Investigators seek corroboration in Vick case
People have told investigators that Michael Vick was involved in a dogfighting operation at a house he owns in Richmond, Va., the sheriff said Wednesday, and Vick will be charged if investigators can find evidence backing those claims.
Sheriff Harold D. Brown, who is leading the investigation, said he hopes members of a task force that have been gathering evidence in the case can meet by sometime next week to see how credible the evidence is and how best to proceed. At least one of those informants wrote from a prison in South Carolina.
“People are saying that he was there, Michael Vick was at the residence, and that he was involved,” Brown said in a telephone interview with the Associated Press. “I don’t want to get into details of the case right now, but that’s what we’re looking at. If he was there, then we’re going to charge him, also.”
Vick, a registered dog breeder, has refused to comment directly about the case, saying his attorney “has advised me not to talk about the situation right now.” Vick has claimed since the investigation started that he rarely visits the home, and he has blamed family members and others for taking advantage of his generosity.
Saints’ top pick injured
New Orleans Saints first-round draft choice Robert Meachem has had a rough first month as a pro.
Coach Sean Payton said it’s better that he goes through it now than during the season.
Meachem will spend the next month to six weeks rehabilitating his right knee following an arthroscopic procedure to clean out loose cartilage and repair his medial meniscus.
This comes after he showed up for rookie camp – in his own and Payton’s evaluation – overweight and out of shape, then sprained his left ankle.
“I kind of feel discouraged a little bit because I want to show the coaches what I can do and you can’t show them what you can do when you’re hurt,” Meachem said.
Moss up to old tricks
Randy Moss told reporters on that he gets a bad rap because he doesn’t like to give interviews. Then, when asked if the New England Patriots took a risk in trading for him, he refused to answer and ended the session.
“See?” he said, walking away. “They were all good questions until he slipped that one at the end. I’ll see y’all.”
The controversial wide receiver spoke to the media after the second day of the team’s minicamp and said he just wants to fit in with the three-time champions.
Oliver tears ligament
San Francisco 49ers defensive end Melvin Oliver tore a ligament in his right knee.
Oliver, a sixth-round pick from LSU in 2006 who started 14 games for the 49ers last season, was injured during a non-contact drill. Team doctors discovered the torn medial collateral ligament Wednesday.
Oliver made 50 tackles and returned a fumble for a touchdown last season.
Low, even for burglars
About $16,000 worth of belongings was reported stolen from the New Orleans home of the late Marquise Hill’s mother while she attended the funeral for her son, a New England Patriots lineman who drowned last week, police said.
No suspects have been identified in Saturday’s burglary at the home of Sherry Hill, who told police that she left for her son’s funeral at 10:45 a.m. and discovered the break-in when she returned.