This story isn’t about Michael Vick the football star; it’s about Michael Vick the human being.

After initially proclaiming his intention to clear his name following his arrest in connection with a brutal dogfighting ring, the Atlanta Falcons quarterback agreed this week to a plea bargain in the case. The agreement could include a sentence of up to five years in jail and a $250,000 fine, but indications are he will serve far less time than that, perhaps as little as a year.

It seems like a small enough penalty in a case with such sickening details. “Friends” who had agreed to testify against Vick say he participated not only in illegal gambling on dogfights but participated in the brutal executions of at least eight dogs that underperformed in the ring. Electrocution and hanging apparently were involved.

To say, as one national columnist did, that Vick “did something dumb” hardly begins to describe this crime. Because of his position as an NFL quarterback, considerable attention has been focused on whether he ever will be able to resurrect his lucrative career. The more important question is whether he will be able to restore his humanity.

Pleading guilty is a start, if that action is a true indication that Vick believes he did something wrong. Many believe he took this course primarily to shorten his possible prison time and to avoid public disclosure of his sick acts with the dogs. Becoming a public advocate for humane treatment of animals might be a far better first step.

Officials from the Humane Society of America and People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals have been kind enough to express sympathy for Vick, which is certainly more than he did for some of the dogs that had the misfortune to cross his path. In all honesty, most animal lovers couldn’t care less how much Vick and his career suffer because of this incident.

Animal advocates are rightly taking advantage of the Vick case to raise awareness about dogfighting in the United States. This high-profile incident casts a much-needed light on a shadowy crime that, unfortunately, exists in many locations across the country. Law enforcement officers reportedly are receiving tips and leads on other cases throughout the nation.

That’s the only good news to come out of this incident. It’s a sad story for Vick, whose career and life may be permanently damaged. It’s an even sadder story, however, for the dogs that were victimized by Vick and his friends.