Arena Football Team Rescinds Offer to Vick

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."

QB: 'I'm glad to have a second chance'

(NEWSER) - Michael Vick says he “won’t disappoint” as a player for of the Eagles, the Philadelphia Daily News reports. “I’m glad to have an opportunity at a second chance,” said the convicted felon and newly signed quarterback. He said at a press conference today he had “ done some terrible things, made a horrible mistake,” but “now I want to be part of the solution and not the problem,” the AP reports. More»

(NEWSER) - Michael Vick is back in the NFL. The recently released dog-fighter signed a surprise two-year deal with the Philadelphia Eagles, reports ESPN. Vick—who claims debt of about $4 million—will get $1.6 million the first year with the possibility of $5.2 million the second. He can immediately start practicing and can play in the final two preseason games, but the league won't decide when he can play a regular-season game until about Week 6. Date to watch: The Eagles play the Falcons in Atlanta on Dec. 6. More»

(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»

Imprisoned QB's contract extends until 2013

(NEWSER) - The Falcons are looking to trade Michael Vick, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports. His contract runs through 2013 and includes a base salary of $9 million, sweetened with a $6.43 million 2009 bonus. But with Vick in prison on dogfighting charges and rookie Matt Ryan having led the team to the playoffs in 2008, Atlanta is looking to dump the disgraced QB and open salary-cap room. More»