Michael Vick has agreed a plea deal on dog-fighting charges

Vick, 27, is expected to enter his plea in a Virginia court next week. When sentenced, he could face a $250,000 fine and up to five years in jail.

He is also likely to receive a lengthy ban from the NFL for violating its personal conduct policy for players.

His three co-defendants had already made plea deals. By pleading guilty, Vick may avoid possible further counts.

A grand jury was meeting to consider additional charges such as racketeering, which, if successfully prosecuted, could have led to a longer jail term for Vick.

The National Football League has not yet said how long a playing ban Vick will face. He had already been barred from pre-season training with his team.

'Full responsibility

Lead defence lawyer Billy Martin said Vick had consulted his family before agreeing to a plea deal on the original federal dog-fighting conspiracy charges.

"Mr Vick has agreed to enter a plea of guilty to those charges and to accept full responsibility for his actions and the mistakes he has made," Mr Martin said in a statement.

"Michael wishes to apologise again to everyone who has been hurt by this matter."

At a court appearance last month, Vick had declared his innocence and vowed to clear his name.

But by last Friday, all three of his co-defendants had accepted plea deals in exchange for agreeing to co-operate with the prosecution case against Vick.

Dogs 'hanged'

Police who searched Vick's property in April allegedly found pit bull dogs and dog-fighting paraphernalia.

According to prosecutors, dogs that lost fights were sometimes killed by electrocution or hanging.

Since the charges were brought, pressure has been mounting on the NFL and the Falcons, particularly from animal-rights groups.

Vick, the first overall pick in the 2001 college draft, last season became the first quarterback to rush for more than 1,000 yards.