Goodell asks Falcons to give Vick due process

Arthur Blank was ready to take action against Michael Vick. The Atlanta Falcons’ owner was ready to suspend the embattled quarterback for four games without pay. Blank was unsatisfied with the option of a paid leave of absence.

Only the commissioner of the National Football League, Roger Goodell, prevented Blank from leveling any penalty against Vick, who last week was indicted by a federal grand jury on charges of sponsoring a dogfighting operation. With Blank’s blessing, Goodell on Monday banned Vick from attending the Falcons’ training camp, which opens Thursday, until Goodell and NFL investigators can review the matter.

Vick is scheduled to be arraigned in Richmond, Va., on Thursday on the dogfighting charges, which could bring a six-year prison sentence and a $350,000 fine for Vick and three associates charged in the indictment.

“This was our position today; we asked for a four-game suspension,” Blank told reporters in Atlanta. “Obviously, we are comfortable with Michael not being in training camp. Depending on circumstances as they develop, we’ll make a decision. … We’ll decide in the future if Michael will play during this year or not.”

Blank noted that Vick was named “50 times” in the 18-page indictment, which alleges that the quarterback and the other men trained, fought and killed a number of pit bulls.

Blank called the alleged behavior “horrific” but said the man depicted in the indictment is “not the young man I’ve gotten to know.”

When asked whether Vick, who in 2005 signed a contract extension that could be worth as much as $130 million, would play for the Falcons again, Blank was noncommittal.

In the meantime, the Falcons are trying to eliminate a major distraction as the team begins preparations for this season, possibly without its starting quarterback. Atlanta has a new coach in Bobby Petrino, who left Louisville this year to accept his first NFL head-coaching job.

Asked whether he regretted taking the Falcons job, Petrino said no.

“I think every year you’re going to deal with controversy and adversity,” he said. “Certainly, we’ve had our share so far.”

In issuing his statement Monday, Goodell said he would act quickly in the Vick matter. Player conduct has become Goodell’s mantra since taking over for Paul Tagliabue almost a year ago. He has suspended three players for all or parts of this season because of their legal entanglements. Vick certainly could be next.

Blank, who described the last week as “difficult,” said he would offer Vick this advice: “Focus on his defense.”

“These charges are extremely serious,” Blank said. “This is not about him playing football in 2007. This is about him having a life, and having a life going forward. … I think it would be very difficult for him to (focus on his defense) and be focused on football at the same time.”