Michael Vick: "I Blame Me"

(CBS)  Before he became a symbol of animal cruelty, Michael Vick was one of the most electrifying players in American football. As quarterback of the Atlanta Falcons, he was the highest paid player in the league, and he pulled in tens of millions of dollars in endorsements.

But it all came to an abrupt end two years ago when police raided a farm Vick owned in Virginia and uncovered an illegal dog fighting operation. He eventually pled guilty to bankrolling the enterprise and participating in every aspect of it, including killing dogs that refused to fight. He was sentenced to two years in prison, and eventually declared bankruptcy.

Last month he was released and conditionally reinstated into the NFL.

Friday, at a press conference in Philadelphia, it was announced he'd be playing for the Philadelphia Eagles, after signing a two-year contract, with the possibility of earning nearly $7 million.

In his first interview since going to prison, Michael Vick explains what he did, why he did it, and how he says he has changed.

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"The first day I walked into prison, and he slammed that door, I knew the magnitude of the decision that I made, and the poor judgment, and what I allowed to happen to the animals. And, you know, it's no way of explaining the hurt and the guilt that I felt. And that was the reason I cried so many nights. And that put it all into perspective," Vick told CBS Sports anchor James Brown.

Asked what he cried about, Vick said, "What I did, you know, being away from my family, letting so many people down. I let myself down, not being out on the football field, being in a prison bed, in a prison bunk, writing letters home, you know. That wasn't my life. That wasn't the way that things was supposed to be. And all because the so-called culture that I thought was right, that I thought it was cool. and I thought it was fun, and it was exciting at the time. It all led to me laying in a prison bunk by myself with no one to talk to but myself."

"Who do you blame for all of this?" Brown asked.

"I blame me," Vick replied.

Vick was a human highlight reel, with a powerful arm, blazing speed, and an uncanny ability to elude tacklers. He's the only quarterback in NFL history to rush over 1,000 yards in a season, though he was injured a lot, and never lived up to the high expectations of football fans in Atlanta.

Very few people knew what was happening in his life off the field. When police raided a farm he owned in rural Virginia in 2007, they uncovered an interstate dogfighting operation called "Bad Newz Kennels."

They removed 66 dogs, and exhumed the bodies of eight more. They also found dogfighting paraphernalia and a pit where fights were held.

The dogs that were saved - raised and trained to be vicious fighters - are now being rehabilitated in hopes of being adopted, all at the expense of Vick, who was ordered by a judge to pay nearly $1 million for the effort.

"And the operation, Michael, that you pleaded guilty to bankrolling, to being a part of, engaged in barbarous treatment of the animals - beating them, shooting them, electrocuting them, drowning them. Horrific things, Michael," Brown remarked.

"It's wrong, man," Vick said. "I don't know how many times I gotta tell, I gotta say it. I mean it was wrong. I feel tremendous hurt behind what happened. And, you know, I should've took the initiative to stop it all. And I didn't. And I feel so bad about that now. And I know that I didn't I didn't step up. I wasn't a leader."

"In any way, for those who may say it showed a lack of moral character because you didn't stop it, you agree or disagree?" Brown asked.

"I agree," Vick said.

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[lifeislife07]

EVERYONE DESERVES FORGIVENESS AND A SECOND CHANCE. Michael Vick is a human being and he shouldn't be treated with 'special treatment' from his fans. People argue Vick probably gets special treatment in jail but it doesn't always have to be good. Vick gets 'special treatment' from his fans by them being extremely angry at him FOREVER and insulting him just because he is a famous football star. Everyone makes mistakes but should deserve a second chance.
What would happen to this world if no one forgave each other?
I believe Michael Vick would have never done anything like this if he had a dog in his childhood. Dogs will change everything, your life. You would never know what its like to have love for a dog UNLESS you get one. I think that should have been his 'punishment.' Then he'll feel truly sorry for what he did if gets a dog.

[russoT]

Vick is a sick, demented individual who is incapable of feeling empathy and compassion for a living thing. Having a dog won't suddenly change him. How many dogs did he watch get tortured and how many did he torture himself? You don't have to wonder if he's sorry for what he did to those dogs, he isn't, he hasn't apologized for it. He said it himself in the interview, he felt sorry for his fans, his family. Please, please stop talking about second chances, this drives me crazy. This went on for SIX YEARS!!! Every day he had another chance to make a different decision. EVERY DAY FOR SIX YEARS!!!!

[lifeislife07]

aChangeOfIdeas...fthr_of_4 is partially right. People run over deers with their cars accidentally but people would just leave it there to die. People do kill fish and shoot birds. It is true that people shoot animals to eat but why today? We have all the food in the world in grocery stores. I mean its normal to do it back in the day but today its not needed to kill animals regularly to 'eat it.' I see so many stray cats in my area but no one bothers to keep one except one house feeds them. I see dead cats in the streets when driving but people usually just pass them. I do believe most of America loves dogs. 1 out of every 3 households has one or more dogs. It is horrible what Michael Vick has done. But he is TRYING to make up for what he did. He already spent more than an year in jail and jail is no joke. He deserved that but does he still deserve to be judged now because of what he has done in the past. Everyone deserves to be forgiven. Everyone deserves a SECOND CHANCE. Even if he is not really sorry for what he did to the dogs, he is still spending his time to tell kids to love their animals and is involved in organizations. No one should be punished forever like Vick is punished by his fans. FORGIVENESS IS THE ANSWER! If there was no forgiveness in this world, life will not move on. Michael Vick is a human being! You know he feels really bad, not maybe for dogs, who knows, but for what he did to his fans.

* I just thought of this now. Michael Vick grew up to think dog fighting was cool and awesome. He was 'bred that way.' These dogs grew up to think dogfighting was life. Vick knew it was wrong but no one told him not to do it.

PS- Im open to opinions

[beastb]

im just happy to be a part of this crazy comment cluster f***

[JerseyGrrl]

What's with PETA's selective persecution that by-passes higher profile personalities like Sarah Palin and Dick Chaney, to ruin a lesser known personalities, like Michael Vick. A

Is it because he's black?

I'm not hatin', I'm just sayin'...

[russoT]

What are you talking about??

[chop02]

Ok, just came across this article, and I can't believe there are 932 comments on this issue. Im sure the people that have posted there disgust on this issue have also posted there disgust with politicains who have molested children and gotten away with it by going into AA meetings and speaking with thier pastors, or actors who have murderd people and gotten away with it etc. Im sure if I go to any of these other blog sites pertaining to those issues I will find all of your names up there with your comments of hatred for those types people(right), and how you are petitioning to have those individuals thrown in jail or atleast tried for the crimes they've committed. I'm sure I've trained and had more dogs than the majority of you who posted, and I still don't have the disgust you guys have. You all need to reevaluate your priorities. This guy plays football (football), there are others out there who create the laws we abide by that do far worse, with huge underlying agendas, how about concentrating on that.

[russoT]

Fine, within the proper forum. This isn't about any of those people it's about Michael Vick.

[susancotton]

i can't stop thinking about what those men did to those dogs. the idea that they enjoy bashing a helpless creature's teeth and electrocuting them and beating them to death. and they do it for fun... and from reading these comments of MV supporters it's clear that it's ok with them. they admire it. i look at my neighbors now and wonder. to know that it is a cool national pasttime for a lot of guys to cause great suffering. what a savage country we have become.

[EasternNavajoRezdawg]

Little men who feel inadequate behave this way. Real men don't have anything to prove.

[Zoelife32]

No sir James Brown was on the Michael Irvin show in Dallas. He said he had to be tough for america's sake. He is one of the guys who went to visit Mike when he first went to prison. He is a christian brother that understands forgiveness totally. He said really he had to act out that way for the people sake, so it want seem one sided with a black interviewer letting a black mike vick off the hook. Hopefully this helps. Also go to Michael Irvin podcast on 103.3 to listen to james brown. It's great!

[russoT]

Sounds like there should've been full disclosure on Brown's part. There wasn't.

[susancotton]

Michael Vick repeatedly lied to fans, owners, NFL officials, judges, and anyone else who would listen. Only when confronted with irrefutable and damning evidence did he admit to his crimes. And yet, in interviews with Michael Vick, CBS News 60 Minutes unequivocally takes him at his word. How can this be?

Michael Vick beat, drowned, electrocuted and otherwise savagely tortured and killed many defenseless animals. CBS News 60 Minutes is well aware of the facts. But in their interview with him, CBS worked with Michael Vick to obscure the facts of his participation in and the savage nature of his crimes. Why is this?

I think it is of very little use to ask Michael Vick about his ethics or his reasoning or his motives. But, why did CBS News 60 Minutes so eagerly partner with him and his handlers in their efforts to restore his reputation?

[buddy10462]

Hi My name is Fran. I think that Michael Vick is regretfull only because he got busted. He has been running this ring for many, many years, and what he did to those dogs is horrendous, and unforgiveable. There are people in jail for plenty of years because of the Rockefeller Law. They are in there for marijuana, etc. Michael Vick only served very little time for what he did. I think that he cares less about the humane society, and is only doing talks about dog fighting because he has to. He should have been tortured just like he did to those helpless animals. I think he is a very sick puppy, who is in dire need of psychiatric care. I do believe in second chances for people because I worked in a methadone maintenance treatment program, and was very compassionate with my patient's issues. In his case, I feel what he did is unforgivable, and he should have never been reinstated in football. To me, he is the lowest of the lowest!!!!!!!!!!

[aggiemariposa]

Hi Fran - I am appalled at what he did too and agree with many of your points. BUT - sorry, we have to forgive. I do not wish Mr. Vick a bad life, he certainly can be a productive citizen. However, even though we forgive, sometimes there are premanent consequences to be suffered, that's just the way life is. In some states, felons can't vote. They are barred permanently from certain kinds of employment and cannot obtain many kinds of professional licenses. It is ridiculous that the NFL reinstated him. He has already had his second chance - he got out of prison.

Believe me, I understand how you feel, but try to find a little forgiveness. God loves all people.

[buddy10462]

Hi My name is Fran. I think that Michael Vick is regretfull only because he got busted. He has been running this ring for many, many years, and what he did to those dogs is horrendous, and unforgiveable. There are people in jail for plenty of years because of the Rockefeller Law. They are in there for marijuana, etc. Michael Vick only served very little time for what he did. I think that he cares less about the humane society, and is only doing talks about dog fighting because he has to. He should have been tortured just like he did to those helpless animals. I think he is a very sick puppy, who is in dire need of psychiatric care. I do believe in second chances for people because I worked in a methadone maintenance treatment program, and was very compassionate with my patient's issues. In his case, I feel what he did is unforgivable, and he should have never been reinstated in football. To me, he is the lowest of the lowest!!!!!!!!!!