After being released from prison, Michael Vick was granted forgiveness by the NFL. Getting the same forgiveness from the public at large, however, will be much harder for him. He is taking the right course and has begun speaking to students and youth groups about peer pressure and showing that even those who have everything can lose it by being in the wrong crowd.
Vick spoke to 200 very attentive Philadelphia high school freshman about the dangers of peer pressure and asked them to make the right choices by resisting the urge to simply follow the crowd.
“Growing up, I had dreams and I always wanted to have this great, lavish life and make it to the NFL, go and accomplish great things and leave a great legacy. That was my goal from a young kid,” Vick said. “My future was promising … at some point, I got sidetracked. I started listening to my friends and doing some things that were not ethical and not right.”
He told them that even though people may seem to be your friends, you must be sure that they are and that they have your best intentions in mind as well.
“I was influenced by so many people when I should have been a leader, not a follower.”
For the first time he spoke in public without notes and opened up a little about how he felt in prison.
“I didn’t choose to go the right way, which led to 18 months in prison, which was the toughest time of my life,” he said. “Being away from my family, being away from my kids who I adore dearly, and being away from the game of football, doing something so foolish, and I wish I could take it all back.”
Just three years ago Vick was the highest paid player in the NFL and had the skills to be one of the best quarterbacks to ever play football. After being found guilty of being involved in a dog fighting ring that included the killing and torturing of animals, Vick went to prison for 18 months. When he was released he associated himself with a much better crowd which included ex-coach of the Indianapolis Colts, Tony Dungy and president/CEO of the Humane Society, Wayne Pacelle. With the help of Dungy, who is highly regarded as one of the most highly moral and “stand-up” guys in the NFL, Vick was able to play football again and signed with the Philadelphia Eagles.
Pacelle visited and met with Vick on several occasions while in prison and has allowed Vick to align himself with the society on “a national campaign to try to reach especially young people so we can all be voices against organized animal fighting,” specifically dogfighting and cockfighting.
So far Vick has been remorseful and sincere in his attempts to reform his life. Only time will tell if it is just a passing phase or if he really is a changed man. For more insight please read the article How Do You Talk About Michael Vick With Your Kids?
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