Putting his career in jeopardy, Falcons quarterback Michael Vick has agreed to plead guilty next Monday in his federal dogfighting case.

In doing so, the NFL star and face of Atlanta's franchise will admit to taking part in disturbing actions detailed in an 18-page federal indictment that has captured national attention.

In pleading guilty, one of the most exciting and polarizing figures in the NFL faces prison, fines and a lengthy league suspension. He also avoids the possibility of more serious charges, including racketeering, in a superseding indictment from a grand jury that convened Monday. Still possible, however, is prosecution by the state of Virginia on animal cruelty charges that carry up to 40 years in state prison.

"Mr. Vick has agreed to enter a plea of guilty to these [federal] charges and to accept full responsibility for those actions and for the mistakes he has made," Billy Martin, one of Vick's several attorneys, said in a statement Monday. "Michael wishes to apologize to everyone who has been hurt by this matter."

A second attorney for Vick, Daniel Meachum, declined to comment about what sentence Vick could get, saying a plea agreement has not yet been drafted.

But if his plea agreement is similar to that of two co-defendants who pleaded guilty to conspiracy charges Friday, he faces 12 to 18 months in prison, according to federal sentencing guidelines.

The federal judge in the case, Henry E. Hudson, could go below or above that amount but not exceed five years. Hudson, who is known for handing out harsh sentences, signaled to Vick's two co-defendants last week that he found the facts of the case particularly aggravating.

Hudson announced to reporters Monday that Vick's plea hearing is set for 10:30 a.m. Monday, the same day the Falcons play their first exhibition home game at the Georgia Dome. Federal prosecutors had warned Vick that he must agree to a plea deal by last Friday or face more serious charges as part of the expected superseding indictment this week, people with knowledge of plea negotiations told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

In pleading guilty, Vick — who has a $130 million contract with the Falcons — could face severe sanctions from the NFL. A federal grand jury indicted him last month on a single count of conspiracy to cross state lines to engage in illegal gambling; to sponsor a dog in an animal fighting venture; and to buy, transport and receive dogs for animal fighting. Meachum said Vick plans to plead guilty to the conspiracy charge.

Meachum was asked whether the plea offer was structured to avoid any possible gambling exposure that might hurt Vick's chances of playing in the NFL.

"I think it would be disingenuous if I'm focusing on football," Meachum said. "I am concerned about his life. Football will take care of itself. I'm concerned about how he picks up the pieces."

The NFL's anti-gambling policy states that a player can be suspended indefinitely or have his contract terminated if he "knowingly associates with gamblers or gambling activity." In at least three prior cases in NFL history, players have been suspended indefinitely for gambling, then reinstated after one year. The league has banned Vick pending its own investigation of the case.

"We totally condemn the conduct outlined in the charges, which is inconsistent with what Michael Vick previously told both our office and the Falcons," the NFL said in a statement Monday. "We will conclude our own review under the league's personal conduct policy as soon as possible. In the meantime, we have asked the Falcons to continue to refrain from taking action pending a decision by the commissioner."

The Falcons also issued a statement Monday.

"We are certainly troubled with the news today concerning Michael Vick's guilty plea to federal charges," the statement said. "[NFL] Commissioner [Roger] Goodell has asked us not to take any action until he has completed his own review of Michael's situation. Accordingly, we will have no further comment until that time."

News of Vick's decision came after the remaining two co-defendants in his case — Quanis Phillips, 28, of Atlanta, and Purnell Peace, 35, of Virginia Beach — pleaded guilty Friday to a single count of conspiracy related to dogfighting and pledged to cooperate with prosecutors in their case against Vick. A third co-defendant, Tony Taylor, 34, of Hampton, Va., entered a guilty plea last month as part of a similar plea deal with prosecutors.

Peace, Phillips and Taylor have each signed documents saying Vick, nicknamed Ookie, almost exclusively bankrolled their dogfighting business — called Bad Newz Kennels. Also, Vick joined Peace and Phillips in executing eight dogs they didn't think would fight well in or about April — by various means, including hanging and drowning, Peace and Phillips said in statements they signed with prosecutors. According to the statements, the dogs died as a collective effort of the three men.

In another troubling development for Vick, the Commonwealth's Attorney for Surry County, where Vick allegedly operated his dogfighting business, said last week the evidence revealed in federal court so far has solidified his plans to prosecute Vick on animal cruelty and dogfighting charges. State charges could bring Vick up to 40 years in prison. Surry County Commonwealth's Attorney Gerald Poindexter said he likely would submit his case to a grand jury scheduled to convene Sept. 25.

Animal rights activists reacted quickly to the news of Vick's plea agreement.

"PETA is calling on the NFL to add cruelty to animals — in all its forms — to its 'personal conduct policy,' " said Dan Shannon, PETA's assistant director of youth outreach and campaigns. "This case has clearly shown that NFL fans are just as outraged by cruelty to animals as any of the other antisocial behaviors outlined in the policy."

Staff writers D. Orlando Ledbetter, Tom Opdyke, Bill Rankin, Tim Tucker and Steve Wyche contributed to this article.