"This sort of behavior is really horrific," Falcons owner Arthur Blank said in the team's first public comment since Vick was indicted. "This is certainly not the player or the person that I knew the last six years."
The Falcons said they considered all options -- releasing Vick among them -- and seemed to signal he will miss at least a fourth of the season even if Goodell doesn't impose his own sanctions.
Most tellingly, Blank said he would encourage Vick to give up thoughts of playing while the case is pending -- even if it means sitting out the entire season. Vick is scheduled to be arraigned in Richmond tomorrow, the same day the Falcons open training camp.
"This is not about playing football in 2007," said Blank, joined at a news conference in Atlanta by general manager Rich McKay and new coach Bobby Petrino. "This is a very difficult process he'll be going through over the next couple of months. It's very difficult to do that and focus on football at the same time."
Goodell weighed in on Vick's case during a news conference with NFL Players Association chief Gene Upshaw in Washington, where the two discussed an alliance to help former players.
"Let me make it very clear that the National Football League is very disappointed that Michael put himself in this position," Goodell said. "In no way do we think that dogfighting or anything related to dogfighting is acceptable. We think it's despicable, frankly."
As for why he blocked an immediate suspension against Vick, Goodell said the league needed more time to investigate.
"We're looking at this from the long term," he said.
Martin set to retire
The Jets are expected to hold a news conference by the end of the week so Curtis Martin, the fourth-leading rusher in NFL history, can formally announce his retirement. The running back hasn't played since late in the 2005 season because of knee injury that hasn't fully recovered.
Martin, 34, had the first three of his 10 straight 1,000-yard seasons with the Patriots, and will finish with 14,101 rushing yards and 70 TDs in 168 games.
Colts' Glenn packs it in
Tarik Glenn, a three-time Pro Bowl tackle for the Colts who has spent most of his 10 years with Indianapolis protecting Peyton Manning's blind side, said he is retiring. Glenn, 31, reportedly had hinted to teammates he was considering retirement after the Super Bowl . . . Cornerback Charles Tillman and the Bears agreed on a six-year contract extension. Tillman has started 49 games in four seasons and made five interceptions last season . . . Wide receiver Robert Meachem of Tennessee, the 27th overall pick, agreed on a five-year contract with the Saints . . . Former Rutgers running back Brian Leonard, a second-round choice of the Rams, agreed to a four-year deal . . . Former Ohio State quarterback Troy Smith was one of four rookies the Ravens signed to three-year deals.
