"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."

Most of the media reports dropped the following comments from their summaries of the statement.

"I'm upset with myself, and, you know, through this situation I found Jesus and asked him for forgiveness and turned my life over to God."

The 'blogosphere' is filled with comments that Vick is merely trying to save his behind and that he is anything but contrite. The critics may be right. But they may also be wrong. Sometimes when a man or woman hits bottom they are finally in the right position to look up (I got that from my Pastor, eh-hem, Dr. Stephen B. Hall).

Time will only tell whether Michael Vick is sincere. You don't know. I don't know. Only God can look into the heart of Michael Vick and know if his words are real. I really hate what Michael Vick did (yeah, the dog thing was bad, but mostly everything that goes along with it like letting down his fans, continuing to distort the image of African-American Athletes, and losing all that money...frankly, if he wanted to just give it away, we really could have used it at Rhema! lol). But in all seriousness, I don't hate HIM, nor can I judge him.

Vick took some very good steps with his comments.

"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."

I suppose there is little or no chance that Michael Vick will read these ramblings. If he did I would tell him that he can repair his reputation with the help of wise counsel (namely my pastor, the greatest pastor in the world, Dr. Stephen B. Hall lol again!). But redemption requires the power of God. Vick says he has made that commitment. Mercy may not come from the public but mercy comes running when you call the name of Jesus (got that from my man, Min. Wyatt Coleman). I pray that he is being real. Time will tell.

***P.s. As long as I am offering my opinion: Yes, I think that Michael Vick should be allowed to play...a year to 5 years is kind of extensive for killing dogs, when a lady (the preacher's wife) just got released from prison after only 80 days for killing her husband (then again, we have proven time and again that animals are more important than human lives)...and just as an 'off the wall' comment~ Rev. Al Sharpton is one of those people that you have to dislike the things they do rather than dislike the person (if I feel like later, I'll blog on him ALONE).