Tuesday, July 24, 2007

Vick can't come to camp

From Fox Sports:

NEW YORK (AP) - Michael Vick was ordered by
commissioner Roger Goodell on Monday to stay away from the Atlanta Falcons'
training camp until the league reviews the dogfighting charges against
him.

"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 said
in a letter to the quarterback.

FOXSports.com senior football writer Jay Glazer first reported the decision
earlier Monday.
The NFL said Vick would still get his preseason pay and
Goodell told the Falcons to withhold any
disciplinary action of their own until the league's review was completed.

Goodell told Vick the league would complete its review as quickly as
possible and that he expected full cooperation. The review is expected to
involve conversations with federal law enforcement officials so the NFL can
determine the strength of the case against Vick.

The Falcons open camp on
Thursday, the same day Vick is scheduled to be arraigned in Richmond, Va., on
charges of sponsoring a dogfighting operation.

PETA - People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals - demonstrated at Falcons'
headquarters in Flowery Branch, Ga., on Monday and did the same outside NFL
offices in New York last week. At the same time, Goodell was meeting with
officials from the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
The league and the ASPCA are working on a program to educate players about the
proper treatment of animals.

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