Ookie!

The Atlanta Falcons, who went a mediocre 47-48-1 in six years with QB Michael Vick, may have played their last average season with him.

Vick is at the center of a federal investigation into procuring and training pit bulls for dogfights, which aside from occurring across state lines (that's a no-no), was centered at his Surry County estate.

A federal grand jury handed down indictments yesterday after hearing details from an 18 page filing, and unlike past documents and inquiries which did not name Vick, the filing is littered with his name, including the interesting tidbit that Vick was known as "Ookie" in the dogfighting world.

The football star and three others are named along with their enterprise, Bad Newz Kennels, in the indictment, which holds that at least 8 dogs were killed per their instructions. The methods varied from hanging, drowning, slamming them to the ground, or being doused with water and electrocuted. Charges range from knowingly sponsoring and exhibiting an animal fighting venture, to conducting a business enterprise involving gambling, as well as buying, transporting and receiving dogs for the purposes of an animal fighting venture. Translation, up to six years in prison, $350,000 in fines and restitution if convicted.

Authorities seized 66 dogs, including 55 pit bulls, and equipment commonly used in dogfighting. Local officials had been investigating Vick since an April 25 drug raid at the property and police later executed their own search warrant finding the remains of seven dogs.

In 2005, Vick was part of a civil suit where he allegedly knowingly gave genital herpes to Sonya Elliott. The crux of the suit was that Vick had visited clinics under the alias "Ron Mexico" to get treatments and thus he knew of his condition. Awesomely, a deluge of fans ordered customized #7 Atlanta Falcons jerseys on NFLShop.com with the name "Mexico" on the back. Due to the frenzy surrounding the case, the National Football League disallowed the use of the jersey/name combination two days after the lawsuit.

No word on prohibition of getting the jersey with "Ookie" on it.