Vick-Goodell Meeting In Works
Michael Vick's representatives are working with league officials to complete plans for a meeting between Vick and NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, perhaps within the next few days, sources familiar with the deliberations said Wednesday.
The outcome of the planned meeting could play a major role in Goodell's decision about whether to reinstate Vick from his indefinite suspension from the NFL, said the sources, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitive nature of the topic.
Two people familiar with the case said they believe it's possible that Goodell will opt to partially reinstate Vick, who was released from federal custody Monday and has missed the last two NFL seasons while serving his federal sentence for his role in a dogfighting operation in Virginia. That would allow Vick to sign with an NFL team, if any team is willing to sign him, and perhaps participate in training camp practices, but Goodell likely would postpone a decision about whether Vick would be eligible to participate in games during the upcoming regular season.
ESPN first reported Tuesday that Vick's meeting with Goodell could come Thursday or Friday and a conditional reinstatement could be announced next week.
Several people familiar with the case stressed Wednesday that Goodell does not appear to have made a firm decision about what he'll do and much could depend on what Vick tells Goodell when they meet.
League officials declined to comment about when Goodell will meet with Vick, and about Goodell's pending decision about Vick's eligibility to play.
"The review process is ongoing," Greg Aiello, the NFL's senior vice president of public relations, said in a written statement, declining further comment.
Goodell told reporters Tuesday at a news conference in New York, an announcement that singer Marc Anthony was being added to the Miami Dolphins' ownership group, that a decision about Vick's playing status was coming soon, but declined to be more specific.
"The process is ongoing, and I hope to make a decision sometime in the near future," Goodell said Tuesday, according to the Associated Press.
Vick's agent, Joel Segal, was not available to comment Wednesday.
Goodell suspended Vick before the 2007 season. The commissioner is given complete authority under the NFL's personal conduct policy to discipline players for legal troubles. Under the policy, any decision by the commissioner regarding discipline for off-field misconduct can be appealed only to the commissioner or a person designated by him.
Gene Upshaw, the late executive director of the NFL Players Association, was supportive of that when the conduct policy was strengthened by Goodell a few years ago, with input from Upshaw and players. Upshaw said at the time that he didn't want the misconduct of a few players to tarnish all of the players in the league and hurt the NFL in its dealings with sponsors and other business partners.
It remains unclear if any teams are interested in signing Vick, 29, if he's reinstated by Goodell. He's a free agent after being released by the Atlanta Falcons.
Some talent evaluators have said they wonder how much the two seasons off will have affected the quarterback. But Vick once was one of the most dynamic players in the sport, and others in and around the league have said they believe he still will be able to help a team on the field if the franchise is willing to deal with any public relations implications that could accompany signing him.
The upstart United Football League also has been mentioned as a possibility for Vick. The league is to begin play in the fall with four franchises coached by former NFL coaches Dennis Green, Jim Fassel, Jim Haslett and Ted Cottrell. Former Buffalo Bills quarterback J.P. Losman just signed with the fledgling league to play for Fassel's team in Las Vegas.
But people close to Vick have said he's focused on a return to the NFL. His representatives have made a return to the NFL by Vick a key component in his plan to emerge from the bankruptcy proceedings in which he's been involved.
By
Mark Maske
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July 22, 2009; 2:22 PM ET
| Category:
Crime
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League
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