Q: Your new shirts say, 'It's not how you start it's how you finish.' What does that mean to you?

Vick: I think the slogan has a lot of merit to it. Not just for me but for anybody in life who has their share of ups and downs and go through things that can be overcome. Life is a marathon ... and I think the more we grasp that and understand that, the more we feel like we can overcome certain mistakes if they're not too major.

VICK'S BOOK: Excerpts from 'Finally Free'

VIDEO: Vick reflects on life with USA TODAY

EXCLUSIVE: Vick acknowledges dogfighting past, looks ahead

Q: Why write a book about your life at this point?

Vick: I run into so many people who feel like they don't have any hope after they make a mistake, or after they can't overcome certain obstacles in their life, or they put themselves in a position that is detrimental to their well being. I just want them to know that there's several roadblocks you're going to run into. I did it. I was blessed to have people around me to help me get back in a position where I could be successful, but it can happen for them too. Even though you may fall, you have to get up.

I also wanted to give people a general understanding of me. My fans, when they meet me, it's brief. They don't really know me. They want to talk to me, they want to get to know me and know more about me. Just me being personable, I feel like is important.

Q: You've written a story about your life, but what you hope will be the biggest part, hasn't come.

Vick: That's the intriguing part about it. I'm making certain predictions about what I think should fall in line for me. Predictions about this season. We'll all have a chance to read the book and see what I'm thinking and what the outcome will be at the end of this year. I also talked about my life in the past, present and future and some of the things I had to go through that many people don't go through. Especially being in the position I was in, being a quarterback in the NFL and having to go to prison. Things that I just can't comment on or elaborate on on certain levels to certain people. But in the book you get a chance to understand what my life entailed in those two years.

Q: Can you recall that feeling that the dogfighting wasn't the right thing to do? When did that creep into your mind?

Vick: I talk about that in the book. The feeling of when I started to feel like I needed to turn the corner. The things that I'd rather not talk about right now. I'd rather people read it. Because I think when you read it you're able to develop your own visualization of that moment, and it's all the truth. Sometimes people look at you while you're talking and they read facial expressions. And I think when you're reading a book, it's more merit to what's being said. It's personal.

Q: As a quarterback you have to be the face of the franchise. You couldn't hide from what you did. Is the book part of that process?

Vick: I don't think writing a book is part of that. I think it's just me wanting to let the people that inquire about my life know exactly what happened in my life. It has nothing to do with football. It's something that I'm able to do. I'm able to speak freely on, had an opportunity to do and I'm doing it. It's not to please anybody but the people who want to know, and the people who might want to change their perception of me. Whether that happens or not, I don't know. But hopefully they'll read the book and walk away from it and say, 'Yeah, maybe there was some circumstances that led to unfortunate decisions and bad judgment.' Which is not an excuse.

Q: In the NFL, your window is so small. The average age is 27. You're 32, making you something of a senior citizen. Do you feel a sense of urgency to accomplish everything you want to in that window?

Vick: I think me setting a goal at a young age to make it to the NFL pretty much was my big accomplishment. Everything else that comes along with that is just incentive, perks. You set more goals as you get into the league and you aspire to do more. That's a big accomplishment for me. Now that I'm at the age of 32 I still feel good and I'm probably in better shape than most of the kids that come into the league because of my genetics and my body. So at this point I'm happy with where I'm at. I feel like there's a lot to accomplish and a lot to gain, but I'm content with what the Lord has blessed me with and I just let him lead me. If there's great things in store, we'll see.

Q: How did the game change from when you left it, to when you returned?

Vick: The game of football has become more and more complicated. And that's the way it will be. It won't change. Especially in my position. That's part of being a great one. Being able to take in all those tasks and put it into fruition on the field. The game has changed a lot, but I've been blessed to have Howard Mudd as a coach, who coached Peyton Manning, who really changed my way of thinking, my outlook on the game and what it takes to be successful.

Q: You told the rookies at the symposium that if you cross (Commissionner Roger) Goodell, he'll be 'all the way turned up.'

Vick: Yeah, I experienced that on my own dealing with Roger Goodell on several occasions. Cordial conversations where I had to be honest. At times I did and at times I didn't. I learned a valuable lesson, just not to play with him. He's one of the most loving guys out there. He'll do anything for you, help you out in whatever way he can. But if you cross him, it doesn't sit well. And I just want them to understand that. Before you make a decision and put your career in jeopardy, do something detrimental, think about the way this guy's going to react, because I've dealt with him, probably on the scale where no one else has dealt with him.



Q: With all the talk about concussions and the new information out there, would you have any qualms about your son playing?

Vick: With the new technology that they have, I think it's more catered to preventing concussions. I would want my son to play football, but it's something that's not in his blood. It's something that he doesn't want to do right now and I'm not going to push him. But I think for all the kids out there who play, it's a drive to make the game a safer game. Nobody wants kids to be hurt. Nobody wants adults to be hurt. With all the technology that we have, cell phones and text messages, why can't we make better equipment? It's coming. The game is going to be safe. And I think the thing is for everybody playing to go out and not think about injury. Go out and have fun.