Arrow-right Camera
The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

In brief: Vick reinstated, looking for team

NFL: The NFL announced a conditional reinstatement of Michael Vick on Monday, clearing the quarterback to sign with any interested team and participate in training camp.

Commissioner Roger Goodell said he would decide by the sixth week of the season in mid-October whether to reinstate Vick fully and allow him to participate in regular-season games.

The announcement came a week after Vick was released from federal custody. He has missed the past two NFL seasons while serving his federal sentence for his role in a dogfighting operation in Virginia, and he had been on indefinite suspension from the league.

“The intent here was to do the right thing in a young man’s life and for the game of football in the NFL,” Goodell said during a news conference in New York. “That’s what I tried to do here.”

Vick, 29, is a free agent after being released during the offseason by his former team, the Atlanta Falcons. It’s not clear which NFL teams, if any, are interested in signing him. There were indications Monday evening that Vick’s representatives were in contact with several teams.

If a club does sign him, he would be eligible to participate in practices, meetings, workouts and all other team-related activities immediately, and he would be permitted to play in the team’s final two preseason games, the league announced.

Goodell said in a conference call with reporters he could consider Vick’s possible reinstatement before the season’s sixth week. Vick is eligible to be paid by any team that signs him for any regular season games he misses before a final decision about full reinstatement, according to a league official.

Washington Post

F1 driver awake, moving limbs

Auto racing: Formula One driver Felipe Massa was awake and talking to family members Monday, making significant improvement after his high-speed crash two days earlier.

The chief surgeon at AEK hospital in Budapest, Hungary, said Massa is now breathing unassisted and moving his limbs. In addition, a drain from his skull wound was removed.

Chief surgeon Lajos Zsiros said the Brazilian is groggy but able to answer questions. Zsiros says further improvement can be expected.

Zsiros said Massa, 28, didn’t have a fever and remained in stable condition in the military hospital’s intensive care unit alongside family members, including wife Anna Rafaela.

Massa crashed into a tire barrier at 120 mph Saturday during qualifying at the Hungarian Grand Prix and was near death for two days.

Associated Press