In 2007 it all came crashing down for Michael Vick. While he was a man and accepted his fault and blamed himself for his decisions that led to taking part in dog fighting, even to this day some people still hold it against him. Reflecting now, it seems that even back then he knew that would be the case. After the accusations came to light, Vick hired a company that specializes in restoring the image of individuals, and I think it is safe to say it worked. Hit the jump to see what the plan was.

@IamJoeSports

According to TMZ:

Vick hired a company called “Sitrick & Company” in the summer of 2007 to help him restore his image. The price tag that came along with that was $111,317. If you factor in that 19 months later after the Eagles gave him a chance, and then the following year gave Vick a nice new $100 million dollar contract, I think anyone would agree that $111k was nothing compared to the benefit he got. Here was the outline set by Sitrick & Co.

Step 1 — “Develop media list and identify friendly media sources.”
Translation: Who can we most easily manipulate?

And the media outlets they chose to communicate with — the “Today” show, “60 Minutes,” People Magazine, Newsweek and “Larry King Live.”

Step 2 — Put Vick through intense media training “aimed at regaining initiative in PR war.”

Step 3 — “Prepare list of sympathetic parties in media and community” … hey, ya gotta know who’s on your side.

Step 4 — Knowing when to shut up. On July 31, 2007 Sitrick advised Vick’s legal team on “need to avoid further interviews ahead of planned PR offensive.”

Step 5 — Execute. Vick appeared on “60 Minutes” on August 16. He then faced the media in a news conference on August 27 … and hit it out of the park, accepting blame, accepting punishment and vowing to learn from the experience.

It is now 2013 and honestly when you hear Vick’s name, you pretty much only relate it to football, not prison or dog fighting, and that is exactly what Vick wanted.