Vick's home confinement ends

HAMPTON, Va. (AP) - After 20 months in federal custody for running a dogfighting operation, Michael Vick is officially a free man.

Following a two hour appearance, Vick left Norfolk Federal Court quietly and expressionless Monday, but he did acknowledge a supporter who yelled out, "Go Mike, we got your back baby."

Vick's attorney Larry Woodward and federal probation officers were at Vick's home early Monday morning to remove the ankle monitoring device Vick was required to wear while on home confinement in his Hampton home for the past two months. His new freedom will allow him to step up his efforts to resume his once-lucrative NFL career.

Local Attorney Chris Zaleski says if it's approved, returning to the NFL could be a good thing for Vick.

"One of the benefits would be that he would have a set schedule training camp, the games are already outlined. He is, of course, going to have to get permission to travel out of the state," Zaleski told WAVY.com.

It's a decision NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said he would make after Vick served his sentence. And the next big development for Vick will be a face-to-face meeting with Goodell, who has said he will review the former Atlanta Falcons quarterback's status after he completes his sentence. Goodell has said he will sit down with Vick, but it's unclear when that meeting will take place. Also uncertain is where Vick might play if he is reinstated. The Falcons released him in June.

"Michael did an egregious thing," Goodell told The Associated Press in April. "He has paid a very significant price for that."

He said people are forgiving when someone who has done wrong shows remorse and is prepared to live a different life.

"That's something he has to prove to myself and the general public," Goodell said.

Vick, 29, did not initially show enough remorse to satisfy U.S. District Judge Henry Hudson. Vick apologized in court in 2007, but Hudson denied him an "acceptance of responsibility" credit that could have reduced his sentence. He sentenced Vick to 23 months in prison -- more than any of Vick's three co-defendants.

Under the federal truth-in-sentencing law, Vick had to serve at least 85 percent of his sentence. He served the first 18 months in the federal penitentiary in Leavenworth, Kan., before being transferred to home confinement in May.

While on home confinement, Vick -- once the NFL's highest-paid player -- worked a $10-an-hour construction job for a few weeks. He switched jobs last month, assisting in children's health and fitness programs at the Boys and Girls Clubs.

Below is a statement from the Boys and Girls Club of the Virginia Peninsula regarding Vick's employment with them:

The Boys & Girls Clubs of the Virginia Peninsula (B&GCVP) has a large footprint on the Peninsula, serving over 5,000 youth at 15 Club facilities, spanning the cities of Newport News and Hampton and the counties of York, Gloucester and Mathews. We offer children daily opportunities to engage in life-enhancing youth development programs.

Earlier this summer, our organization, in cooperation with the U.S. Federal Probation Office in Virginia, agreed to permit Michael Vick, a 12-year former member, to fulfill a portion of his probationary requirements by working this summer at our Greater Hampton Roads facility where he belonged as a youth, under the close, structured supervision of Club professional staff.

On July 17, 2009, Michael completed his formal employment with the B&GCVP. We believe that Michael’s employment with the Club was a positive and impactful experience for our Club members. We look forward to working with Michael on future endeavors in the fulfillment of our mission – to help our children become responsible and productive adults. --- Steven S. Cast, President and CEO

Vick will remain on probation for three years. He also is under a three-year suspended sentence for a state dogfighting conviction.