NFL GM says 'count on it:' Vick will return to NFL

Ratto: Return? Maybe | Litke: No he won't

So, it's over. Alleged puppy abuser and PETA Hall of Famer Michael "The Dog Whisperer" Vick is headed to the hoosegow, making it safe again for canines across the globe. Pit bulls everywhere are taking a bite out of someone's ass in celebration.

In all seriousness, the Vick plea makes this one of the sadder and darker moments in NFL history. One of the league's marquee players is headed to prison for a terrible crime. He deserved to go to prison if what he is accused of is accurate, and apparently it is because I don't know about you, but I'm not pleading guilty to a crime I did not commit.

Michael Vick's NFL future? He'll be back. (US Presswire)

So though Vick got what he deserved, the NFL and Atlanta Falcons also take a major hit as one of their own are again making the wrong kind of headlines. Vick was the face of Atlanta and in some ways the face of the NFL.

Vick's reputation is forever tainted but if you think Vick will never wear an NFL uniform again please read carefully the following words from an NFL general manager. They will end up being prophetic.

"If he goes to prison, time will pass," said the general manager, who spoke before news of a potential Vick plea agreement and asked not to be identified, claiming the NFL has asked current team officials not to publicly comment on the Vick case. "Months or years will pass, if he does go to jail. If he went to jail, and then left prison down the road, he'd still be relatively young, and there'd be a line of 15 to 20 teams waiting to sign him. Trust me on that. Teams are going to say, 'F--- PETA. F--- the bad pub. This guy is one of the most talented players of the last 10 years. I'll take my chances.'

"Teams may say one thing publicly. But if he gets out of jail, we'll all be looking at Vick hard. We're all whores in football. You know the saying. We'd sign an ax murderer if he has ability. He'll be back. He won't be back in Atlanta probably but he'll be back in professional football. You can count on it."

The general manager also stated he believes that Vick will return as a running back.

And this is the biggest point emerging from this mess: We have not heard the last of Michael Vick. Not by a long shot.

Poll Will Michael Vick play in the NFL again? 9% Not sure   13% Yes: But not at QB   42% No: Are you kidding   36% Yes: He'll still have talent   Total Votes: 9986

Because Americans love a comeback even more than we love our dogs.

His career in Atlanta is indeed over. Vick will not be a Falcon again. Not just because of the animal cruelty case but because the Michael Vick Experiment was coming to an end anyway. The owner, coaches and teammates were all starting to tire of Vick's various episodes. His welcome on that team was slowly but certainly eroding and anyone who doubts that is a fool.

Before Vick was running dog fighting enterprises, he was already a polarizing figure in Atlanta.

No, he won't be a Falcon, but he will be an NFL player again for the exact reason the general manager stated: the sport is run by 'hos.

Yes, that's a football word: 'ho.