-- Falcons Release Michael Vick --
Fri Jun 12, 2009 --from FFMastermind.com
ESPN reports
QB Michael Vick's time with the Atlanta Falcons is officially over. Vick, who is serving the remainder of his prison sentence on dogfighting charges under house arrest in Virginia, was released by the team Friday. "Michael remains suspended by the NFL," Falcons
GM Thomas Dimitroff said in a statement. "However, in the event NFL commissioner
Roger Goodell decides to reinstate Michael, we feel his best opportunity to re-engage his football career would be at another club. "Our entire organization sincerely hopes that Michael will continue to focus his efforts making positive changes in his life and we wish him well in that regard." The Falcons have been trying to trade Vick for months, but found no takers. Instead of holding onto him and hoping that someone would step forward with a trade, they chose to put the Vick era behind them. The move was no surprise. Owner
Arthur Blank has said Vick would not return to the Falcons. "Everybody always knew that Mike wouldn't be playing with the Falcons," Vick's agent, Joel Segal, said. "He's really just taking it one day at a time." The NFL had no comment on Vick's release. Falcons spokesman
Reggie Roberts said the team's release of Vick opens the door for other NFL teams to talk with the quarterback. Roberts said Vick can sign with another team even before Goodell decides on clearing the way for Vick to play. Goodell has not committed to reinstating Vick after the quarterback completes his 23-month sentence on July 20 for running a dogfighting ring. Vick has been on home confinement since leaving federal prison in Kansas on May 20