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Vick Practices With Steelers, Says "Can't Take Back What Happened In The Past"

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- It was a controversial signing, but Wednesday afternoon, Michael Vick was on the practice field with the Pittsburgh Steelers to workout with the team.

He signed with the Steelers within hours of arriving in town Tuesday. He replaces an injured Bruce Gradkowski as the team's backup quarterback.

Vick was wearing No. 2.

He comes to town with a large resume of work, first with the Atlanta Falcons, which was interrupted by a two-year prison term on dogfighting charges. He then played for the Philadelphia Eagles and the New York Jets.

But at 35-years-old and no offers in free agency, Vick was waiting and hoping for another chance.

"I just didn't understand why, but I just kept my faith, kept working hard because I knew at some point, eventually, I would get a shot," he said. "It was just different being in that situation after being a starter for so many years, pretty much being a marquee player in this league, so it just motivated me to try to get back to that status."

Vick says he knows head coach Mike Tomlin well.

"Mike Tomlin and I go way back," he said. "I always attended his football camps, always come out and help him in any way that I could, and he's a phenomenal man, very smart, very competitive, very passionate about what he do, and I'm thankful to have the opportunity to play for him."

And becoming a Steeler has provided some motivation for the embattled quarterback.

"To walk in and see six Lombardi trophies in the front, it's motivating, so I understand why this team is always motivated the way it is and Mike Tomlin pushes this team the way he does," Vick said. "I'm just glad to be a part of it. It's something I needed in my life, and I feel like I'm in a great position and a great place."

As for his dogfighting conviction, Vick says everyone makes mistakes and now he's trying to do the right thing.

"I'm used to this, it's nothing different than what I went through in New York and Philadelphia, but it is what it is. I'm a professional, I play for a professional football team and this is what I expect," said Vick.

Vick says he plans to reach out to the Humane Society here in Pittsburgh

"Pretty much the reaction in the beginning is kind of crazy and irate, in some regards, not all the time and not everywhere. You still got your people who feel a certain type of way about what happened, but I think you've got to look at the right I'm trying to do. You can't take back what happened in the past," he says. "Everybody's different what they're 20 then when they're 35. You can't fault people for some of the mistakes you make in life, if that was the case you'd have a lot of people who wouldn't get a second chance and wouldn't be successful."

There's no word yet on when he will play, but he is expected to get onto the field during the Steelers next pre-season game Saturday against the Buffalo Bills.

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