Michael Vick can still have $16 million roster bonus from Falcons

The 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed Tuesday that Michael Vick, currently a quarterback in the Philadelphia Eagles, can still keep the more than $16 million roster bonuses he earned while playing in the Atlanta Falcons jersey.

The Court’s decision backed Judge David Doty’s rule, which said the money was not subject to forfeiture since Vick had already earned the bonuses before his dogfighting conviction. After the ruling, the NFL accused Doty, who has long handled matters arising from the NFL’s collective bargaining agreement, of bias and sought to end his oversight of its contract with the players union.

However, the court backed Doty’s ruling on Vick’s bonus case because it found the contract’s forfeiture language ambiguous. So Doty has not done anything wrong and can still keep oversight of contract.

Vick’s current contract with the Eagles can pay him $1.6 million for 2009 season, and even the team decides to keep him in Philadelphia for next season, he won’t earn more than $5.2 million, so to keep the Falcons’ $16 million means quite a lot for Vick’s life.

Michael Vick is ready to help stop dogfighting

Michael Vick, the one-time superstar quarterback, was put to prison two years ago for involvement in dogfighting rings. After serving 18-month prison sentence, he was determined to change for good. And the first step was to be involved into humane groups and help stop dogfighting.

That was what he said he wanted to do on Tuesday at a Washington church. Being signed by the Philadelphia Eagles as a reserve, Vick began to take part in anti-dogfighting activities, such as the one held at Covenant Baptist Church and sponsored by the Humane Society of the United States.

Vick made an appearance at the church and spoke out against dogfighting. He called dogfighting "pointless" and said he did not know why he began funding and providing housing areas for the group, regretting the decisions that led to his conviction and 18-month prison sentence. Vick has been working with the animal group since his release from prison.

Eagles will decide Tuesday if Vick plays Thursday

During the Philadelphia Eagle’s Sunday practice, quarterback Michael Vick threw tight spirals with plenty of velocity, looking good in the offense. And coach Andy Reid will probably make a decision Tuesday on whether Vick will play in Thursday’s preseason game against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Not playing in two years, there are a lot of things Vick needs to learn from the beginning. It seemed that Vick managed to make a fairly seamless transition. According to offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg, Vick made improvement every day after he joined the Eagles. And by so far, a lot of the practices have been to get him into football shape.

“I think he was in decent shape coming in, as far as in general. But moving, cutting, lateral movement, throwing the football, moving while he’s throwing the football, that’s what we needed to see.”

The Bills are comfortable with current roster

Before the news came out that Michael Vick signed with the Eagles, quite a few people were discussing online about the Bills being a possible match for the recently reinstated quarterback. In response, Bills general manager Russ Brandon reiterated on Thursday that the team has no interest in Vick and is quite comfortable with players they already have.

The Bills said that they would still use Trent Edwards as their starter as they have scheduled and they have spent the entire offseason having the third-year quarterback develop in a newly installed no-huddle offense. As for the speculation that the Bills scheduled a press conference prior to the team’s night practice Thursday, it might come from the Bills signing with undrafted free agent rookie linebacker Ryan Manalac.

Now it has been confirmed that it was eagles jersey Vick is going to wear for at least one year. I really doubted that the previous speculation was another Vick stunts intending to attract more attention to the former Falcons’ returning.

Panthers coach Fox does not rule out signing Vick

Since Carolina Panthers coach John Fox is known to be good at avoiding direct answers to most questions, when he said that all they team keep all options open for Michael Vick, it is still hard to say what his real opinion is on signing the recently reinstated player.

“As I’ve said before, you always keep all options open,” Fox said Wednesday. “I can’t say that’s something that we’re heavily involved in at this point. I hate ruling out really anything.”

Such kind of remarks has left the Panthers on the short list of teams that haven’t officially ruled out signing Vick after he was reinstated and began looking for a team to play with. Even though Fox apparently wasn’t concerned about the television debates on the merits of Carolina signing Vick, former receiver Rae Carruth’s murder conspiracy conviction will likely prevent owner of the Panthers to make a quick decision on Vick issue.

Vick’s return causes negative reaction

There were fliers on the windshields of cars in the parking lot outside the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Saturday. They surely came from those who are opposed to the return of Michael Vick, who served 18 months in federal prison for running a dog fighting ring, because it read: “Help Wanted: The NFL Hires Pet Killers.”

Whoever made the fliers, they surely wanted to show that they will not welcome Vick back to NFL. That may explain why so many teams ruled out Vick after he was conditionally reinstated to the league. Few team would like to put up with the negative reaction caused by Vick's return.

Although The Associated Press reported Tuesday that some teams had not ruled out pursuing Vick, he has not yet visit or hold any serious negotiation with any team since he was conditionally reinstated.

Michael Vick has last chance to file bankruptcy plan on July 2

Suspended Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick, once the NFL's most popular and highest-paid player, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in July of 2008, claiming assets of $16 million and liabilities of $20.4 million.

His first plan was rejected by U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Frank Santoro, because NFL commissioner Roger Goodell hasn't committed to reinstating Vick after he completes his 23-month sentence for running a dogfighting ring July 20 and Vick will lose his $750,000 of annual income, a percentage of which was supposedly going to his creditors.

At the moment Vick's only income is the $10 per hour he is making in a construction job that is part of the conditions of his home confinement, which began May 21.

The Judge set June 30 for hearing for updation of the plan. And July 2 is the last chance for Vick to file a workable proposal for repaying the millions their client owes to creditors.