>> i just fell into that trap and started believing what i wanted to believe. >> plus, the one man who might just scare even michael vick. russell brand. unpredictable, dangerous, outspoken and very, very funny. >> shut up, piers! >> all right, that's enough. off you go. we'll be right back. get off. russell brand. who knows what might happen? this is "piers morgan tonight." good evening. our big story tonight. he was on top of the world as the star quarterback for the atlanta falcons. a record $130 million contract. millions more in endorsements. but it all came crashing down in 2007. when the police raided the house he owned and uncovered an illegal dog fighting r ining ri. he spent 18 months in prison. he declared bankruptcy in 2008. and was released from prison the following year. now he's the starting quarterback for the philadelphia eagles. did he ever expect to make such a spectacular comeback? he tells the story of his long road to redemption in his book "finally free, an autobiography." michael vick joins me. welcome. >> thanks for having me. >> what does "finally free" mean? >> the title speaks for itself. i think finally free. frame of mind, you know, free in the body, free in the soul. ready to take that step forward and, you know, leave the past in the past. something that -- i wanted to do a long time ago. from the time i picked up the pen and started writing the book. so now it's here. finally coming to true wish. >> what did you learn about yourself? when you finished the book and you covered this extraordinary story? what did you learn about michael vick? >> i learned i wasn't as forth right as i always wanted to be and thought i could be. being in prison, you have a lot of time to sit back and think about, you know, the thinks that you didn't do so right. and, you know, as -- knowing myself, i know i was supposed to do those things correctly, you know, so i felt like i was a liar in a sense. i wanted to change it. but it was too late. i was in the dark in a prison cell with no opportunity to, you know, explain, you know, or even, you know, ask for forgiveness. >> what was the lowest moment for you, of the whole thing? >> i think the lowest moment was when i had to tell my son i was going to prison and i was going for two years. >> it came up on television. you were watching television with him. >> correct. >> and up flashes this news you may be going to prison for several years. and there's your young son. he screams out. like, what is this? how do you deal with this? >> he just broke down crying. it should bed eshocked me beca think he was able to understand the prison concept and what it meant. but i think he seen it so much and it became so repetitive that -- being a young kid, you know, they're a lot smarter these days than we were. he picked up on it. he just knew it wasn't good. it wasn't, you know, pictures of me smiling and pictures of gratitude. it was pictures of me walking into a courthouse. then saying derogatory things at the moment. >> when you came to tell him what you had done, it's a hard thing for a father to do. >> it's tough. >> how did you explain it? >> well, the situation came about when his mom told me he had been getting teased by some of his friends at school. which is solely my fault. which is a situation that was out of my control. so i really didn't have to sit him down and explain. he came to me. and, you know, what can you tell a kid that's, you know, 4 years old, 4 1/2 years old who, you know, don't understand exactly what dog fight mean. don't understand why his dad is going to jail. and, you know, really can't understand the explanation in detail. and how deep it was. and the only thing i could tell him was i was leaving. >> hard moment. >> tough moment. toughest moment of my life. tougher than any football game that i've lost. tougher than any sack that i've taken. any amount of money that i've lost. >> reading your story a few things sprung out at me. why you ended up where you did. you've got to understand some of your background, where you grew up in virginia. the kind of culture you grew up in. the streetses you grow up in. it was a violent place. you say in the book there was one summer where you heard gunfire every single night. >> right. >> of that summer. i can't even imagine that kind of existence. you know, i grew up in a leafy little village on the south coast of england. it's a totally alien concept to me. tell me about what it is like to live in that kind of atmosphere. >> you know, it's a very forbidden place sometimes. it can seem that way, you know. you try to make the most out of it. at the present time, you don't see what's around you, you know. you living in the moment. and you really don't understand, you know, how detrimental it is, you know, to the environment. and, you know, hearing gunshots every night, seeing all forms of violence. you just think it's the norm and -- >> does it desensitize violence? to me, the concept of dog fighting, and we'll come to that, is horrific. but then i was never brought up in a situation where it seemed normal. >> yeah, it make it seem like, you know, violence isn't something that everybody's against, you know, make it seem like it's right, you know, because it's so consistent. night in, night out, you know, day in and day out. so, you know, you start to believe that, you know, there's no consequences behind it. and that's unfortunate -- >> it's meaningless -- >> and it's unfortunate. >> you say, one day a friend and i stepped outside of the building. you go into detail of this. you said then you were scared to death of dogs you didn't know. you jumped on a mailbox to watch it. they would grab and they would fight. i remember two of them were fighting when a third smaller dog jumped on the back of one of the larger dogs to make it two on one. i didn't know what to think of it all. in a way it capture my attention but it also seemed mean, even cruel. the bottom line, though, is that on that very day, my fascination with dog fighting began. i wish it had never happened. what you saw as an 8-year-old boy, although horrific, seemed exciting to you, did it? >> yeah, because, you know, i always had a passion for animals and i always had a dog. i kept a dog wherever i could keep it. i always snuck a dog somewhere. took care of it, you know, with my own money. however i could get it. but the day i seen a dog fight, something changed. i didn't know dogs would react in the way that they did. and, you know, i thought it may seem intriguing, you know, nobody ever said it was not the right thing to do or that it was wrong. and not making excuses for anybody because, you know, nobody has to tell you anything. you know, you only go off what you see. at such a young age. and, you know, i just fell into that trap and started believing what i wanted to believe. and it was never a point in my life where somebody tried to correct me or said that this was wrong. as i grew up, i continued to think that, you know, it wasn't any consequences behind it or that i would never get in trouble for it. >> people will -- they'll read the book and they'll see you claiming you're a dog lover. and they'll say, how can you be a dog lover when you killed a lot of dogs because they were too weak to fight. >> yeah. >> when you enjoyed and made money from dogs fighting. how can you be both? how can you be a dog lover who enjoys doing that too? >> i know it may seem contradictory but, you know, that's just the person that i was. you know, on one hand i love dogs. on the other hand, you know, i was in love with the competition behind it. and, you know, for some reason i couldn't really see, you know, the meaning behind it or why i was really doing it. what really fascinated me, you know, other than just being involved. and, you know, somebody would have told me that -- at a young age that you would go to prison for it, then i think i would have went in a different direction. because my whole life was predicated on me accomplishing my one dream and that's making it to the nfl. and if it was any, you know, obstacle that would stand in my way, i would, you know -- i would avoid it. and that was just the set of advice that i never, ever received. and i think if i would have, i would have -- you know, i would have used it correctly like i did in other situations. >> did nobody say to you, stay clear of this? no parent, no friend? >> nobody. nobody knew, you know. it took place in places where, you know, you would have never thought -- >> a dark secret -- >> the times night you would have never thought of, you know, unforbidden, unseen. it was an underground world, you know, that we lived in. >> did you -- be honest here. when you were dog it, did you enjoy it? >> you know, i enjoyed the competition aspect of it. you know, as far as the cruelness and the grooming part of it and just being honest and being candid, no. you know, i wish it had been done a different way. but, you know, to be honest if i said i didn't then i would be lying. but that's just the person that i was. and that's what, you know, that's what i believed in. that's what i thought was, you know, satisfactory to me. >> let's take a short break, michael. want to come back and deal with the consequences of what you were doing with the dog fighting. in your case, turned out to be catastrophic. one of the great downfalls in sporting history. ♪ why not make lunch more than just lunch? 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>> just before the war came crashing down on your life, you were the $130 million super star. everyone loved you. you were one of the most thrilling players in the history of the nfl, many said. >> right. >> again, be honest with me, what kind of person did that take you into? suddenly nothing. this incredible superstar life. did it make you somebody that now you don't really recognize? >> yeah, it did. growing up and being raised with outstanding morals and values, you know, that was instilled in me from my mom, you know, and my dad, you know, i sort of became a person that i didn't really know. you know, i was always humble. always respectful. and i continued to stay that way. but at some point, a splash of arrogance i think overtook me. i can honestly say i let money change me. in a sense. you know, anytime that happens, that's a recipe for disaster. and it led me down a dark road. >> i mean, you say money changed you. i think it would change anybody, that kind of money. never mind somebody who's had literally nothing. to suddenly have $135 million attached to your name. >> at 24 years old, that was a lot. being 32 now and looking back, i just understand the magnitude of, you know, how my life ch changed so much. and, you know, i had all the right people around me, giving me the right advice. it was just mike's world. i wanted to do it my way and my way only. and, you know, like i said, it's just a situation where you kind of lose sight of what's right and, you know, head down a dead end road. >> now, that day in 2007 when the police raided this house, they took 66 dogs away, and the dead bodies of 8 more. what did you think the moment you heard this has happened? >> i was on the golf course. you know, probably playing one of the best games in my life. i just immediately thought that everything was going to come crashing down. and, you know, five seconds later, started to think of how can i turn it around. what could i do? what could save and salvage the situation? but i knew that it was -- the investigation was going to be deeper and, you know, somebody was going to try to figure out what was going on. so immediately i was just trying to find out what i could do to get myself out of it and try to turn that corner. >> you lied to the nfl bosses and you expressed bitter regret for that. they were decent people who deserved people. you've admitted that in the book. what about yourfamily? did you lie to them? >> i lied to my mom. you know, she really didn't know what was going on. i think i heard just from people, word of mouth, i was engaged in illegal activity. but, you know, she couldn't put a finger on. and nobody else knew. >> what was the moment you told your mother the truth? >> i told her the truth the day i got arraigned. >> and that must have been another very difficult moment. >> man, it was very difficult. >> how did she react? >> she was just upset, disappointed. i think my mom cried for, you know, four or five days, you know, straight. and everybody else around me who, you know, loved me and cared about me. because they just didn't think that it would go that far. they didn't think i would end up going to prison eventually. and, you know, dramatic change for everybody's life. >> there was a very poignant part of the book where you were on your way to prison with you then fiance i think it was. and you got married two weeks ago. congratulations. we'll come to the happy ending later. tell me about that. drive as you're heading towars s incarceration. >> it's the longest drive ever. i don't care if it's 100 miles away or 2 miles away. you know, you reflect on everything that you had. you know, everything that you won't have and what you're leaving. and, you know, you kind of wake yourself up and tell yourself that it's real. >> you cried. you were very emotional. >> i cried all the way to the prison. i mean, all the way up till i -- till i got out the car. and, you know, walked up to the guards and put my hands in handcuffs. and even then, you know, i still you know felt like at some point this was just a dream and i was going -- i wake up, somebody was going to come and relieve me. >> when you got inside prison for someone like you, you're this hugely famous incredibly rich super star reduced to just the ranks of a number if a prison cell. as the days went on and reality kicked in, it became hard, right, those first few weeks? >> harder. harder. the first day was tough. second day was tough. the third, fourth and fifth day when it start to settle in that you're not going home and you're talking to your family and, you know, they're feeling the same way that you feel. it's no form of jubilation, you know, it's all sadness, you know, from my sinister acts. there's no explanation for it. there's no way of consoling anybody. there's no way of consoling myself. and the only thing we could do is be strong and deal with it. but it's hard to be strong sometimes. you know, we're only human, you know, and -- >> the interesting thing about you, very polarizing figure, as you know. when i announced i was doing the interview on my twitter, it went crazy, good and bad. many people saying good, the guy served his time, he deserves his redemption. you're playing better than you ever have. a lot other people say, i'll be honest with you, you know, don't have this guy on, he's a dog killer, he's a horrible human being. he's not reformed. you're on twitter. you probably have the same comments to deal with. what do you say to those who say the crime you did was just so awful, you shouldn't be allowed to play football anymore? >> i overlook it. that's the reason i wrote this book, you know, so people can have a general understanding of my life. the origin of, you know, dog fighting. what i went through. because some of them may be naive and not know. and i try not to dwell on people's thoughts and their perception because i know i can't change what everybody thinks. >> do you blame them or do you understand it? >> i understand it. i don't blame them. you know, i do believe that everybody's entitled to a second chance. i'm pretty sure those same people are, you know, not saints and having gone through that life and done everything right. you know, so, you know, you can't be hypocritical in a sense. if that person is a person who, you know, has lived their life with no regrets and done everything right and very successful, than i understand. you know, but, you know, it's a lot of sinister acts going on in this world. and this was a situation that needed attention. that's why i'm working with the humane society. and there's a lot of other things that's going on that needs attention as well. so that may be the reason, you know, i went through what i went through. to help other people to not go through the situation i went through. >> let's take another break. i want to come back and talk about the good stuff that came after all this terrible stuff. the redemption. the career back on track. back with your family. hey america, even though they don't need one, wes, clay and demarcus tried on the new depend real fit briefs for charity to prove how great the fit is even while playing pro football. the best protection now looks, fits and feels just like underwear. get a free sample and try one on for yourself. because vitamin d3 helps bones absorb calcium, caltrate's double the d. it now has more than any other brand to help maximize calcium absorption. so caltrate women can move the world. to help maximize calcium absorption. this is new york state. we built the first railway, the first trade route to the west, the greatest empires. then, some said, we lost our edge. well today, there's a new new york state. one that's working to attract businesses and create jobs. a place where innovation meets determination... and businesses lead the world. the new new york works for business. find out how it can work for yours at thenewny.com. whatever i would say to anybody who's out there who's currently fighting dogs, it's not the right thing to do. just read between the lines. understand that. you're going to have a pet, you're going to have an animal, you need to treat it with the utmost respect. you know, do something more productive with your life instead of taking animals and conducting a pointless activity. >> that's from michael vick's new psa for the humane society. i'm not going to overdo the credit for what i guess most people say is what -- the least you should be doing. what i'm interested in is how you felt when you came out of prison. obviously a great day for you to get back with your family. >> right. >> a great passage in the book when you're reunited with your daughter. hadn't seen for six months. before that, she just had seen through this screen. >> glass. >> what was that moment like for you? >> i was elated to get back home to my family more than anything