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Goodell: Vick Scandal Isn't Eclipsing Game
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Friday, August 17, 2007
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, making a tour of training camps, asserted yesterday that federal charges facing Falcons star Michael Vick are not eclipsing enthusiasm about the game itself.
"I don't think it's overshadowing the season," he said at the Detroit Lions' camp. "I think our fans are excited about football, but I understand the interest in the story."
Vick is facing increased pressure to strike a deal with prosecutors in his federal dogfighting conspiracy case.
"We're going to do what we always said we were going to do, which is rely on the facts," Goodell said. "If there is some type of a plea agreement, then we will obviously take the time to understand what that plea is and we'll see how it fits" into the league's personal conduct policy.
Goodell said the league is monitoring talks between Vick's attorneys and prosecutors. He wants the legal process to run its course before he rules on Vick's future in the league.
Under NFL policy, a player can be banned for life for illegal gambling or associating with gamblers, and Vick, who has been linked to betting on dogfights, might face that penalty.
The gambling "is certainly an issue," Goodell said after meeting with the Cleveland Browns at their training facility. "Law enforcement may be concerned about certain things about this. We may be concerned about other aspects of this. That's why we want to evaluate what the government has. We don't know all of the facts on that. Michael's team may not know all the facts at this point in time."
· EAGLES: Coach Andy Reid expects Shawn Andrews to recover from a right ankle injury in time for next month's season opener, even though the All-Pro guard cast doubt on his own future in an interview on Wednesday.
· JETS: Cornerback Darrelle Revis is unlikely to play in tonight's preseason game against the Vikings after ending a lengthy holdout. Running back Thomas Jones (strained right calf) is also unlikely to play.
· DOLPHINS 11, CHIEFS 10: Patrick Cobbs scored on a seven-yard run and John Beck slipped into the end zone for the two-point conversion with 4 minutes 30 seconds left, leading visiting Miami to its first 2-0 start in the preseason since 1982.
