NFL: Vick maintains his innocence

Prosecutors have more leverage against Michael Vick now that his remaining two co-defendants decided to plead guilty while he has maintained his innocence in a federal dogfighting conspiracy case.

A spokesman for Vick’s lawyers declined comment Tuesday on media reports quoting unnamed sources as saying prosecutors and the defense were negotiating a possible plea agreement, and that Vick faced a Friday deadline to either accept a deal or face additional charges.

New concussion guidelines

The NFL’s new guidelines on concussion management include a telephone hotline that will make it easier to report to the league when a player with a head injury is being forced to practice or play against medical advice.

Concussions have become an increasingly high priority for Goodell and team officials in the past year. Last spring, the commissioner announced that all players would be given baseline tests during their training camp physicals that can be used to diagnose when they have concussions.

The concussion issue is also part of the continued dispute between some retired players on one side and the league and the NFL Players Association on the other over disability benefits to retirees.

Burress taking it easy

Plaxico Burress is no Jeremy Shockey, at least when it comes to playing on a bad ankle in training camp.

Shockey pushed himself a year ago on a sprained ankle, and it ended up bothering him during the New York Giants’ regular season.

Burress isn’t making the same mistake. The veteran receiver hasn’t practiced since spraining his right ankle on Aug. 2. His hours on the field at the University at Albany over the last 12 days have been spent either watching Eli Manning and the offense work or riding a stationary bike.