Vick Barred From Falcons Training Camp

(NEWSER) - Michael Vick may yet fling a football again in the NFL, but it won't be for the Atlanta Falcons. The team today released its former quarterback, who is close to completing his federal sentence for dogfighting, reports the Journal-Constitution. The Falcons had hoped to trade Vick—who is still awaiting word on whether the league will lift his suspension—but got no takers, notes ESPN.com's Pat Yasinskas. More»

Last straw for league: Admission in plea deal of gambling involvement

(NEWSER) - Michael Vick was suspended from the NFL indefinitely without pay this afternoon, hours after he admitted in a federal plea agreement to financing a dogfighting operation that involved gambling, the AP reports. Vick maintains that he didn't bet himself or receive any winnings, but commissioner Roger Goodell called his actions "not only illegal but also cruel and reprehensible." More»

Disgraced QB admits sponsoring dogfighting, promoting gambling

(NEWSER) - Michael Vick admits sponsoring a dogfighting operation and denies killing dogs but acknowledges that dogs were killed through his and two co-defendants' "collective efforts," according to the plea agreement the disgraced Falcons QB signed yesterday, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports. He also acknowledges promoting gambling but denies being a party to side bets at dogfights. More»

Redemption is there in spades, but little talk of horrid crime

(NEWSER) - Critics agree BET's The Michael Vick Project is conveniently focused more on the NFL star's comeback than on the horrid crime that laid him low in the first place. Still, some find the 8-episode "quasi-documentary" appealing:

• Vick presents himself as reformed, Robert Lloyd writes in the Los Angeles Times , but in visiting his old dogfighting compound, he " seems more nostalgic than contrite." No matter. "For many, his redemption will be strictly a matter of his playing football well. And if he doesn't, well, at least he won't be shot, drowned or hanged for it."

(NEWSER) - Michael Vick, who last played in the NFL in 2006, will be eligible to suit up for the Eagles on Sept. 27, the Philadelphia Daily News reports. "Hopefully we can have a success story here that will be good for society in general and good for the NFL," commissioner Roger Goodell said today after meeting with the suspended quarterback and coach Andy Reid. "He is very genuine in his remorse." More»