Michael Vick has told his story many times to reporters and fans. Now the Philadelphia Eagles quarterback is putting pen to paper for an autobiography that will be released July 27.
"Michael Vick: Finally Free," co-written with former Charlotte Observer reporters Charles Chandler and Brett Honeycutt, will cover the quarterback's childhood, his early football career and his rise to stardom with the Atlanta Falcons. He'll move on to his 19-month federal prison stay after he pleaded guilty to dogfighting charges, then discuss his signing with the Eagles in 2009 and the resurrection of his NFL career.
Former NFL coach Tony Dungy, who mentored Vick upon his release from prison, wrote the foreword. In it, he says: "Finally Free tells an amazing story. It's not pretty, but it's real. If you're like me -- if you've ever done something in your life you wish you could take back, it will encourage you to learn that we serve a God of second chances and live in a country of second chances."
Vick made the most of his second chance, taking over Philadelphia's quarterback job last season and posting career highs in passer rating (100.2), passing yards (3,018) and touchdown passes (21). He received NFL Comeback Player of the Year honors.
"I get tired of talking about the prison experience, but you know, it's therapeutic to me," Vick recently told inner-city students in North Philadelphia. "(Prison) made me a better person. I probably wouldn't change a thing in my life."
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
