The Facts: Hernandez, the former New England Patriots star, was found guilty Wednesday of first-degree murder in a deadly late-night shooting, sealing the downfall of an athlete who once had a $40 million contract and a standout career ahead of him.

Diehards Line: The first-degree murder conviction carries a mandatory sentence of life in prison without parole and automatically triggers an appeal to Massachusetts' highest court. The former football pro was also found guilty on both weapons charges he faced. The jury deliberated for 36 hours over seven days before rendering its verdict. For reasons that were never made clear to the jury, Odin Lloyd was shot six times in the middle of the night on June 17, 2013, in a deserted industrial park near Hernandez's home. Prosecutors presented a wealth of evidence that Hernandez was with Lloyd at the time he was killed, including home security video from Hernandez's mansion, witness testimony and cell phone records that tracked Lloyd's movements. Hernandez faces further legal trouble: He is awaiting trial on murder charges in the drive-by shooting. He is accused of gunning down two men over a spilled drink at a nightclub. Again, it's not our practice to regularly report on those no longer in the NFL. But given Hernandez’s previouly high-profile status, the closure here seems appropriate.