, winning a full 4-year football scholarship to attend Virginia Tech. Leaving college early, he declared for the 2001 NFL Draft and was selected by the Atlanta Falcons. Playing professionally, he set records for both performance and the financial arrangements of his player contracts and commercial product endorsements. In 2006, he was "reportedly one of the top 10 richest athletes in the United States."

In April 2007, discovery of the elaborate dog fighting complex he owned in Surry County, Virginia led to criminal investigations by state and federal authorities, massive publicity, suspension from the NFL, and loss of promotional agreements. Later, federal and state felony charges resulted in convictions under plea agreements, in return for which, additional charges were dropped. He began serving a 23-month federal prison sentence that at the United States Penitentiary, Leavenworth, his Virginia prison sentences and fines were suspended upon condition of good behavior.  He plans to enter a federal half-way house program in early 2009, a procedure often used for transitioning prisoners completing sentences, who are required to work at an "approved job", with federal release likely on July 20, 2009.

After April 2007, his financial affairs were severely affected by lost income, legal expenses, and litigation, worsened by mismanagement and possibly fraudulent actions by a series of friends and financial advisers. In July 2008, he filed a personal reorganization bankruptcy with assets estimated at $16 million, and liabilities of $20 million. However, with current income (from prison work) of less than a dollar a day, he continued spending $30,000 a month to support his mother, brother Marcus, and his three children and their mothers and maintaining multiple luxury homes and vehicles for their use. As part of his bankruptcy reorganization plan, several of his properties including a multi-million dollar estate in an Atlanta suburb will be liquidated, although he plans to retain several in the Hampton Roads area. (The Surry County property had been sold earlier).

Vick's attorneys stated to the bankruptcy court that Vick "has every reason to believe that upon his release, he will be reinstated into the NFL, resume his career and be able to earn a substantial living", which would be the primary source of funds to repay his creditors.  However, some significant obstacles stand in his way, notably the NFL suspension. Falcons owner Arthur Blank stated that he believes in second and even third chances, and expressed hope that "after spending a couple years in jail, he'll come out a different person" and may even play in the NFL again. However, Blank also stated that Vick would not be welcomed back to play for his team, which has "moved on." General manager Thomas Dimitroff has stated that the Falcons are exploring trade scenarios to another NFL club for Vick, who is still under contract until 2013. (via Wikipedia)