WASHINGTON - Michael Vick will be practicing this week with the Philadelphia Eagles as he restarts his sports career after serving time in prison for dogfighting.

He wants fans to know he's changed and hopes to change others as well.

In an interview with 60 Minutes Sunday night, Vick took responsibility for running and bankrolling a dogfighting ring. "There is no way of explaining the hurt and the guilt that I felt, and that was the reason I cried so many nights," he said.

"The first day I walked into prison and they slammed that door, I knew the magnitude of the decisions that I make and the poor judgment and what I allowed to happen to the animals," added Vick.

Vick was convicted for training dogs in death matches and killing those who underperformed by shooting, drowning, hanging and electrocution. Some of those dogs are being rehabilitated at the Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in Utah including Cherry, a former bait dog who is now terrified of people.

Vick is now working with the Humane Society of the United States. "He has so far made appearances in Atlanta and Chicago and spoken to men who are either involved in dogfighting or at risk of being involved in dogfighting and delivered a pretty good message," said John Goodwin of the Humane Society of the United States.

But forgiveness might take a while for some, judging by signs like "Hide Your Beagle, Vick's an Eagle."

"Honestly, I think the general public will think it's just a ploy, you know, to get back in the good graces of the public," said Wayne Zinc, a Herndon resident.

Daniel Wolff, a young athlete from Northwest D.C. thinks Vick's story will resonate with many. "He had a great life. He was really famous, one of the best football players and then because of dogfighting it all just went away," he said.

The Humane Society expects Vick to make about two appearances a month speaking against dogfighting. There's no word on when or if he'll visit Washington.  

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