What about Bob?

...but we won't know what it is until next week.

NFL sources told ESPN's Sal Paolantonio and Chris Mortensen that Goodell will announce a conditional reinstatement of Vick, which would allow the 29-year old to attend training camp if signed. However, Goodell is also contemplating a four-game suspension.

Said the league source: "Can we suspend him in basically double jeopardy? That's the question."

Vick's indefinite suspension lasted the duration of his 23-month sentence. No teams have publicly stated their desire to sign Vick, and a further suspension obviously won't help lure suitors.

Said NFL spokesman Greg Aiello: "This is a serious matter. We are engaging in a careful and thoughtful process and no decisions have been made."

Vick and Goodell met in New Jersey on Wednesday and, according to SI.com, the sitdown lasted three hours.

I'm no legal expert, so I'll pose the question to the readers and hopefully someone can answer me: Does Vick have any legal recourse against the NFL should he be suspended further?

Like Mr. G, I feel like Vick deserves a chance to play. The guy already lost two years in his prime, and I feel his punishment, while just, should come to an end.

-Chris Mascaro

Now that Michael Vick has completed his sentence for his guilty plea on illegal dogfighting charges, the question is whether he deserves to continue his career as a professional football player.

There is a sizeable group of people who believe he should never be allowed to profit from the sport that once made him a multi-millionaire, not after the heinous acts he committed in connection with the dogfighting operation. And there are those who believe he has paid his debt to society and therefore deserves another chance to play.

I'm in the latter group.

First of all, let me say this: There is no excusing what Vick did, including his admission that he killed some underperforming dogs by hanging or drowning them. It was cold-blooded, vicious and simply disgusting.

But we have a system in this country that punishes people for wrongdoing, and Vick paid the ultimate price in that system. He spent nearly two years in federal custody, and has been forced into bankruptcy with the loss of his salary and endorsements. Millions upon millions in both.

So I ask: At this point, how much more do you want to punish Vick? He has served his time, and he has lost nearly all the riches he accrued during his career with the Falcons.

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell will surely be tempted to continue the indefinite suspension he slapped on Vick nearly two years ago. But Goodell must also realize that Vick has paid a steep price for his misdeeds, and that closing the door permanently on his football career is a case of piling on.

Vick's agreement to serve as an advocate for the Humane Society shows a willingness to turn his behavior into a life lesson for others. Goodell should heed the words of the organization's chief executive, Wayne Pacelle, who said the following in an ESPN interview in May, when Vick agreed to work with the group.

"We were very involved in criticizing Vick for conduct which we found reprehensible, and we strongly supported law enforcement and judicial action that led to his incarceration," Pacelle said. "I don't think anyone was tougher on him than we were. But the goal was never the continued punitive treatment of Michael Vick. The goal has always been to eradicate dogfighting in America and around the world."

Enough said.

Time for Vick to get on with his life and his career. And contribute to the cause of preventing cruelty to animals by speaking out against the crimes he once committed.

The team indicated several weeks ago that Michael Vick was not in their plans for this or any other season. So why is Vick still on the roster?

Call it the “never-say-never” factor. Sources familiar with the Falcons situation tell me that the team is pretty much resigned to the idea that they will release Vick – probably late in training camp – once his status is decided by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell.

The never-say-never part comes in with other teams: The Falcons feel that it’s worth it to hang onto Vick on the possibility that a team might be willing to fork over a draft pick in a trade. The Falcons got a tepid response from teams when they held discussions at the Scouting Combine in February, but felt it was worth a shot to see if any further interest would be generated over the summer.

Bottom line: If no trade partner can be found before the start of the regular season, the Falcons will release Vick sometime before the opener.

As for the timing of a potential Vick reinstatement, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell has indicated he’ll take a wait-and-see approach once Vick’s sentence is completed on July 23. And even then, it’s not as if Goodell will immediately act on it. Remember, too, that Goodell has the authority to slap Vick with an additional suspension, although I’m told that if the commissioner hears the right things from Vick, Goodell is inclined to reinstate him with no further punishment.

Former Giants coach Jim Fassel, now coaching the Las Vegas/Los Angeles franchise in the United Football League, said he would have no problem signing quarterback Michael Vick in the event no NFL team wants him.

Vick is currently serving a 23-month sentence after pleading guilty to felony charges of running an illegal dog-fighting operation. Vick, now under house arrest, is due to complete his punishment on July 20.

In an interview on tonight's Boomer Esiason Show, which airs on MSG Network, Esiason asked Fassel if he'd have interest in having Vick as his quarterback.

"I would, simply because people make mistakes," Fassel said. "I mean, the mistake he made was horrific and everyone was taken aback by it obviously, but once he pays his debt to society, he has jail time and he’s lost everything. Everybody gets a chance to re-prove themselves. If he will make that commitment he deserves another chance. I believe that whole-heartedly. This league may be very good for him. Maybe he just needs to go to a league and just start playing rather than joining a team and be a back-up and not play and develop. We’ll see. I don’t know. No decisions have been made by our league or the NFL. No decisions have been made as to where he’s going to be. I think, personally, he deserves another chance."

Continue reading "Jim Fassel: I would take Michael Vick " »

Humane Society President Wayne Pacelle, in an interview on KNBR in San Francisco, said his organization will give Vick a platform to address his situation in connection with running an illegal dog-fighting operation. Vick, who is currently under home confinement, is due to be freed in late July.

Here's some stuff from Pacelle:

"Michael Vick reached out to us through Billy Martin, his attorney, and through some of his other folks in his circle. I initially thought that they were barking up the wrong tree, but I thought about it and I said, ‘Obviously we’re about change, we’re about giving people an opportunity to do better. And we’re not going to judge the situation, we’re not gonna vouch for him, we’re not going to urge his reinstatement, but we’ll give him an opportunity to do right if it seems like he’s saying the right things.’ So I said, ‘I’ll need to see him.’ So I did spend some time with Michael. He was contrite, he said he did terrible things, he said he can’t believe he did them but he did grow up with it and nobody in his circle really questioned it. He did know it was illegal, he knew it was wrong, at least in a criminal sense, and he was trying to hide it. And he said he regretted it, I said, ‘I don’t know if you’re being sincere but you’re saying it and you want to be involved in our anti-dog fighting campaigns.’ We do have community based programs where we actually have ex-dog fighters, ex-gang members who work with young teens who are drawn into the world of dog fighting and attempt to interrupt their activities on the street and convince them that this is a dead end pathway. I thought this might be a good program for him to get involved with because he could tell his story, and he’s obviously a macho guy, he’s a strong guy, he’s a professional athlete. I thought these young kids in the cities might look up to him. We’re gonna give him the opportunity, but it’s up to him. If he makes the most of it, good for him. That will begin to make amends for the crimes he committed. But if he treats it lightly, if he is not sincere about it, then we’ll be the first to criticize him.”

Continue reading "Humane Society will give Michael Vick a chance " »

Since this post from Wednesday generated so much interest, I decided to do an unscientific poll on how the public thinks the Michael Vick story will play out.

Please choose one of the following and post it with an explanation in the comments section.

What will happen to Michael Vick?

A) Vick will return to the NFL and thrive as a starting quarterback.
B) Vick will return to the NFL and play out his career as a back-up (and part-time Wildcat QB).
C) Vick will be invited to an NFL camp, but eventually will get cut and will be out of football for good.
D) No NFL team will give Vick a chance.

My guess is B, and I have a feeling there will be a moment in his career when the starting QB on whatever team he's on gets injured and he has to come in and prove himself in a big spot.

-Chris Mascaro

Here is a great video from NFL.com chronicling Michael Vick's career — from his high school days in Newport News, to his time at Virginia Tech, to getting drafted No. 1 by the Falcons in 2001, to his three Pro Bowls, and inevitably pleading guilty to dogfighting charges.

Also, here is a video of Vick's attorney, Larry Woodward, giving a statement outside Vick's Hampton, Virginia, home after his 1,200-mile journey from the Leavenworth, Kansas, prison, and here's a story about his arrival.

-Chris Mascaro

At 5 a.m. EST, Michael Vick became a free man — leaving the Leavenworth, Kan., prison he called home for the last 19 months behind — and headed home to Hampton, Virgina.

Though he's a wealthy celebrity, his plight upon reentering the world won't be much different from Red's in Shawshank Redemption (beware some salty language in that clip). With his formative years (in football terms) behind him, the 28-year old quarterback (who will turn 29 in a little over a month) has a name — Vick — that has become more toxic in the NFL than "Leaf" or "Mandarich," if that's even possible.

Once the highest paid player in the NFL, he'll trudge to a $10 an hour construction job (much like how Red's prison set the ex-cons up with jobs at the grocery store) until the end of July, when he'll be released from federal custody.

Vick's agent, Joel Segal said Tuesday that he'll "place football on the back burner," at least in the beginning of his home confinement. But like all gifted athletes, Vick will get the urge to play again in the NFL.

Then will come the real hurdles — getting reinstated by the commissioner, facing the music of PETA and others who believe he should be locked up for eternity, and finally (and most difficult), getting a team to sign a quarterback that hasn't played an NFL game since 2006.

If he latches on with a team, Vick will face a world he's not used to in the NFL. No longer are running quarterbacks all the rage (see Matt Stafford taken with the No. 1 pick). Gone are the days when Jeff Garcia and Donovan McNabb regularly made plays with their feet. The new breed of young passer is of the drop-back variety — Jay Cutler, Eli Manning, Matt Cassel. The ones who do run — Jason Campbell, Tarvaris Jackson — are derided for using their talents.

In 2006, Vick rushed for 1,039 yards on 123 carries (an NFL-best 8.4 yards per carry). He was 21st in the league in rushing. Last year, Tyler Thigpen was the top rushing QB with 386 yards on 62 attempts — he was 54th in the league in rushing.

The question isn't whether or not Vick should play. It'll be if he still can play.

Vick was involved in a heinous act, but it became such a part of his culture that he became immune to the fact that it was a crime, or even wrong. Trainers pump race horses full of steroids, and some of them break their legs because they can't sustain the immense muscle mass and need to be put down. Are they put away for as long as Vick was?

Vick's crime was an especially sensitive one because the evidence was splashed across our television screens. After all, who wants to see puppies get maimed while a group of thugs cheers them on?

I believe the NFL will give Vick the second chance he deserves, but it may be too late. If he's lucky he'll sign on with a good team (maybe New England), that has a fan base that believes the front office when it says he's sorry for his crimes. Often brash on the field, Vick will need to embrace his role as a back-up, constantly act contrite and maybe get a few touches in a Wildcat set.

Worst case scenario: A team invites him to training camp, deems him washed up and he's out of the league for good.

Hard to believe that a guy who could make plays like these may never step on the field of a pro game again.

But that's the reality Vick is now faced with — as Red's buddy Andy Dufresne said, "Get busy living or get busy dying."

-Chris Mascaro

(AP Photo)

That's what the Hall of Fame linebacker said the NFL should do when the league addresses the issue of Vick's reinstatement after completing a prison sentence for an illegal dog-fighting operation.

"I think they ought to turn him loose with the dogs," Huff said. "That's what I think of Michael Vick."

Huff made the remarks at his induction into the Southern Conference's first Hall of Fame class, a group that included some of the greats of their sport like golf's Arnold Palmer and basketball's Jerry West.

"I have no sympathy for Michael Vick," he said.

Boy, someone screwed up royally on this one.

We told you yesterday about the arenafootball2's Albany Firebirds making an offer to Falcons quarterback Michael Vick once he gets out of jail.

Only one problem: The team's owner says he doesn't want Vick, and never would have approved the publicity stunt had he known about it.

Oy.

"I'm a dog lover and I don't want anything to do with (Vick),'' Albany Firebirds owner Walter Robb told The (Albany) Times Union for a story posted on its Web site Tuesday night.

Earlier in the day, the team announced it had offered the 28-year-old quarterback a one-year contract at the league standard: $200 a week plus a $50 bonus for a win.

``That's a joke,'' Robb said. ``Can you imagine him playing for $200 a week? I think (the offer) was a big mistake.''

The announcement was later pulled from the team's Web site.

Firebirds general manager Garen Szablewski told The Times Union the team's marketing department came up with the idea to make an offer to Vick.

"The process wasn't thought through properly,'' Szablewski said. "The right hand didn't know what the left hand was doing."

Duh ...

(Associated Press photo)

The Albany Firebirds of the arenaball2 football league have offered Michael Vick an incentive laden contract once he completes his jail term for a conviction on dog-fighting charges.

Of course, Vick will pursue his NFL options once he gets out on July 20, and there could be a team or two out there that pokes around about the troubled quarterback.

The NFL commish, speaking at a panel discussion at Washington & Lee University yesterday, shed some light on what it will take for suspended quarterback Michael Vick to get back in the league's good graces.

Vick is currently serving a prison sentence for his role in an illegal dog-fighting operation. He is due to be released from custody in late July.

"I will want to meet with Michael," Goodell said. "I will want to meet with his people, I will want to meet with other professionals to understand: Does he understand the mistakes he made, and is he genuine and have remorse for those actions, and is he prepared to handle himself differently going forward? That will ultimately be my decision."

Vick has talked to television producers about launching a reality show about his life, according to the Hollywood Reporter.

The proposed docu-series would follow Vick starting July 20, the day of his scheduled release from federal custody, and show him trying to "make amends for his past," according to the Reporter.

Vick is serving a 23-month sentence for dogfighting conspiracy.

Michael Vick got out of the big house today, and is headed for a halfway house in Virginia.

But he faces new legal issues, now that the U.S. Labor Dept. is accusing him of illegally withdrawing more than $1.3 million from a pension plan.

The department filed complaints today against Vick in federal district and bankruptcy courts in Newport News.

Oy.

Michael Vick has been sentenced to 23 months in prison for his role in an illegal dog-fighting operation.

So what happens next? Does Vick simply disappear off the face of the earth? Does he ever step foot on an NFL field again?

It has been and will remain a hot-button topic as long as Vick is physically capable of playing football. Vick has given no indication whether he wants to play again. But I maintain once he is done paying his debt to society, he is entitled to play again. Or at least request to play again and let the NFL decide the matter.

I wrote about the controversial issue in the newspaper today, and it's sure to get some strong reaction from both sides.

If you've got a take on the issue, fire away.

(Please note: I'm going to delay posting this week's Power Rankings, because I think this Vick issue is too important and because I don't want to interrupt any of the powerful dialogue going on in the "comments" section. I also want to add that these are some of the most powerful, insightful and passionate comments, regardless of where you stand on this highly polarizing issue, that I've come across. There are certain moments/issues that make you think long and hard about what they mean and how they configure into our lives, and this is one of them.)

Word just came down that the Falcons are entitled to recoup nearly $20 million - $20 million! - in bonus money as a result of Michael Vick's guilty plea in connection with an illegal dogfighting operation.

Stephen B. Burbank, the University of Pennsylvania law professor and special master who oversaw an arbitration hearing on the matter last week, has sided with the Falcons. The NFL Players Association has vowed to appeal.

"We are certainly pleased with today’s ruling by NFL Special Master Stephen Burbank," the Falcons said in a prepared statement. "It is the first step in a process that our club has undertaken in an attempt to recoup significant salary cap space that will allow us to continue to build our football team today and in future years."

The Falcons argued that Vick, who pleaded guilty to federal charges for his role in a long-running dogfighting operation, knew he was in violation of the contract when he signed a $130 million deal in 2004.

The team claimed that he used money from the contract to fund his dogfighting operation and sought repayment of $19.97 million out of the $22.5 million he was awarded in 2005 and 2006.

Vick was suspended indefinitely without pay by the NFL after entering into his plea agreement.

Vick has also lost out on several endorsement deals, and we suspect that before long, he'll be filing for bankruptcy.

Well, Michael Vick's in trouble again.

The Falcons suspended quarterback got nailed in a drug test for marijuana, meaning further restrictions will be placed on him as he awaits sentencing on dog-fighting charges. We thought we'd heard the last of Vick until at least Dec. 10, when a judge will hand down the sentence. But no.

Yesterday, Vick was indicted by a Surry (Va.) County grand jury on charges related to his dog-fighting operation, and he faces additional jail time as a result.

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell has suspended Vick indefinitely, but Goodell might not have to lift a finger in being more specific about the suspension. Vick might simply never make it back from all the trouble he's in.

It's been a long time since we've had occasion to feel anything other than contempt and anger toward Michael Vick, and surely those feelings won't disappear any time soon.

But after Vick showed some contrition just a few minutes ago for his horrible actions in connection with an illegal dogfighting operation, we saw a man who finally owned up to his barbaric behavior.

As Vick walked to the podium at a news conference in Richmond, Va. late this morning, he carried a piece of paper in hand, and we expected him to simply read a statement and walk off. But as he spoke quietly and explained that he isn't very good at public speaking, he said he'd talk from the heart. And he did just that, never once looking at the paper.

"I want to apologize for all the things I've done and I've allowed to happen," Vick said, a few mintues after formally pleading guilty to charges connected to an illegal dogfighting operation. "I want to personally apologize to commissioner Goodell, Arthur Blank, coach Bobby Petrino, my Atlanta Falcons teammates for our previous discussions that we had and I was not honest and forthright in our discussions. I was ashamed and totally disappointed in myself, to say the least.

"I want to apologize to all the young kids out there for my immature acts," he said. "I totally ask for forgiveness and understanding as I move forward to better Michael Vick the person, not the football player."

We'll fill you in on more Vick's comments in tomorrow's Newsday, but it was noteworthy that after all the chaos and criticism surrounding his situation - all of it justified - Vick showed his human side. It doesn't excuse anything, and it won't keep him out of jail or get him back to the NFL any sooner. But at least we saw that a man who admitted guilt to some of the most heinous actions imaginable show contrition.

We'll see how he feels after spending several months in prison. Hopefully by then, we will see a man who has genuinely transformed himself and can do some good in this world after so many years of doing harm.

Later this morning, in a Richmond, Va. courtroom, Falcons star quarterback Michael Vick will plead guilty to charges related to an illegal dogfighting operation, the next step in what could be Vick's permanent ouster from the NFL.

Vick already submitted a written plea agreement Friday, triggering NFL commissioner Roger Goodell's indefinite suspension without pay. So today's hearing will have no further effect on his football future, which looks bleak at best.

But the worst might not be over for Vick. He still faces the possibility of being charged with dogfighting crimes at the state level, and if the prosecution is successful, Vick could be incarcerated for a period of time that would make any thoughts of an NFL comeback moot.

A sad, sad day in NFL history, to be sure. But hopefully a cautionary tale for other athletes who might consider themselves above the law because they are so physically gifted and so handsomely rewarded for playing a game. Vick thought he could get away with his heinous actions, simply because he was an NFL star. Later this morning, he will be reminded yet again that no amount of touchdown passes can wipe away the murderous behavior that will in all likelihood end his football career.

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell just minutes ago handed down an indefinite suspension of Falcons quarterback Michael Vick, who earlier today pleaded guilty to his participation in an illegal dog-fighting operation.

Key to Goodell's decision: He invoked a gambling reference, which means Vick might be gone from the NFL for good.

Here's a portion of the news release:

Commissioner Roger Goodell notified Michael Vick today that he is suspended indefinitely without pay from the National Football League, effective immediately.

Following are excerpts from Commissioner Goodell’s letter to Vick:

· “Your admitted conduct was not only illegal, but also cruel and reprehensible. Your team, the NFL, and NFL fans have all been hurt by your actions.”

· “Your plea agreement and the plea agreements of your co-defendants also demonstrate your significant involvement in illegal gambling. Even if you personally did not place bets, as you contend, your actions in funding the betting and your association with illegal gambling both violate the terms of your NFL Player Contract and expose you to corrupting influences in derogation of one of the most fundamental responsibilities of an NFL player.”

· “You have engaged in conduct detrimental to the welfare of the NFL and have violated the league’s Personal Conduct Policy.”

· “I will review the status of your suspension following the conclusion of the legal proceedings. As part of that review, I will take into account a number of factors, including the resolution of any other charges that may be brought against you, whether in Surry County, Virginia, or other jurisdictions, your conduct going forward, the specifics of the sentence imposed by Judge Hudson and any related findings he might make, and the extent to which you are truthful and cooperative with law enforcement and league staff who are investigating these matters.”

· “I have advised the Falcons that, with my decision today, they are no longer prohibited from acting and are now free to assert any claims or remedies available to them under the Collective Bargaining Agreement or your NFL Player Contract.”

He admitted today he took part in the murder of underperforming dogs.

He admitted he bankrolled the illegal dogfighting operation at a property he owned in Surry County, Va. Gambling was a part of the operation, even if Vick denies sharing in any of the proceeds.

Your move, Commissioner Goodell.

Goodbye, Michael Vick.

Falcons quarterback Michael Vick pleaded guilty this afternoon to dog-fighting charges.

“After consulting with his family over the weekend, Michael Vick has asked that
I announce today that he has reached an agreement with federal prosecutors regarding
charges pending against him,” Vick’s attorney, Billy Martin, said in a statement
released shortly after 2 p.m. “Mr. Vick has agreed to enter a plea of guilty to
those charges and to accept full responsibility for his actions and the mistakes
he has made. Michael wishes to apologize again to everyone who has been hurt by
this matter.”

The terms of Vick’s sentence were unknown, but reports indicate it could be a sentence
of between 18 and 36 months in federal prison. It could mean the end of Vick's
career. If he serves three years, he wouldn't be out of jail until he's
30. And he has yet to face punishment from the NFL, which has restricted him from
attending Falcons camp but has not issued any additional penalties.

All three of Vick’s co-defendants reached plea agreements in recent days. Vick was
facing a Nov. 26 trial date, and would have had to testify against the three co-defendants.
Two of them pleaded guilty on Friday and said Vick bankrolled gambling on dogfights
at a home the quarterback owned in Surry County, Va. One of the defendants said
Vick helped drown or hang dogs who did not perform well.

Quanis Phillips of Atlanta and Purnell Peace of Virginia Beach on Friday pleaded
guilty to dogfighting charges; Tony Taylor of Hampton, Va. reached a plea deal last
month.

(UPDATE: The Associated Press is reporting that prosecutors will ask for a sentence of between 12-18 months.)

According to the Atlanta Journal Constitution, quarterback Michael Vick's attorneys are engaged in negotiations about a plea agreement that would provide closure to the matter and likely lead to jail time for the embattled star player.

It's not surprising that Vick would cop a plea at this point, because the other three defendants in the case of an alleged illegal dog-fighting ring have also entered plea agreements.

As a practical matter, this will provide NFL commissioner Roger Goodell with all the evidence he needs in doling out a suspension of VIck. It's almost a certainty that the commissioner will ban the quarterback for the entire 2007 season, and possibly longer. He will invoke the guidelines of the NFL's player conduct policy, in which a player can be disciplined if he pleads guilty to criminal charges.

The league is currently conducting its own investigation into the allegations that Vick was involved in the dog-fighting operation.

Look like Michael Vick’s goose might be cooked already.

The fact that one of his co-defendants, Tony Taylor, is ready to cop a plea on Monday morning could be very, very bad news for Vick.

While no one is certain about just what Taylor will plea to, an early plea bargain generally means someone is willing to cooperate with prosecutors. If Taylor has further damaging evidence against Vick, then any chance of the quarterback getting off on the charges is that much more difficult.

A few days ago, I brought up the possibility that sometime down the road, Vick might somehow get back in the good graces of the NFL once his case was completed. But after seeing the vitriolic reaction among locals at the team’s Flowery Branch training facility, and after visiting with the team at the opening of camp, I am almost completely convinced that Vick is finished with the Falcons for good unless he is completely exonerated of all charges. And even then, I think Vick might have burned his bridge completely with team owner Arthur Blank, who is livid at what's going on.

As for Vick getting a chance with another team, that’s not going to be easy either. Not only does Vick face the possibility of prison time, but right now, he is as radioactive a personality as anyone has ever been in pro football. And if Taylor’s plea deal on Monday proves to be more damaging in the case against Vick, then the chances of him ever playing again are greatly reduced. If not gone altogether.

Good news from athetlic manufacturing giant Nike today. The company announced it was suspending its commercial deals with Michael Vick apparel in light of the heinous allegations of dog-fighting that Vick has pleaded not guilty to in federal court.

Earlier in the day, Reebok announced it would no longer sell Vick-branded apparel.

It's no surprise that the companies would bail on Vick, just like the NFL, which has barred the Falcons quarterback from attending training camp until it completes a review of the allegations against him.

Vick is as big a commerical pariah as anyone in recent memory; O.J. Simpson might be the only more radioactive athletic figure than Vick.

Wayne Pacelle, president and CEO of The Humane Society of the United States, expressed appreciation and gratitude to Nike for suspending its commercial relationship with Michael Vick.

“The allegations against Michael Vick are so serious and disturbing that The Humane Society of the United called on his corporate backers to end their commercial relationships with the star player ,” said Pacelle. “We are very pleased that Nike has today signaled it has a zero tolerance policy for athletes who may be involved with staged animal fights and other forms of malicious animal cruelty by indefinitely suspending its relationship with Vick.”

Nike's statement reads as follows:

“Nike has suspended Michael Vick’s contract without pay, and will not sell any more Michael Vick product at Nike owned retail at this time. As we’ve said before, Nike is concerned by the serious and highly disturbing allegations made against Michael Vick and we consider any cruelty to animals inhumane and abhorrent. However, we do believe that Michael Vick should be afforded the same due process as any citizen in the United States, therefore, we have not terminated our relationship”

By all indications, the Falcons are doing everything possible to distance themselves from the player who has been the face of the franchise since 2001. Their announcement yesterday that they had planned to suspend him four games and their unwillingness to guarantee he will be their quarterback once the case is resolved suggests that Vick's future is tenuous at best.

Now the question begs: Is Vick through in Atlanta? And for that matter, is he through with the NFL?

Answer: Not necessarily.

While it all looks bad for Vick now - as it should, considering the gruesome details of his alleged involvement in the operation - we are still in the very, very early stages. Time will pass, and the courts will eventually decide the matter, and that includes the possibility that Vick pleads out and does some jail time or is slapped with a heavy fine and lengthy probation.

But who's to say Vick can't eventually restore his reputation, the way other athletes caught up in criminal activities have? Does the name Ray Lewis ring a bell?

The Ravens' star linebacker was accused of a double murder in Atlanta following a post-Super Bowl party in January, 2000 and spent 15 days in jail. After months on trial, Lewis was cleared of the murder charges in exchange for a guilty plea to obstructing a police investigation and was fined $250,000 by NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue, the largest player fine ever. The negative publicity against Lewis was 10 times worse than it is for Vick.

A year, later, he won Defensive Player of the Year and led the Ravens to the Super Bowl.

These days, Lewis is known as a football player, with very few references to his involvement in the murder case.

I'm not comparing the crimes of Vick and Lewis. But it's worth pointing out that athletes - or other public figures, for that matter - can overcome horrific circumstances over time. Vick's alleged behavior is reprehensible, and he must pay his debt to society. But it's just too early to say it's over for him as an athlete, especially if he fesses up, helps animal rights causes, and turns into a decent human being.

Once the court case is completed, Vick must undergo the kind of public makeover that will allow him to move on from this ugly chapter in his life and resume his career. And it's silly to think that he can't make some kind of amends, even if the charges stick and he is imprisoned for his misdeeds.

Vick can start by turning his home in Virginia, once a burial ground for dead fighting dogs, into a rehabilitation center for animals.

He can stand up and say how wrong he was in front of the good folks from places like People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, The Humane Society and the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. And he can back up that remorse by donating hundreds of thousands of dollars of his own money to those and other animal-related organizations.

And he can offer himself up as an example to other would-be breeders to make sure they don't get involved in something that is completely barbaric.

The first step is an acknowledgement that what he actually did was wrong, something Vick might not be able to do just now because he still doesn't understand how brutal his behavior has been. But if he comes to realize the enormity of his alleged involvement, then he can begin to repair an image that is so broken that his future in football is uncertain at best.

If not, then he should never throw a football in the NFL again.

The Humane Society has reacted favorably to the NFL's decision to prohibit Michael Vick from attending training camp until the league has additional time to decide his fate and perhaps suspend the quarterback for a significant period of time.

"Officials from the National Football League rightly recognized that it just cannot be business as usual for Vick and the Falcons with this chilling set of facts laid out in the federal indictment," said Wayne Pacelle, president and CEO of The Humane Society of the United States. “The NFL has taken an important first step, and it is our sincerest hope that Michael Vick not suit up for play prior to the resolution of these serious charges in federal court.”

According to the Humane Society, more than 263,000 individuals contacted the NFL through The HSUS’ online advocacy campaign, which began last week after a federal grand jury charged Vick and three co-defendants with allegedly operating a multi-state dogfighting ring. The HSUS urged the NFL to suspend Vick until the charges against him are aired in court.

The campaign has generated more online actions, more quickly, than any other campaign for the organization (only Hurricane Katrina responses numbered higher). Animal advocates generated a wave of activity that shut down The HSUS’ website (humanesociety.org) for long period of time Wednesday and Thursday.

The HSUS is renewing its call for Nike to sever its relationship with Vick while the dogfighting charges are pending.

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell has ordered Michael Vick to stay away from Falcons training camp until the league has completed a review of last week's indictment by a federal grand jury in Richmond, Va. for his alleged participation in an interstate dog-fighting operation.

Goodell gave strong hints that his powers as commissioner allow him to suspend the embattled quarterback for conduct detrimental to the league.

"While it is for the criminal justice system to determine your guilt or innocence, it is my responsibility as commissioner of the National Football League to determine whether your conduct, even if not criminal, nonetheless violated league policies, including the Personal Conduct Policy," Goodell wrote today in a letter to Vick.

Vick will not forfeit his preseason pay during his excused absence from training camp.

Goodell also told the Falcons to withhold any discipline of Vick until the league's review is completed. Goodell indicated that the review would be done as quickly as possible, although he offered no firm timetable.

Bottom line: Vick will in essence disappear from the NFL's radar screen until further notice. And you can expect that he will remain away from the Falcons - perhaps for the entire season, perhaps even his career - as a result of his current legal predicament.

One complicating factor in all this: Goodell's strengthened personal conduct policy, which was drawn up in concert with the NFL Players Association, is generally designed to severely punish repeat offenders. The difference with Vick is that this is his first major involvement with law enforcement.

But if what is included in the indictment of Vick and three others turns out to be true, then he essentially has been a repeat offender, since his activities involved in illegal dog-fighting go back to 2001. So just because it's the first time he's been caught doesn't mean his alleged actions - heinous every one of them - should mean a slap on the wrist with no serious consequences.

On the contrary. If federal authorities can prove their case against Vick and the others, then he deserves at least a one-year suspension. At least.

This is easily the strangest week leading up to training camp we've experienced in 23 years of covering the NFL.

This is usually one of the best times of the year, especially for a football writer, with all kinds of stories beckoning with the beginning of the new season: The Patriots are ready for a run. The Colts are gearing up for a Super Bowl defense. Can the Giants put it together? Will the Jets take the next step after last year's stunning playoff run?

But until the Michael Vick situation is resolved, we can't get into the meat of what training camp is all about. Something should happen by tomorrow, Wednesday at the latest, and perhaps even later today, given how fluid the situation has become.

But one way or another, the Falcons want his situation resolved - at least from a football standpoint - before players take the field on Thursday for their first training camp practice at Flowery Branch, Ga.

My gut feeling is that Vick won't get anywhere near the team's facility, which has already been picketed by a few dozen protesters from People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA). Those protests will invariably continue and even escalate, especially if the Falcons take no immediate action and Vick shows up on Friday, the day after he's arraigned on charges related to an illegal dog-fighting operation.

What happens to Vick? "All options are on the table," one league source told me of the talks aimed at seeking a resolution. That means Roger Goodell can still issue a suspension, as can the team. And it's not out of the realm of possibility that Vick is given a leave of absence, which seems like the most prudent course of action given the swirling controversy.

If Vick refuses to take a leave, or if the team and league don't take any action, it would create for a disastrous training camp situation, something first-year head coach Bobby Petrino simply doesn't want. It's enough that Petrino faces the likelihood that Joey Harrington will be his starting quarterback on opening day; having Vick around, especially given the virtual certainty that he'd be suspended at some point, is simply an untenable situation.

Stay tuned on this one. We can't really move forward until it's taken care of one way or another.