By Mark Maske
Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday, September 21, 2007; E07

Authorities in Catawba County, N.C., say they have found a possible link between a dog breeder found shot to death in his home in April and the "Bad Newz Kennels" operated by suspended Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick.

But county sheriff David Huffman said yesterday it was too soon to know whether anyone associated with Vick's dogfighting operation would be questioned in the murder case because investigators still are in the process of determining whether the suspected link is legitimate.

According to Huffman and several print and broadcast reports, a friend found the body of 38-year-old pit bull breeder Roy Thomas Melton in mid-April. Authorities found drugs and a large amount of cash on the premises, Huffman said in a telephone interview yesterday. They also found 33 pit bulls and euthanized them, according to Huffman. Huffman said it was clear to investigators that the pit bulls were bred and trained for dogfighting but there was no evidence that dogfights were conducted at the property.

The names of some dogs listed in paperwork found at Melton's home matched the names of some dogs uncovered by federal authorities in their investigation of the Bad Newz Kennels, the name used for the dog breeding operation under which Vick and his associates also ran the dogfighting ring in Virginia, as detailed in the charges brought against them by federal prosecutors. Huffman said he hopes his officers can meet with federal authorities in the next week or two to compare the dogs' bloodlines and determine if they actually are the same dogs, and then a decision will be made about whether to question anyone involved in Vick's dogfighting operation.

"It all depends on what information we get back," Huffman said.

At this point, Huffman said, there are no suspects in the murder case.

Vick is on indefinite suspension by the NFL and is awaiting sentencing in December after pleading guilty in federal court in Richmond to a conspiracy charge related to dogfighting. His three co-defendants -- Purnell Peace, Tony Taylor and Quanis Phillips -- also pleaded guilty.

Neither Vick nor his lawyer could be reached for comment.

DOLPHINS: Middle linebacker Zach Thomas underwent tests for a possible concussion, and he may miss Sunday's game against the New York Jets.

Thomas played every snap in Miami's loss on Sunday to Dallas but said he felt "a little lightheaded" in the locker room after the game, Coach Cam Cameron said. Thomas complained of a migraine Wednesday and missed practice, which led to the tests.

Thomas, playing in his 12th season, has fought migraine and concussion problems in the past but has missed only 12 games in his career. A decision on whether he can play this week is likely by today, Cameron said.

"In a lot of cases, the player wants to play," Cameron said. "Sometimes you've just got to take a deep breath, and sometimes it's tough. You know what it means to lose a player like Zach Thomas."

49ERS: Linebacker Manny Lawson will miss the rest of the season after tearing a ligament in his left knee. Lawson, a starting outside linebacker in San Francisco's 3-4 defensive scheme, went down with the injury during Wednesday's practice. It didn't initially appear to be serious, and Lawson rode on a stationary bike for the rest of the team's workout. But tests determined yesterday that Lawson tore his anterior cruciate ligament.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.