Turnaround complete--Atlanta Falcons in playoffs

Only one year ago, the NFL's Atlanta Falcons were in nearly complete disarray. Their star quarterback was convicted of federal dogfighting charges and landed in prison, and their first-year head coach quit the team with three games to go. It all equated to a 4-win season. But that was last season.

This season, the Falcons have a new head coach and rookie quarterback among their new faces--and they've made the playoffs. The Falcons on Sunday held-on for a 24-17 win at Minnesota. With the victory, the Falcons secured a wild-card playoff spot. At 10-5 with one regular season game to go, they still have a chance to win their division and improve their playoff seeding.

Michael Vick enters guilty plea

Former Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick has pleaded guilty to a state dog fighting charge in Virginia. The 28-year-old Vick pleaded guilty Tuesday to one charge of torturing animals. Vick was given a three-year suspended sentence. The plea could potentially speed his return to the NFL. Federal law prohibits prisoners from being released to a halfway house if there are unresolved charges pending.

(Associated Press)

NFL prefers Georgia hospital

A Georgia hospital is among 15 chosen by the National Football League to perform surgery on retired players. The Atlanta Business Chronicle reports St. Joseph’s Hospital of Atlanta is on the list. The NFL and the players’ union created the list of preferred hospitals for joint replacement surgery.

Negotiations over Michael Vick's salary

A date has been set for the first round of negotiations over Atlanta Falcons Quarterback Michael Vick’s salary. The Atlanta-Journal Constitution reports the NFL and the NFL Players Association – the players’ union – will meet with an arbitrator October 4th. The Falcons want $22 million in bonus money back from Vick, who has pleaded guilty to federal dog fighting charges.

Vick may be in plea talks

Attorneys for Falcons’ quarterback Michael Vick are reported to be in plea negotiations.

According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, a source close to the talks indicates Vick might reach a deal with federal prosecutors before new federal dog fighting charges come down next week.

The remaining two of Vick’s three co-defendants in the case are set to enter guilty pleas later this week. 35-year-old Purnell Peace and 28-year-old Quanis Phillips have plea hearings scheduled for Thursday and Friday respectively. Another defendant, Tony Taylor, pleaded guilty to charges late last month.

The four are accused of running an interstate dog fighting operation on Vick’s property in Virginia.

Vick has been banned by the NFL from participating in preseason practice with the Falcons. The league is conducting its own investigation. It denied a report Monday saying it was ready to suspend Vick for the entire 2007 season.

Former coach Dan Reeves on Vick case

Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick will make his first court appearance next week to answer to federal dog fighting charges. His first coach in the NFL spoke-out on the situation Vick is dealing with.

Dan Reeves in his storied career was a player and longtime head coach in the NFL. He was the Falcons' head coach when Vick entered the league as a rookie in 2001.

Reeves says the current problems Vick is facing, is another example of what he's seen through his coaching years.

"I've seen an awful lot of talented players that never really reach their potential or play the way they could, because they had issues they did, making poor decisions..that's the thing that Mike's done a very bad job of...he's made some poor decisions about the people he's associated with".

In other Vick developments, Nike has suspended the release of their latest shoe bearing Vick's name. Also, Falcons' owner Arthur Blank released a statement Thursday, saying the team is exploring its options concerning Vick.

Vick can play--for now

Falcons’ quarterback Michael Vick will be allowed by the NFL to stay on the playing field—-for now. The league and its officials consulted with Falcons’ officials Wednesday to discuss the matter of Vick and the federal dogfighting charges against him. Despite the league’s new and tougher ‘personal conduct policy’ in place, Commissioner Roger Goodell says they will let the legal process determine the facts. Vick is due for a first court appearance next Thursday in a Richmond-Virginia courtroom, the same day his teammates begin training camp workouts in Flowery Branch-Georgia. Atlanta Falcons owner Arthur Blank says the team is exploring its options in dealing with the Michael Vick situation. In a statement released today at Falcons headquarters, Blank said -- quote -- "The decision won't make everybody happy, but the team will do our best."

Falcons' QB Vick indicted on dogfighting charges

Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick faces up to six years behind bars for allegedly running a dogfighting ring.

A federal grand jury in Virginia indicted the 27-year-old Vick and three associates for fighting dogs for money and traveling over state lines to participate in dog fighting.

Authorities say starting in 2001, Vick's rookie year in the NFL, he and his co-defendants ran "Bad Newz Kennels" out of a Virginia property Vick owns.

They say people from Texas to New York came there for dog fights sometimes worth thousands of dollars.

According to the indictment, the fights would end with either one dog killing another, or the losing dog being electrocuted or shot to death.

The indictment also accuses Vick and the three other men of hanging, drowning or fatally beating dogs that they decided were not good fighters.

Vick, who lives in Atlanta, had said previously he had no idea the Virginia property was used in a criminal enterprise.