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.

[chichi14]

Did anyone hear the latest Leona Helmsley left her dog a 12 million trust fund. Now thats a woman who loved her dog unconditionally. WOW

[Joe posey]

vicks comment''s was the same: blah,blah, blah, as mike tyson''s in a sense, while spitting out the ear of holyfeild

[kailumego1]

twomtns, AMEN,you''re the first the admit it that there are many more like him out there.

[jdubs63]

He certainly did not appear that he was that sorry

[twomtns]

It never fails no matter who they are it%u2019s the same old same old %u201CI%u2019m & rich%u201D%u201CI%u2019m %u201D %u201CI%u2019m powerful & untouchable%u201D until they are caught
or exposed then all of a sudden they realize I%u2019m in deep s**t then they are regretful, apologetic and then of course they find Jesus become born again & ask for understanding & forgiveness it can be a black man or a white man named Black, the president of a large corporation or a country same s**t just another rich a**hole who thought he was above the law & decency believe me there are many more out there

[kailumego1]

whatithink AMEN!

And it''s interesting to read and hear white folks tell blacks they need to get off the "AS[s]", when white folks have had a history of "sitting" on their AS[S]SES watching African slaves and Native Americans do all the work...

[kailumego1]

thgdriver and mo005 re-read your comments you''ve just confirmed what I had written earlier "some blacks need to stop looking for the white man and other blacks to give them anything, if they want something they''re going to have to fight for it".

As Thgdriver has proven my point the white man isn''t going to give blacks one dime..

Blacks need to learn from previous Civil Rights leaders: develop unity, fight for equality, and stop being consumers, and become entrepreneurs.

Moreover, black folks need to start "policing" their own neighborhoods weeding out those individuals that do nothing but create discontent and self-degradation, the drug dealers and addicts, the irresponsible parents, fathers and mothers that neglect their children, the unproductive, the hang on the corner all day long with nothing to do but get into trouble, the habitual criminal, gang banger, and drive-by-shooters, etc. etc.

The O.J., Duke scandal, and Vick incident should have been/be a wake up call for black folks that this society has a "double-standard" considering criminal behavior.

[whatithink-2009]

mo005,

If those miners in Utah had been black, you''d never have heard that they were missing in the first place. Look how many people die everyday in our inner cities. Do you hear about them?

Have you heard of Stepha Henry?

[agnim]

"But he never publicly acknowleged that what he did was WRONG!!!!!
Posted by WheelsUp1 at 02:32 PM : Aug 28, 2007"

Naturally Vick could never in a lifetime say enough of the ''right words'' for you and the white supremacist lynch mob to shut the **** up, right, bigoted b!tch? LOL

[thgdriver]

mo005

They, meaning "Some" black folks will never stop using the race card. There is too much to be gained. Remember the black firefighter that sued the city because a prank was played on him because, as he stated, he was black. Yet two weeks before he was part of a prank played on some white firefighters. I sure wish I was on that jury, he would not see a cent.