Will You Buy Michael Vick's New Book?

Football Star Claims He's a Changed Man

Three years ago, Michael Vick was the most hated man in America. A former quarterback for the Atlanta Falcons who seemingly had it all, he was arrested in 2007 on charges of organized dog fighting. Going back to at least 2002, authorities claimed Vick and his cohorts housed and trained a small army of pit bulls for the sole purpose of entering them in battles to the death. Dogs that were deemed unfit to fight were killed in a variety of ways. Vick was convicted and spent 21 months behind bars.

These days, Vick says he's made vast changes in both his life and his attitude towards animals. He recently signed a $35.5 million contract with the Philadelphia Eagles and has a new book out, Finally Free, in which he attempts to explain his motives for the crime.

Vick blames the issue on his childhood, attesting he was just eight when he witnessed his first dogfight. He also claims his early years were filled with violence, which left him with a confused sense of right and wrong.

Vick now says he's reformed his ways. "I made a lot of changes for the better," he told USA TODAY, "and I think in my quest to be an advocate against dogfighting and working with the Humane Society, I've helped more animals than I've hurt."

WATCH: Michael Vick's New Ads for the Humane Society

He also says having to tell his son he was going to jail was the hardest thing he's ever done...and he has no intention of being put in that position again.

Is the public ready to forgive him? Only time - and book sales - will tell.