Michael Vick Pleads Guilty, Vows to “Grow Up;” Falcons QB Says, Sorry For Lies, “Bad Decisions;” Bald Truth Poll: Do You Believe His Apology?
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Michael Vick apologized Monday for “using bad judgment and making bad decisions” and vowed to redeem himself after pleading guilty to a federal dogfighting charge.
“First I want to apologize for all the things that I’ve done and that I have allowed to happen,” the star quarterback said at a news conference following his appearance in U.S. District Court to formally enter the plea.
Sentencing was set for Dec. 10 and Vick could be sent to prison for one to five years. Vick was suspended indefinitely by the NFL last week.
a href=’https://www.artharris.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2007/08/vick-fly.jpg’ title=’vick-fly.jpg’>
In Atlanta, the Falcons said they would not cut Vick immediately because of salary-cap issues. The team intends to pursue the $22 million in bonus money that he already received in a record $130 million contract signed in 2004.
“We cannot tell you today that Michael is cut from the team,” owner Arthur Blank said.
Saying he was speaking “from the heart,” and looking somber, Vick made his first public statements on the dogfighting ring:
“I made a mistake of using bad judgment and making bad decisions. Those things just can’t happen. Dogfighting is a terrible thing, and I do reject it.”
He singled out NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, Blank, coach Bobby Petrino and his teammates for personal apologies, saying “I was not honest and forthright in our discussions.”
He also apologized to “all the young kids out there for my immature acts and what I did _ and what I did was very immature. So that means I need to grow up.”
“I totally ask for forgiveness and understanding as I move forward to bettering Michael Vick the person, not the football player,” he said.
He concluded by saying, “I offer my deepest apologies to everyone. And I will redeem myself. I have to.”
Vick took no questions.
He said little in court, standing erect and softly answering “Yes, sir” and “No, sir” to U.S. District Judge Henry E. Hudson’s questions. Family members occupied the front row of the packed courtroom for the 15-minute hearing.
The plea by the suspended quarterback was accepted by Hudson, who asked: “Are you entering the plea of guilty to a conspiracy charge because you are in fact guilty?”
Vick answered yes.
Hudson emphasized he is not bound by sentencing guidelines or the recommendations of prosecutors and can impose the maximum sentence. Prosecutors proposed a 12- to 18-month prison term.
“You’re taking your chances here. You’ll have to live with whatever decision I make,” Hudson said.
“A first-time offender might well receive no jail time for this offense,” U.S. Attorney Chuck Rosenberg said in a statement. “We thought, however, that the conduct in this conspiracy was heinous, cruel and inhumane.” Vick is one of four defendants in the case.
The first defendant to plead guilty left the conspiracy in 2004 and is not as culpable, Rosenberg said.
In his written plea filed last week, Vick admitted helping kill six to eight pit bulls and supplying money for gambling on the fights. He said he did not personally place any bets or share in any winnings.
Shortly afterward, the NFL suspended him indefinitely and without pay. Merely associating with gamblers can trigger a lifetime ban under the league’s personal conduct policy.
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.
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.
The Falcons were to play an exhibition game at home against the Cincinnati Bengals later Monday. 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 its 51 consecutive sellouts.
August 27th, 2007 at 5:47 pm
I don’t care one bit about his jersey selling or consecutive sellouts. This man should never be allowed to play again. This senseless, horrible act has nothing to do with making a bad decision. It has to do with torture, just pure disgusting, senseless behavior that has no room in our society. And don’t tell me he wasn’t gambling, he is still lying and what a pathetic apology.
August 27th, 2007 at 6:46 pm
A picture is worth how many words?
August 27th, 2007 at 7:36 pm
HEY VICK GO TO HELL you ask for forgiveness. I don’t think so. The only reason your sorry is because you got caught. If you were never caught you’d still be fighting those poor dogs. Your a cruel S.O.B and I hope that every night when you close your eyes to go to sleep that all the dogs you HURT and KILLED haunt you. I just wish that you could feel the pain that they did. Some people might fall for your bullshit about how sorry you are ( but I ain’t one of them ) The only thing your sorry for is that you got caught. I have 2 Pitbulls myself and there is not a mean bone in their body and when I see the pictures of what you did to thoses pits it makes me cry. All I can tell you Vick is you better be gald I’m not the Judge
August 27th, 2007 at 8:35 pm
ugh. I love you Art, but I dont know if that picture is necessary.
August 27th, 2007 at 11:06 pm
This man really disgusts me. I believe in second chances for people depending on the crime. But when it comes to children, elderly and animals, I have no tolerance. He deserves the max on this. I was watching fox news and they said that Michael had found God since all of this had begun. No, he is saying he has found him now that his ass is facing prison time. He’s going to need him once he gets in there. I am appalled that the Prosecutors would even offer him a plea deal. They should have forged ahead with the evidence against him and prosecuted him to the fullest extent of the law. A regular citizen such as myself without millions would not have even gone to court yet. I couldn’t post the bail and I am almost sure that I would have faced a significant sentence. What is this world coming to? Just another high profile athlete who gets off with a slap on the wrist. Those poor animals. The ones waiting to face their fate and the ones he executed himself. Wow this is amazing. Just plain old everyday people could not afford to hire the attornies that he hired and throw the money around that he has and get off with I’ve found God in the midst of all of this. Bull–t. He has some good attornies telling him what to say. Has he stepped foot in church or donated money to a worthy charity or anything remotely close to a charity to try and help others? How about being an advocate for the animals? Help put a stop to this type of abuse and torture of animals. Thanks Art for a great place to vent.
August 27th, 2007 at 11:42 pm
Praise the lord Michael so you finally found G@d and Jesus even though they won’t judge you,( I predicted it in one of my posts) and we can’t judge you accordingly other than comment on your disgusting crimes. You do have to face another person who is going to judge you, I hope harshly. What I don’t understand is why you did not come forward in the beginning, pleaing than instead of now,,, what I don’t understand is the amount of money you were making why did you need to do this, were you bored? What I don’t understand is you must of had a manager who was supposedly managing you and your shining career, where was he and his advice during this mindset of dogfighting?
Michael I don’t want to hear you on 20/20 with Barbara Walters, that you did not know the laws of the country, or that you did not know you were not able to gamble due to your contract OBLIGATIONS, or you got mixed up with a bunch of bad people. There is no excuse for your actions you were making so much money enough that could of rebuilt New Orleans, built a youth center for troubled youth, given a physciotherapy center for returning wounded soldiers from Iraq..anything but hurt an animal an wager on him.
Accountability is one thing totally another, when one is forced into admitting guilt. that you know you have been caught red handed. “Grow up” is not the proper words that you should of used, here is the statement that you should of said ;
I Micheal Vic am not the most intelligent person,but you do not have to be intelligent to be a football player., that was not in my contract>>> ENTITLEMENT is my game and I don’t have to answer to no one., or appologise for my behavior or actions example, hey take a look at Lohan and Hilton and all the rest of young Hollywood why you looking at me? Hey can someone explain to me what the word accountability means?
May you reap Michael what you sow.
August 28th, 2007 at 12:02 am
He needs to grow up? I thought most serial killers start out killing animals…. is he saying he feels like a confused child killing and torturing animals?? Scary. This guy is a piece (and not a piece of work…the other piece…)
August 28th, 2007 at 12:26 am
Who’s ‘Top Dog’ the Black one or the White One…
The Old One or the Young One…
Of course, it’s the strongest no matter what color.
August 28th, 2007 at 12:37 am
It wasn’t so much being immature. It was being cruel beyond belief and he would still be doing this if he hadn’t been caught. Also, he lied about it all until he could no longer get away with the lies. He needs to be out of football for good.
August 28th, 2007 at 12:46 am
Dear Art,
I might as well put myself on the front lines and defend myself.
Love Always,
Freida
How About You, are you ready? Are you ready to defend your territory? are you ready to defend your children? are you ready to defend life?
Or, would you rather give in, and call it a day, and just say and pray..and hope and love and all that pretty stuff?
August 28th, 2007 at 12:49 am
There’s plenty of people ‘over there’ that don’t care and they’ll blow you up in a second, the second you do not care.
August 28th, 2007 at 1:19 am
I want to know if Vick would still be fighting dogs if he had not been caught? I think so. I feel that his apology is just a bunch of words. Of course he is sorry, isn’t everyone sorry and then find Jesus when they get caught. I hope he never plays again.
August 28th, 2007 at 2:54 am
By the way, If you care to notice, those two dogs in the photo are not bleeding…it’s more about posture…and, of course they could if they really wanted to…shred each other to bits.
Of course, It’s more about animal behavior…
and instinct.
I’m mad, I’m a fool…laugh at me…laugh at you.
August 28th, 2007 at 8:43 am
I truly believe what Mike Vick did was wrong, but not forgiving a person is a sin in its self. Why should we want God to forgive us for our sins when we can’t forgive. What makes our sins forgivable and his aren’t? There is no little or big sins in the eyes of God. Each to his or her own, but we can’t say we love God if we’re not willing to forgive. There are a lot of things that’s happened in life where the outcry was not even heard, so to act like this as bad as it was, topped all wrong doings, I don’t think so.
August 28th, 2007 at 9:28 am
I am wondering if that judge is going to throw a bigger bone in there as he hinted yesterday and give harsher penalty than what prosecution recommends? Kind of seemed like it in his statement….
August 28th, 2007 at 9:52 am
I believe he is sorry he got CAUGHT, but I don’t believe he is sorry for what he was a part of. He participated in all of this because he found pleasure in it. All of a sudden he’s caught and realizes he did the wrong thing. Not buying it. He KNEW it was wrong, all along.
I don’t believe the apology and I don’t believe the “turning my life over to Jesus” thing. People seem to always find religion when they’re caught doing something horrible.
I can’t even begin to imagine how cruel someone would have to be to do what he’s done.
August 28th, 2007 at 11:30 am
It’s not about ”growing up” or ”I found God” this guy is pure,mitagted evil in it’s rawest form!
I am so sick of hearing his name every time new is on here in Atlanta and the Press Release from Falcon’s owner that he’s probably going to be playing for the Falcons after all of this is beyond belief. The guy doesn’t need to get a smak,continue making millions and be a role model for our children.
August 28th, 2007 at 11:34 am
IT TOOK YEARS AND LOTS OF PLANNING TO SET UP THE “BAD NEWZ” DOG ABUSE SYSTEM SO PLEADING IT WAS JUST A “MISTAKE” IS JUST SO MUCH BS THAT MOST PEOPLE CANNOT ACCEPT. NOW VICK HAD FOUND “GOD” AND WANTS ALL TO BE FORGIVEN. AND HIS VERY PATHETIC, INCOMPLETE APOLOGY WAS FINALLY GIVEN ONLY AFTER MUCH DURESS AND A REALIZATION THAT HE COULD GO TO JAIL. HE IS A CRUEL BUM!
August 28th, 2007 at 12:17 pm
I believe he’s sorry…whether it’s because he was caught or because he was involved in dog fighting, who can say.
August 28th, 2007 at 6:38 pm
We need much stronger laws to stop this kind of torture and abuse.This kind of stuff leads to much much worse and it needs to be stopped before it goes any futher
August 28th, 2007 at 11:34 pm
This cruelty to animals will never be taken seriously because the cruel people will only see it as the white ganging up on a black man — again — despite the fact we all have heard of the harsh punishment netted out to those who get caught abusing animals.
Animals do feel pain and they communicate in their own way with those who care to pay attention to them.
August 29th, 2007 at 12:00 am
Forget jail time for Vick ,just hang him….
once trash always trash
TB
August 29th, 2007 at 10:56 am
Isabel Says:
August 28th, 2007 at 11:34 pm
This cruelty to animals will never be taken seriously because the cruel people will only see it as the white ganging up on a black man — again — despite the fact1, Isabel, what do you mean the cruel people?
——————————
I disagree with this statement. I don’t know who you’re referring to as the cruel people. ???????
August 29th, 2007 at 3:20 pm
Another tragic example of a human “body” walking the earth without a soul “conscience”…not uncommon in this world we live in.
Hopefully some day in the future he can get some flicker of soul to have true remorse for what he has done. Maybe God has shown mercy toward him in having him exposed in this way in the first place.
August 29th, 2007 at 4:11 pm
The race card is already being played on the Fox stations by their talking heads.I caught GVS for the first time in my life last night along with others while flipping channels and stopped to listen for awhile,sure wish I hadn’t they all just talk over anyone that wants to say anything.If I hadn’t seen a clip about Vick I would not have bothered to listen.He’s sorry yes I believe he is sorry,sorry he got caught that is.
January 23rd, 2011 at 6:55 pm
shut up punk
August 29th, 2007 at 5:32 pm
it was not about his being immature, it was SADISTIC. i don’t think at 27 or more, he will “outgrow” his personality defects.
August 30th, 2007 at 4:04 pm
P.S.
Most importantly, haven’t we all heard about criminals who started by being cruel to animals? Is anyone aware of the of how he treated animals, if there were any, while he was growing up?
September 1st, 2007 at 6:21 pm
You all see that great, big, beautiful, black dog…
she could be mine, I have one, just like her,
and she would defend me, no matter what.
Oh, by the way, she also knows when to let go.
She’s a beauty.
September 6th, 2007 at 6:34 pm
Just in case Vick ever comes here…
Here’s something beautiful he could listen to and watch…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R7cA8qCbKOQ&NR=1
November 9th, 2007 at 1:24 pm
# s.s. henderson, mt. pleasant, ia Says:
August 29th, 2007 at 5:32 pm
it was not about his being immature, it was SADISTIC. i don’t think at 27 or more, he will “outgrow” his personality defects.
_________________
I don’t agree…we continue to grow and mature even a 27 year old ‘gets older and wiser.’
Hope is a good thing.
November 22nd, 2009 at 2:58 pm
It’s always interesting to see the email(s) I get after posting a comment.
January 26th, 2011 at 2:52 pm
i dont think vic should have been treated the way he was "in just" not justice. if it were u or i we would never have gotten all that time Big ups to vic got the entire world back on his D*&^!!!!!! lets go eagles pa all day
March 16th, 2011 at 1:41 am
you are trash!
July 24th, 2012 at 1:27 pm
You have to admit that Vick has done everything he can to make things right – with PETA, the NFL, and his fans. I'm not saying people should forgive him, but he has come a long way in the last 5 years – and remains an elite QB at the top of his game for the Eagles.