Barstool Sports

USA Today – On dogfighting: “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 (Vick played in Atlanta from 2001-06). 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 … which was my livelihood … which put food on the table for my family.”

On lying to NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell: “I knew how to lie with a straight face. Sad to say, Commissioner Goodell bought into what I was saying, and I think he truly believed me 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 to 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.”

On turning himself into federal custody: “We were 45 miles away, so we had just under an hour to get composed and enjoy what little time we had left. Then we were 30 miles … 20 miles away … 10 miles away.”
“Babe, let’s go back,” Kijafa Frink (Vick’s then-fiancee, now his wife) would say over and over. “Let’s run away.”
“When we pulled up to the courthouse, Kijafa looked me dead in the eyes. ‘Don’t go,’ she said. ‘Don’t leave.’ Then she started crying. … Then I started crying. The pain they felt — it was all my fault.”
On being a prisoner: “I was no longer No. 7, the football player. I was inmate No. 33765-183, and I couldn’t change that, regardless of the fact that this number definitely didn’t fit me. I had that number on every day. I had to write it on each piece of mail that I sent out. It will forever be embedded in my brain.”

On lobbying Congress for animal welfare law: “I wanted to make real tangible and positive changes on behalf of animal welfare. The trip to Congress is another step toward fulfilling my promise to help more animals than I hurt.

On trying to win a Super Bowl: “My story is not finished. I have more to do. I have something that I want give back to everyone that supported me. Here it is: I am committed, focused and determined to win a Super Bowl with the Philadelphia Eagles. This is my promise. It is my drive. I will work like a champion to get there. I want to do it for my family, friends, mentors, coaches, teammates, and fans. I want to do it for Philly.”

A lot of you are probably going to take this the wrong way, but at least the guy was good at what he did. I mean, if you’re going to participate in an activity that breaks state and federal laws as well as the rules of basic human decency, at least be good at it. And, according to MV7′s new book, he was.

I’m sure there are hundreds of NFL players right now who don’t have a skill in the world outside of football. Can’t write, can’t add, can’t rap, can’t sing, can’t dance…probably can’t even play Madden that well. Just losers cruising through life on the strength of that one talent. It’s a shame more young men don’t dedicate themselves to multiple pursuits. Vick was an All-Pro in the NFL AND the kingpin of a complex multi-state animal fighting operation. In no way am I saying that more players’ secondary mastery should come in dogfighting, but there are plenty of dudes who wish they could say they were as good as something as they are at football.

Just goes to show you how talented the guy is. Rocket arm, once-in-a-generation quickness, and the hidden talent of being a trained dog whisperer. More often than not he probably read the dog’s face to say something like “holy shit this hurts” or “I’m gonna kill this other dog”, but as a guy who gets barked at by every canine I meet I’m still impressed.

Win us that Super Bowl, Mike.  GO BIRDS.