he admitted it, hope they put him away for a long time.

[slipknotpsycho]

washingtonpost.com - nation, world, technology and Washington area news and headlines

RICHMOND, Va. -- 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.

When the Atlanta Falcons selected Michael Vick with the No. 1 pick in the 2001 draft, the former Virginia Tech quarterback appeared to be the NFL's next megastar. But his career is now in ruins after he agrees to plead guilty to federal dogfighting charges that will result in significant prison time.

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.

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.

slipknotpsycho Reviewed by slipknotpsycho on 08-27-2007. he admitted it, hope they put him away for a long time. washingtonpost.com - nation, world, technology and Washington area news and headlines Rating: 5

[TOOL9]

Yea i saw his "sincere apology" earlier today. I hope the bastard stays in prison for a long time and never takes another snap in the NFL

[Weedhound]

It's only because he's black.....and rich.....and famous.....and treats animals like toys to play with and torture.....

I say wipe him off the face of the earth.

[trainwreck530]

i completely disagree...michael vick is an incredible athlete. ive seen him make some crazy plays before! shit happens...plus you ever think about it from his point? i dont think so.

this sucks...man i hope for the best:thumbsup:

donny

[ATrain]

i completely disagree...michael vick is an incredible athlete. ive seen him make some crazy plays before! shit happens...plus you ever think about it from his point? i dont think so.

Shit happens? :wtf: Shit like setting up and funding an illegal, and lets not forget morally reprehensible, dog fighting operation? In my opinion he's an incredible athlete, a shitty QB, and a failure as a man.

And by the way, I don't count Vick's actions at the end as "taking responsibility". He denied any involvement to the media, the fans and the commissioner, and the only reason he pled guilty was because they had a enough evidence to bury him. Getting backed into a corner and taking the only way out isn't owning up to his actions, it's taking a bite out of the shit sandwich he fixed for himself.

I hope he never suits up for the NFL again.

[stinkyattic]

michael vick is an incredible athlete. .... shit happens...plus you ever think about it from his point?

I'd tend to agree with you more if he had been charged with a 'crime of passion'- basically, anything NOT premeditated. But what he's been charged with took a lot of planning and sneakery; it wasn't a single bad decision, it was a long STRING of bad decisions, and he could have stopped doing it at any time.

[BathingApes]

Why do people not want him to ever play in the NFL? He is gonna go to jail, and he is going to serve his time. The point of prison is rehabilitation. It doesn't mean that if you go to jail you should never ever ever be allowed to play professional sport etc. The whole point of jail is yes a punishment, but it serves a deeper purpose. Maybe not in the USA but here there is an emphasis on rehabilitation - that is the point of a minimal sentence.

He did something extremely wrong, lied about it, then admitted it. We operate as one, if one of us fails we all do. People shouldn't just be discarded when they make a mistake, no matter how serious. This man did terrible things, but his time served in prison shall be his penance.

I would much rather see a rejuvinated Michael Vick in a few years time playing in the NFL, rather than to see him drift into obscurity never to be seen again..

[psychocat]

Don't know who he is,, nor do I care really.
I do have to say that he should do his time and if he earns another chance then he should be given it.
I am an ex-con and there are enough people who believe drug smugglers should be locked up forever, if that was the case I wouldn't be typing this now.

[ATrain]

Why do people not want him to ever play in the NFL? He is gonna go to jail, and he is going to serve his time. The point of prison is rehabilitation. It doesn't mean that if you go to jail you should never ever ever be allowed to play professional sport etc.

But the NFL is a business and with his thoughtless actions he demonstrated that he isn't concerned with abiding by the rules the NFL has set down, at the expense of the NFL too. Based upon his actions he has forfeited the right to play in the NFL, and I'd personally like to see them hold him to that.

I'm not saying that one criminal conviction should mean that you are kicked out of the league but I think his actions, especially as one of the leagues most identifiable premier players, go above and beyond what is forgivable.

[Divadish]

It could be construde as bringing the NFL into disrepute which i'm sure would be breach of contract on his part with the NFL and the Falcons