Michael Vick's prison sentence for dogfighting is complete

Disgraced NFL star Michael Vick left a federal prison back in May, but his prison term wasn't yet officially over.  Due to lack of space in the halfway house where he was originally intended to spend the last few months of his term, Vick was allowed to return home and serve time under home confinement. 

Today, however, Vick's freedom is official as his 23-month sentence for his part in financing and operating the Bad Newz Kennels dogfighting ring comes to an end. The big question in many sports fans' minds, of course, is if and when Vick will return to football.  He's been suspended from the NFL, and his former team, the Atlanta Falcons, released him from his contract last month.  (The commissioner for a fledgling football league, the UFL, has said Vick would be welcome to play for its Orlando team when it begins play this fall.)  From the Associated Press:

Vick hopes to soon meet with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, who has said he would review Vick's status after Vick completed his sentence.

Goodell has said he wants to sit down with Vick, but it's unclear when that face-to-face meeting will take place.

The former quarterback reportedly "enjoyed placing family pets in the ring with fighting pit bulls and ... laughed as dogs ripped each other apart," a detail that led animal rights group PETA to nix an offer to partner with Vick for an anti-dogfighting public service announcement.

In May, the Humane Society of the United States picked up where PETA left off, announcing that it had agreed to work with the troubled star in its anti-dogfighting campaign.  According to Humane Society President and CEO Wayne Pacelle, Vick grew up around dogfighting and had "never sufficiently questioned it as he grew into manhood."  Pacelle wrote on his blog that Vick told him "he's changed forever. And he said he wants to show the American public that he is committed to helping combat this problem." 

Of course, many speculate that Vick's partnership with the Humane Society is purely a calculated move designed to get him into the NFL's good graces.  Whatever his true motives, it will be interesting to see how this story plays out in the coming months.

RELATED:
More than 400 dogs seized in multistate raid on dogfighting rings
Animal cruelty DVDs as free speech: Will the Supreme Court buy that?
Sports Illustrated features Michael Vick's pit bulls

-- Lindsay Barnett

Photo: Vick arrives for a meeting with his parole officer in Norfolk, Va., May 22.  Credit: Steve Helber / Associated Press

Comments

[christy]

I hate that this guy is out free to do as he will.

[thecanimalshusband]

VIck is a punk thug who tortured far too many dumb animals for fun and profit. He's a menace to society, was given millions and should never be allowed to play football again.

[SHARON]

He has to go. Anyone going to his games if he is allowed to play should boycott instead. You have gone too far when you mess with our beloved dogs.

[Captain Ron]

Another football player got 23 days for hitting a pedestrian and killing him with his car?

[lory G.]

the future will tell if he is REALLY rehabilitated and understands the gravity of his actions. No matter what, he should NOT be playing football ever again. He should get a PR position with the Humane Society.

[JMG]

What he did is horrible. Yes - he served his time. But the fact is - kids look up to this jerk. We expected better from him and he let us down. Movie stars, singers, atheletes - we pay them tons and tons of money and in return - all we ask is that they live honorable lives and not shame their employer or their fans. Kids want to emmulate these high paid people and even though they are just regular people with a certain talent - in trade for their compensation - they should live a respectable life that is worthy of their salary. The fact is - Vick is a thug and feels that he's above the law and that the rules don't apply to him. He wants the fortune and the fame, but also wants to break the law. We'll you can't have it both ways. He had his high profile job and a salary in the millions - and he squandered it all away to be a thug. I don't think he deserves another chance to play ball. I think the NFL needs to do the right thing and get talented guys that will appreciate what they are given and represent their teams and their fans in a respectible manner.

[Trinitron]

I agree with JMG. He is just a thug and shouldn't be allowed to play in the NFL. Why should we give him the opportunity to be a role model again? Look what he has done so far. And his 7 steps to Jesus with the Humane Society isn't going to cut it with me. Let him get a job with his education and see how far he goes.

[Monika Gudsowski]

Michael Vicks did not get a severe enough punishment for what he did. His willingness to fight dogs and not think wnyhting is wrong with it shows a severe character flaw . I wil;l boycott what ever team that would sign him up. and if any company would use him as a spokesperson I would boycott and have my friends coworkers do the same

[JENNIFER]

TO ME THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST SADEST STORY!!I HATE PEOPLE LIKE HIM THAT THINK ITS OK OR ENJOY HURTING ANIMALS THAT CANT SPEAK THERE FEELINGS AND I THINK THAT PEOPLE LIKE HIM DESERVE TO LEARN AND GO TO PRISON AND NEVER EVER BE ALLOWED TO HAVE ANY DOGS FOR THE REST OF HIS LIFE,HE NEEDS TO LEARN HIS LESSON AND KNOW MONEY CANT BUY HIM OUT OF THIS ONE!!!

[shnnnbly]

I am just curious as to the punishment received by Vick's two associates. Were they sentenced to a prison term? Are there community discussions on whether they are allowed to return to work? I am by no means saying what Michael did was right, but I feel all parties involved should receive the same reprimand.

[korah]

Well thats what u get mic i think thats a great amount of time so he gets almost 2 years in prison to think about how rong animal cruelty is

[Jamie]

I happened to disgree! Yes, he was wrong for what he did. Did he serve his time...YES!! And paid his dues. Everything that this man loved was taken away. What MORE do you people want!!!! 2nd chances people.

[L123S4T]

What he did is extremely awful and should carry more consequences, but their are alot of other things that go on that are more corrupt than what he did! What about young kids who are abused and raped in our own society, yet everyone is too worried about how we treat animals. The media is more preoccuppied with Tiger Woods and his wreck, then the little girl or boy who kidnapped and sold into human trafficing. What about this stuff...I think it is absured to give this guy what he wants and that is more media coverage.Instead the media should be blowing up stories of child abuse and neglact. If those issue become the areas that we focus on again, maybe their would be less Michael Vicks in the world.

[Ellie]

they should check the backgrounds this cruel for the dog he should have to face wat the dog has face

[SJC]

He is a human being everybody makes mistakes.I think Micheal Vic has paid his debt to society. Leave him alone and let him get his life back together. And quit hatin' on him!!!

[ryan]

vick made a mistake but he is still a cool dude thats good at football

[Cassandra livia]

mike vicks should be still in jail. he shouldent be out and still playing football even tho he stoped awiel ago still donsent have rights he killed animels he should be in jail for the rest of his life. also me and my teachers and friends think he should be in a dog cage for his jail. i hate that he is out free.

[Ashley]

Michael Vick was guilty of one thing: being a rich, young, black man that gave the white man an opportunity to bring him down. PERIOD. He messed up because he plays a sport that is mostly watched by white people, the same people who give their pets as much importance as they would give a person. I'm glad he's playing again, and hopefully he won't allow people to totally destroy him.

[L.A. Voter]

Ashley, what you write is completely false.

Michael Vick killed dogs, which is a crime. He didn't go to jail because he's black any more than he killed dogs because he's black. He went to jail because he comitted crimes that he, let's not forget, pled GUILTY to.

Caring about animals and their humane treatment is not the exclusive purview of white people, I don't know why you would want to suggest that black people are less humane than white people. I work at an LA shelter and we have great volunteers of every color.

Michael Vick went to jail because he's a sadist and a criminal. If you don't know the truth about what he pled guilty to it's easy enough to find out: just Google "prosecutor's statement of facts Vick case" and "USDA report Vick case." If you have a conscience it's reading that will make you sick.

People aren't still going after Vick because he's black either; they're going after him because he's making 1.3 million dollars playing football, which is an inherently high-profile and prestigious position that many people feel he has forfeited his right to because of his crimes (which, again, he PLED GUILTY TO). We also don't like the fact that he is only ever sorry about what happened to him, not to his dogs.

I don't hate anyone because of their color. But I have nothing but contempt for millionaires who kill dogs for kicks.

[Angela]

i think Michael Vick have done a sufficient amount of time for his conviction..Yes, what he did was wrong, and punishment have been served, but is he the only one in the professional industry?? Or have he to taken the fall for others with higher rank in the industry? If you look at the situation good or bad,and compare it with murders,drug killings, and gangs that kill for acceptance. A "Life" is a life, and there going to be sorrow regardless if its human or not.

[Keela]

I think that no one should hold a grudge against Vick. Yes, he did a horrible thing, but no one is perfect. Michael Vick is only human just like all the rest of us. Everyone has and still to this day makes mistakes. God didn't put us on earth as perfect people. He put us here so we could learn and live the life of him. Vick was dumb and did something very stupid, but while all of you people on here hold grudges against him, God is forgiving his mistakes. Just think of the time you made a horrible mistake and you thought no one would ever forgive you for it. You learned from it right? Maybe this is the mistake that Vick has to learn from. How do you know that he hasn't changed his perspective towards animals?? No one knows but him and the Lord. Everyone deserves a second chance, and this is Vick's second chance. Yeah, if he messes it up this time...hold your grudges, but for now just let it go. You writing on here about it is not solving anything but you getting even more mad and holding a stronger grudge. GIVE VICK THE SECOND CHANCE THAT YOU ALL GIVE YOURSELVES, OR ANYONE ELSE THAT YOU LOVE!! Stop holding this grudge and forgive him.

[jmitchell]

People spend less time in prison for murder and sexual offenses. He served his time so let's move on. The qb for Phittsburgh assulted a female and he only got suspended for a few games yet we continue to praise him for the good job he does. I just feel the punishment fit the crime and he has learned from his mistake.

[Ben]

Vick should do more time. Why should he get away with 1 year and 11 months. Dogs are like children. They diserve the same respect as you.

[none]

This guy should totally know better. Heres a URL to another site that has more info on what he did,

http://articles.cnn.com/2007-07-17/us/vick_1_bad-newz-kennels-dogfighting-investigation-quanis-phillips?_s=PM:US