Vick surrenders three weeks before sentencing

Michael Vick got a head start Monday on a possible long prison stretch Monday, surrendering three weeks before he was to be sentenced for his involvement in a bloody dogfighting ring.

The suspended Atlanta Falcons quarterback surrendered to U.S. marshals and is being held at Northern Neck Regional Jail in Warsaw, Va., until his sentencing Dec. 10.

Vick pleaded guilty in August to a federal dogfighting conspiracy charge after his three co-defendants pleaded guilty and agreed to cooperate with authorities.

The federal sentencing guideline range is projected at a year to 18 months, but Vick, who has admitted bankrolling the Bad Newz Kennels, could be sentenced to up to five years in prison.

Suspended indefinitely by the NFL without pay, Vick apologized for his actions before cameras in late August. He tested positive in September for marijuana, a violation of U.S. District Court Judge Henry Hudson’s order that Vick stay clean in exchange for being allowed to be free.

Vick is being sued for more than $4 million by banks claiming he defaulted on loans and might have to repay nearly $20 million in NFL signing bonus money.

The NFL confirmed that it is investigating whether Green Bay Packers players offered payments to teammates for achieving specific defensive goals, which is prohibited under league rules.

ESPN reported that Packers defensive backs offered to pay the team’s defensive linemen $500 each if they were able to hold Minnesota running back Adrian Peterson under 100 yards rushing two weeks ago, and another $500 for holding Carolina to under 60 yards rushing Sunday.

Peterson was held to 45 yards rushing before he left the Vikings’ loss to the Packers on Nov. 11 because of an injury. But the Panthers rushed for 131 yards in Sunday’s loss to Green Bay.

Packers Coach Mike McCarthy said he was not aware of the situation, but had not yet spoken to General Manager Ted Thompson.

Middle linebacker Mike Peterson of the Jacksonville Jaguars could be sidelined for the rest of the season after suffering several broken bones in his right hand against the San Diego Chargers.

Peterson leads the Jaguars with 116 tackles.

Linebacker Cato June of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers was arrested early Monday and charged with driving under the influence several hours after the team returned from a victory in Atlanta.

June, who turned 28 on Sunday, was stopped by police shortly before 3 a.m. because they said he was driving above the speed limit. He refused to take a breath test and was booked into the Hillsborough County Jail, where he remained for more than seven hours before being released on $500 bond.

Pro Bowl linebacker Shawne Merriman, who questioned his teammates’ commitment and said they needed a change of attitude after the Chargers’ 24-17 loss at Jacksonville, said he popped off while still steamed about the defeat.

Merriman said he felt a “little bit better” after looking at the tape. “Not about the losing part, but that it actually wasn’t as bad of a game,” he said.