Richmond, Va. — Falcons quarterback Michael Vick, shortly after saying "guilty" to conspiracy dogfighting charges Monday, embraced his pregnant girlfriend in a federal courtroom as tears rolled down her face.

For Vick, this was the official public end of the innocence.

The dazzling quarterback, three-time Pro Bowler and expecting father was now officially a convicted felon, with his sentencing hearing in December. His term as NFL superstar was over, replaced by a prison term. His $130 million contract reduced to the pennies a day he would collect as a prisoner.

A silver Range Rover pulled up to the Lewis F. Powell, Jr. Courthouse steps at 10:19 a.m. Monday. Vick, suspended indefinitely by the NFL last week, slowly emerged from the passenger side of the vehicle.

He walked over to his lead attorney Billy Martin and shared a brief word before U.S. marshals escorted them into the building.

About four minutes earlier, Vick's mother Brenda Boddie, his girlfriend, former teammate Keion Carpenter and other family members took their seats on the first row of Judge Henry E. Hudson's courtroom.

After the hearing and its emotional ending, Vick stepped before a podium in the packed ballroom of a local hotel and finally broke his silence about his legal situation. Camera shutters fired as he began to speak. He did not read from a prepared statement and did not take any questions.

"For most of my life, I've been a football player," Vick started out, the sounds of cameras clicking furiously. "I'm not a public speaker. ... So, I'll take this opportunity to speak from the heart."

Vick apologized to NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, Falcons owner Arthur Blank, head coach Bobby Petrino and his teammates for not being honest when the dogfighting investigation started.

"I was ashamed and totally disappointed in myself, to say the least," Vick said.

Vick also denounced dogfighting, which he mentioned just once in his statement, and agreed to make restitution to the courts within 10 days for keeping the more than 50 dogs that were seized on his Surry County, Va. property.

"Dogfighting is a terrible thing and I did reject it," Vick said.

While this process has unfolded, Vick has found religion.

"... through this situation I found Jesus," Vick said, "and asked him for forgiveness and turned my life over to God."

Carpenter, a former safety who played with Vick at Virginia Tech and with the Falcons, confirmed he has accepted religion.

"God speaks to us in a lot of different ways," Carpenter said. "Like I told him, this situation is not about dogs with you. It's about cleaning your house up.

"He's had to clean his house up. God is telling [Vick] to get some folk from around you. Clean your mess up and come to him. As we go to God, we have to be broken.

"Michael Vick is broken right now, and he's able to receive the message that God has given him right now."

Vick also apologized to the children who considered him a role model.

"What I did was very immature. So that means I need to grow up," Vick said.

While Martin described this investigation as a "tragic incident," Vicks said he hoped that children learn from the bad decisions he made.

"I hope that every young kid out there who's watching this interview right now or who's been following the case can use me as an example to use some better judgment and make better decisions," Vick said.

As far as playing football again, Vick did not directly address his plans, hopes or desires.

"I will redeem myself," Vick said. "I have to. So I got a lot of down time. A lot of time to think about my actions and what I've done. I have to make Michael Vick a better person."

Carpenter has noticed a change in Vick since the investigation and subsequent guilty plea.

"You're talking about a guy who's feeling embarrassed," Carpenter said. "He's let a lot of people down just because of his actions and his mistakes.

"This is a humbling experience for him."

In addition to penal sanctions of fines and imprisonment, federal felony offenders lose the right to vote, serve on a jury, hold public office and possess a firearm.

When asked by Hudson if he was aware of losing his civil liberties and his constitutional right to a jury trial, Vick answered "Yes sir" each time.

Vick was to make $6 million this season. He's facing a major pay cut: In prison, his working assignment promises only pennies an hour.

On Dec. 10, he'll find out how much prison time he faces.

"All inmates get paid whether they are at the penitentiary or at the camp," said Mike Truman, a public information specialist for the Federal Bureau of Prisons. "Their starting salary is 12 cents an hour and it goes to 40 cents an hour."

Truman also said that inmates are typically placed in a facility within a 500-mile radius of their home so family members can visit. Richmond or Hampton Roads in Virginia are two possibilities.

Carpenter wants to see the NFL give Vick another shot after he serves his prison term.

"Even though the NFL to us has been secondary in this process, that is the one thing that this guy loves, is to play football," Carpenter said. "Everybody loves to see him on that football field. He wants to be on that football field.

"We hope that Roger Goodell and Mr. Blank were listening to this message today and give him that chance."