Michael Vick got flushed out of the pocket back in 2007 when federal prosecutors filed felonydogfighting charges against him and forced him to make the most import decision of his life—take a sack and spend some time in jail or try and run away from his problems and do everything he could to avoid the consequences of his illegal dogfighting ring. Eventually, Vick chose the first option and gave up everything in order to put his dogfighting days behind him. But, in his new book, Finally Free, the Eagles QB admits that he did think about trying to lie his way through the dogfighting scandal. In fact, he started to try and lie about everything before eventually thinking better of it.
"I knew how to lie with a straight face," he writes in the book. "Sad to say, Commissioner Goodell bought into what I was saying, and I think he truly believed that I was telling the truth. I deeply regret not telling him the truth from the outset. It was a very nervous time for me. I knew I was going to try and lie my way through the whole dogfighting case and see if money, good lawyers, and manipulating the system could get me out of the position I was in—which was a terrible position."
In the book, Vick also discusses just how focused he was on dogfighting. And, it's a little surprising to hear him admit how involved he got in it.
"Back when I was involved in those activities, I may have become more dedicated to the deep study of dogs than I was to my Falcons playbook," he writes. "I became better at reading dogs than reading defenses. That's just so sad to say right now, because I put more time and effort into trying to master that pursuit than my own profession."
That is pretty sad. Fortunately, though, Vick has finally gotten his career—and, more importantly, his life—together. "Finally free," indeed. Look for the book to hit stores on September 4.
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[via Shutdown Corner]
