Atlanta – The Atlanta Falcons wanted to suspend Michael Vick. And considering the appalling allegations against their star quarterback, they might not want him back at all.
Under an edict from NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, Vick is barred from taking part in training camp while the league investigates a federal dogfighting indictment against one of its most prominent players.
The Falcons revealed Tuesday they wanted to give Vick a four-game suspension – the maximum a team can impose – until Goodell asked them to hold off. He wants to take a further look at the charges issued last week and can dole out stiffer penalties under a new personal conduct policy.
“This sort of behavior is really horrific,” Falcons owner Arthur Blank said in the team’s first public comment since Vick was indicted. “This is certainly not the player or the person that I knew the last six years.”
The Falcons said they considered all options – releasing Vick among them – and seemed to signal he will miss at least a fourth of the season even if Goodell doesn’t impose sanctions.
Most tellingly, Blank said he would encourage Vick to give up any thoughts of playing while the case is pending – even if it means sitting out the entire season. He is scheduled to be arraigned in Richmond, Va., on Thursday, the same day the Falcons open training camp.
“This is not about playing football in 2007,” said Blank, joined at a news conference by general manager Rich McKay and new coach Bobby Petrino. “This is a very difficult process he’ll be going through over the next couple of months. It’s very difficult to do that and focus on football at the same time.”
As for why he blocked an immediate suspension against Vick, Goodell said the league needed more time to investigate.
“We have to remember that we are still at a state where these are charges,” Goodell said. “These are allegations.”
After the news conference, PETA – People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals – issued a statement.
“Because of the Falcons’ willingness to suspend Vick, PETA is canceling plans to protest outside the Falcons’ training camp on Thursday,” it said. Instead, PETA will demonstrate outside a NikeTown store in Atlanta on Thursday, demanding Nike drop what PETA called its corporate partnership with Vick.
