27-year-old Terrence Cody -- who was cut from the Ravens in 2015 -- had been convicted of 9 misdemeanors involving the death of Taz, his canary Mastiff -- and the illegal possession of an alligator.
Prosecutors say Cody neglected Taz in a horrific way -- with the animal living in its own filth and barely eating for roughly a month.
Typically, canary Mastiffs are supposed to weigh about 100 pounds ... Taz was less than 50 pounds on the day he died.
Cody -- who was drafted in the 2nd round of the 2010 draft -- played 5 seasons with the Ravens .