Michael Vick has a new defender. Whoopi Goldberg used her first day on the daytime chat show "The View" Tuesday to speak up for Vick in his dogfighting case.

Goldberg said that "from where he comes from" in the South, dogfighting isn't that unusual. She said, "It's like cockfighting in Puerto Rico."

The Atlanta Falcons quarterback pleaded guilty to federal dogfighting charges last month, admitting that he provided money for a dogfighting ring that operated on his Virginia property. Vick grew up in Newport News, Virginia.

Goldberg was selected by "The View" creator Barbara Walters to replace Rosie O'Donnell, whose stormy tenure on the ABC program lasted less than a year.

In the Vick discussion, Goldberg served notice that she won't shy away from controversy. Co-host Joy Behar looked horrified at Goldberg.

Goldberg said, though, that for many people, dogs are sport. She said it appeared that it took awhile for Vick to realize that he was up against serious charges.

Vick has been suspended indefinitely by the National Football League and will be sentenced on the dogfighting charges in December. He apologized and asked for forgiveness upon entering his plea in federal court in Richmond last week.