With a steady gaze and another apology, Michael Vick took an important step toward returning to pro football.

The former star quarterback pleaded guilty to a state dogfighting charge yesterday in Sussex, Va., and the prosecutor dropped an animal cruelty count. Surry Circuit Judge Samuel Campbell accepted the deal and gave Vick a suspended three-year sentence — far less than the maximum 10-year term he could have faced.

The move clears the way for Vick's possible transition to a halfway house, and brings his aim of another chance at professional football closer.

"I want to apologize to the court, my family, and to all the kids who looked up to me as a role model," Vick told the judge.

Vick, a former Atlanta Falcons quarterback, was temporarily brought back to Virginia from Leavenworth, Kan., where he is serving a 23-month sentence after pleading guilty to bankrolling a dogfighting operation. In the federal case, Vick admitted helping kill six to eight pit bulls that did not perform well in test fights, including by electrocution, drowning and hanging.

Vick is scheduled for release next July 20, and will serve three years of probation. He also has been suspended by the NFL and would need commissioner Roger Goodell's approval before rejoining the league.

His latest plea is important because it resolves the remaining charges against him, which is required under federal law if he is to move into a halfway house.

BROWNS

QUINN OUT FOR SEASON

Cleveland quarterback Brady Quinn will miss the remainder of the season with a broken right index finger he made worse by playing on Sunday, according to several reports.

Citing unnamed sources, FOXsports.com and the Cleveland Plain Dealer said the break on Quinn's finger worsened after he tried to play through the injury in a loss to the Houston Texans.

REDSKINS

FORMER MVP LET GO

Former NFL MVP Shaun Alexander was released by Washington yesterday after getting only 11 carries in five games.

Alexander, 31, was signed Oct. 14 after backup Ladell Betts sprained his knee in a loss to the St. Louis Rams. Betts has since returned and resumed the No. 2 role behind NFL leading rusher Clinton Portis.

SCORING RECORD

HIGHEST WEEKEND TOTAL

The 80 points scored by New Orleans and Green Bay in the Saints' 51-29 win Monday night put the NFL over 800 points in a weekend for the first time.

The total of 837 points was the most ever in a single weekend, breaking the mark of 788. That was done three times: Sept 5-9, 2002; Dec. 5-6, 2004 and Dec. 29-30, 2007.

HALL OF FAME

SMITH, WOODSON ON LIST

Bruce Smith, the NFL's career sack leader, and versatile defensive back Rod Woodson are among the four first-time eligibles who made the list of 25 semifinalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

The other two are tight end Shannon Sharpe and defensive end John Randle, on a list that will be reduced to 15 before the final vote on Jan. 31.