Vick "Ashamed" Of Dogfighting Role

NFL QB Pleads Guilty, Could Face Up To 5 Years In Prison

(CBS/AP)  Michael Vick apologized to the NFL and his Atlanta Falcons teammates Monday for saying he was "ashamed" and disappointed over his role in a dogfighting operation.

Shortly before making his first public statements, the star quarterback pleaded guilty to a federal dogfighting charge and awaits a Dec. 10 sentencing date that likely will send him to prison.

Vick vowed to redeem himself at a news conference following his appearance in U.S. District Court.

"I made a mistake in using bad judgment and making bad decisions," he said. "Dogfighting is a terrible thing."

He concluded by saying, "I offer my deepest apologies to everyone. And I will redeem myself. I have to."

Along with apologizing to his employers, Vick apologized "to all the young kids out there for my immature acts."

"I totally ask for forgiveness and understanding as I move forward to bettering Michael Vick the person, not the football player," he said, looking somber throughout the brief news session.

Vick, who is suspended indefinitely by the NFL, entered his guilty plea before U.S. District Judge Henry E. Hudson, who asked: "Are you entering the plea of guilty to a conspiracy charge because you are, in fact, guilty?"

Vick replied, "Yes, sir."

Hudson emphasized he is not bound by sentencing guidelines and can impose the maximum sentence of up to five years in prison.

"You're taking your chances here. You'll have to live with whatever decision I make," Hudson said.

In his written plea filed in federal court Friday, Vick admitted helping kill six-to-eight dogs and supplying money for gambling on the fights. He said he did not personally place any bets or share in any winnings.

The NFL suspended him indefinitely and without pay Friday after his plea agreement was filed. Merely associating with gamblers can trigger a lifetime ban under the league's personal conduct policy.

In Atlanta, the Falcons said they would not cut Vick immediately because of salary-cap issues.

Now suspended indefinitely without pay, Vick could lose close to $150 million, reports CBS News correspondent Mark Strassmann, including $50 million in lost endorsements, $71 million remaining on his $130 million contract with the Falcons and $22 million in already-paid bonus money that the team says it will seek, though there is no guarantee that it will get that money back.

"We cannot tell you today that Michael is cut from the team," owner Arthur Blank said.

The case began in late April when authorities conducting a drug investigation of Vick's cousin raided the former Virginia Tech star's rural Surry County property and seized dozens of dogs, some injured, and equipment commonly used in dogfighting.

The carefully crafted plea agreement made it clear that "Vick played a major role" in the dogfighting operation, CBS News legal analyst Andrew Cohen said.

The plea agreement calls for a sentencing range of 12 to 18 months.

A federal indictment issued in July charged Vick, Purnell Peace of Virginia Beach, Quanis Phillips of Atlanta and Tony Taylor of Hampton with an interstate dogfighting conspiracy. Vick initially denied any involvement, and all four men pleaded innocent. Taylor was the first to change his plea to guilty; Phillips and Peace soon followed.

The details outlined in the indictment and other court papers fueled a public backlash against Vick and cost him several lucrative endorsement deals, even before he agreed to plead guilty.

Vick's plea Monday came hours before the Falcons play an exhibition game at home against the Cincinnati Bengals. This will be the first chance for the team to see what effect Vick's case has on attendance at the Georgia Dome. Vick wears the biggest-selling jersey in team history and is given much credit for the team's 51 consecutive sellouts.

As for the dogs found on Vick's property, the ASPCA will evaluate the dogs and based on their findings, will make recommendations to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, according to a statement released by the Eastern District of the U.S. Attorney's office.

[colonieny]

Can you RAPE a DOG ? ARE DOGS BETTER than PEOPLE ?

The media is very weird. Pounce on (poor) Vick for dog problems, but ignore athleletes say for shooting guns at people, beating up fans, drug dealing or in the case of the Fresno July 2006 college fooball players raping an 11 year old girl. Oh did you forget about that case ? The 11 year old was walking on campus and pullled into a dorm of football guys (is race important ? I of course will not mention, as it is obviously not relevent in any way,manner, whatsoever, no way !) and RAPED all afternoon . About 10 college men - thought this was a good idea, no qualms whatsoever.10 men raping an 11 year old . A ll day, again and again. She ended up in the hospital all torn up, after she escaped. Lucky for her, huh.
Now what happen to this story and the media ? What happen to their football careers ? You tell me. Call the FRESNO BEE newspaper. They are all mum . Not on any search engine either. That story, not fitting the PC line as perhaps the Duke frenzy did , well, was buried, with a cap. B. (1984 anyone ?)
What Vick did was wrong, but why give him the shaft when violence against so many people , including this poor torned up 11 year old ? is ignored. What is wrong with our MEDIA and SOCIETY ?

[mnelsonix]

Has anyone watched a rap or hip-hip video lately? Bling and Cristal aside, Pit Bulls are in at least half of the videos. Fighting dogs are big part of this subculture.

I''m sure there are plenty of folks who feel Vick is being singled out and persecuted (prosecuted too) only because he is black.

The white man can kill Bambi with no uproar. Poor Michael Vick, crucified for being black.

[kailumego1]

Bryant Gumbel is doing a documentary on HBO where %u201Cdog fighting%u201D originated and within whose [black/white] community.

Whenever a story about black males/females committing some horrible despicable crime surfaces in the media this becomes %u201Copen season%u201D for every maladaptive, pathologically perverse, misanthropic white person to wage a verbal attack, these are the majority of posters.

There are a lot of outraged whites/blacks posting here because they are animal lovers, as I, and find it disgusting, deplorable, and unforgivable for anyone to inhumanely treat a defenseless animal, however, then there are those white slime lurking around corners up under every rock, boulder, etc. for the opportunity to vomit their sadistic perversions, and likewise, there are those black co-dependent enablers, NAACP, etc. luring about corners ready to rationalize black degeneracy and self-loathingness as a white man%u2019s disease due to %u201Cracism%u201D.

[kailumego1]

Nowhere in the hundreds of post condemning Vick has it mentioned where this %u201Cdog fighting%u201D venture originated, as a matter of fact, there has been a lot of posters linking this aberrant behavior to the %u201Cghettos%u201D, blacks a whole, %u201C thugs%u201D, etc.

This %u201Ccreation%u201D didn%u2019t birth itself in the black cultural, but in white Southern rural cultural, which it had firmly rooted itself until struggling misguided troubled black youth with nothing else positive to occupy their minds decided to contaminate their communities with this anti-social perversion.

%u201CDOG FIGHTING%u201D is a creation of white Southern male%u2019s sadistic perversion not %u201CBLACKS%u201D, and if those posting had thoroughly investigated there is a wealth of information pre-dating this fact.

And although some will argue it originated in South and North America was that before or after the European invasion.

Many whites trying to avoid condemnation will point their bigotry to the Mexicans, but let''s not forget Central and South America had been invaded by Europeans, i.e. Spaniards which they polluted and contaminated the indigenous population of both Central and South America, with their perversions.

[kailumego1]

Watch the "Lord of War", with Nicholas Cage, to see the dirty business of "arms dealing", and how evil personification embodies white Americans and African rebel leaders, in the struggle for dominance and control.

The U.S. government hires underground arms dealers to supply weapons to dictators, in third-world countries knowing full well these barbarians are responsible for the genocide of hundreds-of-thousands of people.

Bush sent Condolezza Rice to the Equatorial New Guinea to met with president Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, to extend a hand in friendship.

Now I know many of you probably have little or no knowledge of where the Equatorial New Guinea is located let along the president''''s name.

As I''''m quite sure many of you probably could care less, but I''''ll indulge you anyway.

President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo is a ruthless dictator known for his savage brutality on all those who resist or oppose his authority.

He has been known to "chop" off the hands and feet of those in opposition along with barbaric forms of torture, and still this country, our leader, supports his presidency.

So, why aren''t you so-called white humanitarians outraged enough about this type of behavior.

[mnelsonix]

""Many whites trying to avoid condemnation will point their bigotry to the Mexicans""

***?

Talk about self loathing! You are a poster child!

[mnelsonix]

""So, why aren''''t you so-called white humanitarians outraged enough about this type of behavior.""
Posted by kailumego1

Whites are outraged at this kind of thing. Whites are also tired of being blamed for every subcultures'' bad behavior.

You said, " ''DOG FIGHTING'' is a creation of white Southern male%u2019s sadistic perversion not ''BLACKS'' "

Whites created dog fighting and black subculture has adopted it. So whites are bad and blacks just can''t help themselves.

You sound intelligent but you are misguided.

[luigi999-2009]

Something on a local, state and federal level has to be done about banning any hip-hop music that advertises illegal activity - pointedly dogfighting. The music industry has to be made to account for the content of their product. Why this hasn''t been done already is beyond comprehension for most decent citizens. If you want to restrict cigarette ads, restrict alcohol ads, etc. then how about restricting hip-hop music? The content is usually in the gutter and heavily influences young black males. We cannot expect the music industry to police their own - the profit motive is simply too great. Congress needs to get involved in this.

[dana417]

Someone on My Space sent me a You Tube video of pitbulls fighting and it is the most heartbreaking and horrific thing than man can do. How could this be entertainment? What the hell is wrong with you guys? I say GUYS because women don''t play this way. Boys suck. Too bad you''re only good for one thing... most of the time.

[luigi999-2009]

Hey, kailumego1. Your self-righteous ramblings are misguided at best. What Vick did touched a raw nerve of the American public. I''ve never seen public backlash like this in my life. If you pay attention to the postings you will find they are not coming from the people you describe - instead they are the emotional outpourings of decent and well-meaning folks throughout our land. Regardless of our backgrounds we all share a single component - what Michael Vick did was wrong.

[marcodele]

Dogfighting, and all the illegal activity that goes with it, is wrong, immoral, disgusting, ignorant, and ILLEGAL no matter what color the dogs, or the owners, are. Period.

If it has become trendy in any subculture, it is still ILLEGAL. Period.

[mnelsonix]

"''Too bad you''''re only good for one thing... most of the time.""
Posted by Dana417

Cool! You blamed it on gender, not race. I like it.

[ginette_mise]

he should suffer like those dogs did.no punishment can fit that crime.

[briansgirl2]

Like the old saying goes - - - "every dog has his day"- - - your day has arrived Mr. Vick. I don''t think this is a racial call at all. I do hope that now that he has admitted his guilt, that we can move on to something more important in the news. I''m about as done with this as I was with Paris, Nicole,& Lindsey!!!

[ekucrew]

I remember when Vick and the Falcons defeated The Packers at snowy Lambeau Field a few years back....this Pack fan kept thinking, "WOW, this guy has a ton of talent and a bright future in the NFL"....and he throws it all away to be involved in something so low-down.Sad

[glossypan]

Vick; I was immature, I used bad judgment.
NFL: Go to their official site and you will have plenty of opportunities to purchase "branded" merchandise but if they mention Vick AND the NFLs problem, it was not in the first few pages. I will be looking for Roller Derby or armwrestling if I want to watch sports on winter Sundays.

[pared1]

He needs to do more than grow uo he needs to learn to be humane. And whichever one of his twit friends that compared this to hunting needs to be hunted. I don''t see hunting as a sport unless you arm the animal with a gun as well.

[dollybaird]

My only hope is that he gets a PUNISHMENT THAT FITS THE CRIME!!!! 1-2 years doesn''t do it, when are these laws going to get more forceful with the jail time that is what needs to change, end of story!!!
I am hoping that all the Human Society''s keep this in front of the news and demand the strictness penalty!!!

[atpay1]

It is too bad Vick can''t get the same treatment as the dogs he abused!! How greedy is he that he needed to make extra money by getting involved in dog fighting?? Any man that can kill and torture animals is capable of doing this to people, that''s where serial killers start by killing and abusing animals!!

[sgtrds]

Vick said during his news conference that thanks to this he''s "found Jesus"! Great! Just what we need! Another phony Christian who finds Jesus when he wants to be forgiven by the public!

[kommoncents-2009]

This a**hole is such a hypocrite. He''s not sorry, he''d do it again if he had the chance. He''s a disgusting piece of human garbage. Rot in prison looser!

[ralan40]

So this guy had millions...and yet he just couldn''t break away from the whole dogfighting thing. What a shame, but the vast majority of us can only blame ourselves for our own downfall and no one else.

[vh588083]

This man had the somewhat potential to have it all he just plain blew it by being plain ole'' stupid.

[antoniof123]

Well, at least he is in the right state for finding Jesus the stupidest state in the country. Next he will want to run for office.

[wolfn2007]

Michael Vick apologized, YEAH AFTER HE GOT CAUGHT!! FRY HIS A_SS!!!!!

[sv1966]

The trouble is.... if he hadn''t got caught he would still be doing it. He had the world in the palm of his hand and he threw it all away because of greed. Not many guys get the chance at a good paying career that he had. Such a shame........My grandpa once told me that you can always tell what kind of person, a man is, by how he treats animals. Because if he can''t treat them kindly he won''t treat people well. Why is it that when anyone is caught doing something illegal they say they have found Jesus? I bet Jesus just shakes his head.

[oakishpines]

'' ... before the war, most folk most time danced porno get sick tax world get well feed world songs rallied around the sick beds drifting tens millions spore bloom weed dragon trail fickle first aid lunch farm cottage studio trail groups; and, after the war, most folk most time danced porno get sick tax world get well feed world songs rallied around the sick beds rallied around the sick beds drifting tens milllions spore bloom weed dragon trail fickle first aid lunch farm cottage studio trail groups; and, during the war, most folk most time danced porno get sick tax world get well feed world song rallied around the sick beds drfting tens millions spore bloom weed dragon trail fickle first aid lunch farm cottage studio trail; but also, during the war, lots and lots of folk got mugged raped killed cuffed caged collared slaved taxed tortured smacked spanked schooled deathed taxed dressed stripped shocked awed dared drugged cuffed caged ruffed stoughed freaked famined spanked nuked sticked stoned ranted raved copped trooped raged slaved and that end justifyed those means ... and if you''ll buy that you''ll probably invest all your money and votes in non charity and taxation just like me and everyone else ... so teasing ... ''

[catherine195]

The ONLY thing Vick is sorry for is the fact that he and his posse got caught. He and the others need to be hanged just like they did to the dogs who lost their fight - by the balls or by the neck - let the public choose!

[commentsrus]

The only thing he''s sorry about is getting caught. This arrogant S-O-B believed he was above the law that mere humans followed. He got off on playing GOD with the lives of animals.
He was convinced that all he had to do was buy the best defense out there and he would walk.
Now that he is back to walking on the ground with the rest of us mortals he has found JESUS. He''ll make a great evangelist, everyone knows the story of his fall from greatness and they will pay and pay to hear how Jesus picked him up and carried him to Glory.
Well, he''d better find something because the NFL is over for this idiot.
I hope all the Falcons fans bring his jerseys for the first game and start a bonfire with them in the parking lot. That would make a positive statement about the fine people of Georgia.

[edward1975-2009]

It''s a shame that the language he used was to keep him away from gambling, which would have banned him from the NFL. I hope the NFL commissioner has the courage to see through this and do what is right. And still on ESPN people making excuses and blaming race. What a sad commentary. When will it be seen as just another case of horrible judgement. No matter what color the person is.

[petesis]

I for one am ready to forgive Mr. Vick. That is not to say forget. But forgive him. I think it is difficult in it''s own right to be such a big star and who among us might not have done even worse. It seems to me that his apology was courageous and sincere. He must now follow through on his brave words. Bravo to Michael Vick. He is still a role model. Certainly an imperfect one. Which in my opinion is a perfect role model.

[drputt45]

OK Folks, move along, nothing more to see here. Vick has admitted to doing wrong and the judicial system will deal with him. On to the next story. Don''t continue to wear this one out.

[thgdriver]

Oh Mr. Vick!, Mr. Vick!, This is the Atlanta Falcons calling, that will be 22 million please, Huh, you spent it on some dogs and other shi!? That''s ok we''ll just have to take every thing you have. No play, no pay!!!

[tlesha]

I think that no one in this world is perfect. The fact that because of Mike Vick status in live and the goals that he has achieved has maked him a candidate for public tortment.If everyone that seems to point at finger at him and consciously ridiculed him will just take one minute and look at themselves and ask their one question. Have I lived a perfect life and have I lived a sin free life. I think that yes Mike Vick
has made a mistake that will cost him far more than we can imagine. I just think that he has to forgive himself and redeem himself to GOD and not man !!!.

[dgal878]

I hope you read these comments Mr Vick because you deserve to know how much the good people of this country despise you! You''re a sick, demented human being. How dare you attempt to make yourself look at all decent by claiming to have found Jesus. You''re less than a dog and I hope you experience terror and pain just as your victims did.

[lorinkundert]

I bet he''s ashamed, especially when he was caught. This was not some one time lapse, this man has been involved with dog fights all his life and operated a gambling ring.

[brucesmall]

Forgetting your glasses is a mistake. Involvement in dog fighting is not a mistake, it is a horrible felony.

[v_1618]

ASHAMED.. UNBELIEVEBLE.. THIS IS A GUY WHO WASTE A NFL PROSPER LIFE.. FOR A NASTY AND STUPID *** LIKE THIS.. THIS GUY IS THE MOST STUPID IDIOT IN THE PLANET EARTH... HE MAY THANK GOD FOR NOT TO BE IN JAIL..

[dzfromsc]

The bottom line is that he did something evil and he has to admit and suffer the consequences.
Pared1: May I remind you that hunting, under the proper channels, is legal while dogfighting under any circumstances is illegal. You don''t have to think it''s right but that''s the way it is.
atpay1: You''re right about people who do evil things to animals can develop into serial killers.

And as for all of you yelling race: It doesn''t matter what color you are especially when it comes to hurting animals. Today''s society hears "racism" claimed so much that we are now dulled to it. People don''t look as close when someone claims discrimination because we hear it so much of the time. Anyone calling racism/discrimination about Vick is only weakening the arguement for those really experiencing it.
Animal Lovers: Please donate to the Humane Society!

[mitch0927]

Let sleeping dogs lie.....

[zuser-2009]

I forgive him. I think he should be allowed back in the NFL and on the team next season. Sit out a season and then get his job back.

[seaslew]

this may sound odd. but cant they pull all the dogs teeth to be able to spare them,this way they are not able to kill anyone with out there teeth??

[zuser-2009]

I can''t believe such a big deal was made out of this.

I hope the judge just gives him probation at the most.

[luigi999-2009]

Hey, drputt45, maybe it''s time for you to move along. Vick''s actions have outraged a nation and just because he entered his plea of guilty today doesn''t mean the public can turn this awful story off like a water faucet. You sound very detached and cold.

[seaslew]

sorry ,. i thoight i was posting on the news about these dogs being put down,,

[sharncedar]

Are not pit bulls bred for the express and only purpose of fighting? Is it not so that the breed was created for one reason only, and that was for dog fighting? (For you dumb-dumb dog lovers, the answer is yes.)

This is so hypocritical. Only in a country run by elitists is a dog''s life worth more than a child''s say some kid in Palestine that US munitions killed today.

You have killed some 100,000 Iraqis, murdered them in cold blood without a cause other than suspicion of having WMD, and you sick freaks think dogfighting is "evil".

I suppose bombing people in their sleep is just some necessary expression of the system, but satan forbid someone engage in one of the oldest cultural sports of dogfighting. Then they are "evil".

Kill Iraqis in their sleep: Good.
Participate in the 5,000 year-old sport of dogfighting: Evil.

Nice, hypocrites.

[debaliz]

If Vick got absolutely nothing out of this, at least financially, why do it?? He is so ignorant and apparently thinks the rest of us are, too. I know pure evil when I see it, and he is without a doubt PURELY EVIL.

[dzfromsc]

Tlesha: No, nobody is perfect. However, those of us who do not kill/murder/torture/hurt animals are soooooo much better than those who do.
Petesis: You can forgive him if you like but the rest of us will continue to be disgusted by what he has done. A perfect role model would have admitted to it as soon as they were caught. He''s not being brave; he''s caught and can either admit it and hope they''ll give him a light sentence (which they are) or keep denying it and still get caught and still go to prison.

Both of you need to consider what if it were your dog or what if you were born one those dogs? Would you be so quick to forgive? Would you still defend him?
I think not.

[thgdriver]

I understand this was going on since 2001, In all that time he admits to killing 6 to 8 dogs!!?? The man is a chronic, habitual lier!! He still is not facing the truth of his actions, not only that, if his cousin had not caused an investigation, he would still be carrying on this heinous crime.

[zuser-2009]

Sharcedar, you are so right.....