NFL: Goodell urged to suspend Vick
NEW YORK – Roger Goodell met with animal welfare officials inside NFL headquarters Friday and about 50 people demonstrated outside, urging the NFL commissioner to suspend Atlanta quarterback Michael Vick following his indictment on dogfighting charges.
“Sack Vick!” chanted the demonstrators, organized by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, as they walked peacefully in front of the Park Avenue building. Many held dogs which had the “Sack Vick” signs on their backs and one woman brought a pit bull, the breed killed in the dogfighting operation.
Goodell met with officials from the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
The leaders of the demonstration focused on Goodell’s one-year suspension of Tennessee’s Adam “Pacman” Jones under the NFL’s personal conduct policy, although Jones has not been convicted of any crime.
“We think they should do the same with Michael Vick,” said Dan Shannon, an assistant director of campaigns for PETA. “We don’t think their ‘wait and see’ attitude goes far enough. If they suspended Pacman Jones, they can suspend Vick.”
Jones’ hearing set
Adam “Pacman” Jones won’t have to appear in court in Las Vegas until October to face charges in a strip club melee that preceded a triple shooting.
Jones’ lawyer, Robert Langford, said he made an initial appearance on Jones’ behalf, while representing a woman charged with Jones and Jones’ bodyguard in the Feb. 19 fracas.
Las Vegas Justice of the Peace Tony Abbatangelo waived a scheduled Monday court date and set an Oct. 29 preliminary hearing for Jones, Sadia Morrison and Robert Reid, said Langford, who represents all three defendants.
Around the league
Miami Dolphins linebacker Joey Porter was fined $141,176 by the NFL for his part in a Las Vegas scuffle with Cincinnati Bengals offensive lineman Levi Jones. … Oakland safety Jarrod Cooper was suspended for the Raiders’ first four regular season games for violating the NFL’s policy on steroids. … The Green Bay Packers cut ties with former executive John Jones and began their new search to replace longtime Packers leader Bob Harlan.