What about Bob?

Michael Vick has yet to face any charges in connection to an alleged dog-fighting ring at a house he once owned in Virginia, but the case building against him does not look good.

The latest piece of news is that the prosecutor looking into the matter, Brown and Surry County Commonwealth's Attorney Gerald G. Poindexter, told WAVY-TV of Portsmouth, Va., there is evidence linking Vick to dogfighting, which is a felony in Virginia.

"We have informants," Poindexter told the station in an interview Wednesday. "We have people who are volunteering to make those allegations."

Vick continues to lay low and say nothing about the matter - which is what he should be doing, since anything he says at this point can and will be used against him in a court of law if the case gets that far. Falcons officials are also saying nothing.

But the NFL is watching this one very, very closely, and the end result could be a huge fine and/or suspension if Vick is found to have been involved in dog-fighting. Check out this statement from the league that was given to me, and you'll see in no uncertain terms just how concerned they are:

"Dog fighting is cruel, degrading, and illegal. We support a thorough investigation into any allegations of this type of activity. Any NFL employee proved to be involved will be subject to prompt and significant discipline under our personal conduct policy."

Now, that phrase "proved to be involved" is the key here, and it could take quite some time before the legal process runs its course and commissioner Roger Goodell is in position to make any determination about Vick. But given Goodell's actions in trying to clean up the image of his sport, which has taken a huge hit in recent months with the likes of Pacman Jones, Tank Johnson and Chris Henry getting involved in all sorts of trouble, Goodell is sure to treat Vick harshly if it's shown that he was involved in the dog-fighting operation.

Some high-rolling business types, including Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban, are looking seriously into starting a new pro football league that will one day compete with the NFL.

The idea is intriguing, certainly, especially with the plan to attract players drafted lower than the second round to compete with the NFL for its lesser-known players. But the reality is that time and time again leagues that have attempted to compete with the NFL - see: USFL, World Football League, All America Football Conference, etc. - have come and gone.

At best, the example of the American Football League, which eventually merged with its counterpart to form what is now the most successful professional league in sports, can be looked at as a success story when it comes to competing with the big boys of the NFL. But the AFL was a league that started off at the perfect time - when pro football's popularity was still in its infancy, and the NFL had not yet expanded to the point where a rival league could flourish. The AFL-NFL merger was perfectly time to help both leagues by joining forces.

It's just hard to see a new pro league finding the same success nowadays, especially when the NFL is at 32 teams and in no mood to expand. The NFL survived a challenge by the USFL, which won a hollow court victory over the NFL in 1985 but folded the same year. And even then, with the NFL at 28 teams, the league rebuffed any attempts at folding USFL franchises into the league.

The Arena League has carved out a unique niche, but it's not a direct competitor, in that it doesn't attempt to replicate the NFL. Besides, several Arena League owners also own NFL teams, so the symbiotic relationship works well.

But if Cuban is to be successful down the road - and the project is a long way from becoming reality - he'll face an uphill battle trying to siphon players and fans away from the NFL. It's a longshot worth taking if you've got a few million dollars to lose - which Cuban does - but it's pie in the sky to think it will ultimately work.

While local authorities don't have the kind of proof they need to charge Michael Vick with any wrong-doing in connection with an alleged dog-fighting operation on property he once owned in Virginia, others are pressing for the investigation to continue.

Just received an e-mail from the Humane Society, which is urging that the case continue to be investigaged.

"While no charges have yet been filed in the case of apparent dog fighting uncovered in Virginia at property owned by Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick, The Humane Society of the United States called on local and federal officials to continue conducting a thorough investigation of this serious crime," the e-mail reads. "More than 60 dogs, some of them heavily scarred and one of them severely injured, a bloody carpet, and fighting paraphernalia seized at the 15-acre property last month point to an illegal dog fighting operation of considerable scale.

"Because of Vick’s high public profile and because dog fighting is a horribly brutal crime that causes mutilation and often death for animals, we expect law enforcement officials to continue investigating this matter through and through," said Michael Markarian, executive vice president of the Humane Society of the United States. "Dog fighting is a serious crime, at the state and federal level, and our experts stand ready to assist law enforcement with whatever help they may need in this investigation."

Dog fighting is a felony under Virginia state law. President Bush has just signed a new law that also makes it a federal felony to transport dogs across state lines for the purpose of fighting – a commonplace occurrence in the criminal underground. If there was an interstate component to the dog fighting activities on Vick’s property, The HSUS expects the U.S. Attorney’s Office to be prepared to use the new federal felony law to administer justice in this case.

Stay tuned on this one, folks. The NFL is now offering its assistance in the case, and if Vick is found guilty of any involvement in the illegal operation, you can bet he'll be slapped with sanctions by no-nonsense commissioner Roger Goodell, who has already shown in less than one year on the job that he means business when it comes to off-field behavior.

... the Jets have signed another defensive lineman!

This time, it's former Chiefs defensive end Eric Hicks, a 31-year-old journeyman who was deemed expendable when the Chiefs drafted defensive lineman Turk McBride in the second round.

Hicks joins a long list of retreads the Jets will look at in training camp. That group includes David Bowens, Kenyon Coleman, Andre Wadsworth and Michael Haynes.

(btw, there's no truth to the rumor that they'll give forner Giants defensive end Leonard Marshall a look-see. Then again, if the Jets asked, we suspect Marshall would give it a shot.)

The 2011 Super Bowl is set for north Texas, as the Cowboys' bid to host pro football's biggest extravaganza won out this afternoon over bids from Indianapolis and Arizona.

Everything's bigger in Texas, and in the end, size really did matter to NFL owners, who couldn't resist the idea that 100,000 fannies will fit inside the Cowboys' new stadium in Arlington. Team owner Jerry Jones says he can even squeeze 120,000 folks into the stadium, which is set to open for the 2009 season.

It's good news all the way around for Texas. The weather tends to be cool in February, but a sliding roof will protect fans from the elements. And knowing the way Jones operates, this will be one spectacular show.

Colts president Bill Polian was disappointed Indy was bypassed, but he indicated that the city will bid for future Super Bowls and will one day get the Big Show.

And you can bet the Giants and Jets will bid for a future Super Bowl once their billion-dollar plus stadium starts up in 2010.

Redskins running back Clinton Portis likes to run his mouth on a number of topics, and is usually quite entertaining in doing so. He has even taken to wearing costumes in the Redskins locker room to lighten things up during the week before a game.

But what Portis has to say about the possibility of Michael Vick's involvement in an illegal dog-fighting operation on property he once owned in Virginia borders on the ridiculous. Portis is absolutely clueless.

"I don't know if he was fighting dogs or not, but it's his property, it's his dog," Washington Redskins running back Clinton Portis told WAVY-TV in Virginia. "If that's what he wants to do, do it. I think people should mind their business."

Portis was then told that dog fighting is a felony, and he replied: "It can't be too bad of a crime."

No charges have been filed, and it's important not to rush to judgment about Vick until the case is investigated more fully. But for Portis to suggest that we'd all be better off minding our own business on this subject is sheer lunacy.

Dog fighting is a crime for a reason; it's cruel and inhumane treatment of animals, and it is serious stuff. So it's everyone's business when it comes to preventing this kind of animal cruelty.

Which is all the more reason Portis should stick to what he knows best: playing football.

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell has a busy few days coming up.

Tomorrow, he'll have the hearing on Titans cornerback Pacman Jones' appeal on a one-year suspension handed down last month by the commissioner. And next Wednesday, he'll address the situation of Bears defensive tackle Tank Johnson, who has been sentenced to a four-month prison stint for violating probation in connection with weapons charges last season.

Goodell is intent on cleaning up the NFL's image, which has taken several negative hits with Jones, Johnson and the 10 arrests by Bengals players over the last year. So far, he's reacted forcefully with everything that's crossed his desk, although it will be interesting to see if he upholds Jones' one-year banishment after hearing his appeal.

Jones will contend that the fact he hasn't been convicted of any crimes during his career is enough to get his one-year sanction reduced. Johnson will probably find out his punishment next week, and indications are that Goodell will respond with a ban of up to half the 2007 season.

Also on Goodell's radar: Michael Vick's potential involvement in a dog-fighting operation at one of his homes in Virginia. If Vick is found to have violated laws in connection with the operation, then Goodell may have no alternative but to slap the star quarterback with a suspension, although this one has a ways to go as far as playing out the legal situation before Goodell makes any determination.

In the meantime, check out SI.com's Don Banks' compelling piece on Vick's history of poor decisions, culminating with his alleged involvement in illegal dogfighting.

Not quite sure what to make of Donovan McNabb’s latest PR blitz, which saw him give interviews with a handful of Philly media types to express his opinions – finally – about the Eagles’ decision to draft Houston quarterback Kevin Kolb in the second round of the April 28 draft.

What makes the deal even stranger is that his PR tour was arranged not by the team, but by former Eagles PR man Rich Burg, who was dismissed by the team several weeks ago. Burg had handled all of McNabb’s media requests over the years, and was generally well regarded in the national media.

But the fact that McNabb has now hired Burg to be his personal media relations man, thus snubbing his own team, underscores what could be an ugly situation in a town that lives for this kind of controversy.

McNabb comes off looking pretty bad in this whole thing, if you ask me. For an organization that has historically treaded very carefully with veteran players – McNabb is 30 and coming off a torn anterior cruciate ligament - he of all people knows there’s always a chance he’ll one day be pushed out the door sooner than he’d like to go. That day is not here, as the Eagles have maintained throughout his rehab.

But the team was certainly within its rights to select a quarterback with their first pick of the draft, and head coach Andy Reid made it clear that Kolb is no immediate threat to McNabb, who still has plenty of good years left in his arm and his legs. But McNabb, who admitted to being “shocked” by the decision, seems as if he’s threatened by the competition. This after the team elected not to re-sign Jeff Garcia, a move that signaled the team’s intention to say in no uncertain terms that McNabb was their guy.

Had Garcia been retained, you’d better believe there would have been a quarterback controversy, because he electrified the city in leading the Eagles to an improbable playoff run after McNabb was injured.

Now McNabb is doing an end-around on his own team, the one that’s paid him tens of millions of dollars and made him rich beyond his wildest dreams, with his latest media tour. Predictably, the team has been silent – at least publicly – about the situation, and will let this one blow over for the time being.

But rest assured in a town that froths over this kind of stuff that the tension will be revisited in the weeks and months to come. Let’s hope McNabb does the right thing then, and sticks to showing that he’s fully recovered from a devastating knee injury, and focused on winning the Super Bowl, not looking over his shoulder and worrying how long he’ll be playing in Philly.

Keyshawn Johnson looked down from the ESPN podium at the draft, caught my eye and smiled.

He then held out his hand, gesturing about his on-air performance.

"So-so," the body language said.

Actually, Keyshawn, by all accounts, was terrific in his draft-day commentary on ESPN. He was particularly eloquent about the Panthers' drafting of fellow USC receiver Dwayne Jarrett in the second round, defending those who scoffed at Jarrett's lack of speed.

Little did Johnson know that he was only days away from having to find a new team. Yesterday, the Panthers released him, in part because of the drafting of Jarrett.

Now the question for Johnson: Where to next?

The Giants? It's an intriguing possibility, especially because the team showed interest in him last year before he wound up signing with the Panthers. But despite the fact that Johnson still has something left in the tank as a possession receiver, he just doesn't fit right now.

The reason: Like the Panthers, the Giants drafted another USC receiver - Steve Smith - so there's really no room for a veteran receiver like Johnson. With Smith, second-year receiver Sinorice Moss and veterans Plaxico Burress and Amani Toomer, adding Johnson creates too big a logjam.

Add in the fact that Johnson would be yet another strong personality added to a locker room that needs less ego, the time just isn't right for Keyshawn to come back to New York.

The Titans are probably his best option right now; team officials have acknowledged interest in the Johnson. And while the Giants haven't completely ruled him out, the fit just doesn't seem right at this point. Unless there is an unexpected problem with Toomer's comeback from knee surgery - and by all counts, he appears ahead of schedule - then Keyshawn just doesn't fit into the equation.

As for the idea of Johnson finishing his career where it started - with the Jets - it just doesn't fit, any way you look at it. Eric Mangini and Mike Tannenbaum are not looking for 35-year-old possession receivers who like to draw attention to themselves. Besides, their top two go-to guys are Laveranues Coles and Jerricho Cotchery, and there just aren't enough passes to go around. Johnson is not a guy who will be content being a third receiver, so it just doesn't make any sense.

...

On a personal note, I've known Johnson since he was drafted by the Jets No. 1 overall in 1996, and I find him to be one of the most refershing people in the game. We've had plenty of locker room banter of the years - we once have a friendly wager that Randy Moss would score more touchdowns once their careers were all said and done - and he's been one of the best interview subjects I've ever run into. So, journalistically, there would be nothing better than to have him with the Giants this year. But this isn't about good quotes on the Giants' beat; it's about their receiving situation, period. And right now, it just doesn't make sense.

WINNERS

Browns: When Joe Thomas was the pick at No. 3 overall, we’re thinking the Browns are taking a huge step back. When they trade up for Brady Quinn at No. 22, we’re thinking they not only get a franchise left tackle, but they get a franchise quarterback, too. If Quinn turns out to be the real deal, then trading away next year’s No. 1 to the Cowboys doesn’t hurt so bad. If not, then that pick – which could be in the top 5 – will turn into a woulda-should-coulda. We like Quinn, though. We think he’s going to make this one of Cleveland’s most memorable drafts ever.

Raiders: Al Davis is 77 years old, but this might have been one of his best drafts ever. JaMarcus Russell is a stud – although it’ll take a few years for him to dominate the NFL game, as it does for almost all young quarterbacks. But it’s more than what he did at No. 1 that makes this a great draft for Davis. He gets a starting tight end in the second round with Zach Miller, and look at that fourth-round pick. Running back Michael Bush of Louisville will be a perfect complement to LaMont Jordan, the former Jets backup to Curtis Martin. Jordan has not been the dominant No. 1 back in Oakland, but Bush will help him stay fresh and be more effective. Trading away Randy Moss can be looked at in the negative, but let’s face it: Moss didn’t want to be there, and he would not have been a patient player with Russell taking his time to develop. Getting a fourth-rounder for Moss from New England, and then trading with Detroit to get quarterback Josh McCown – who will be the hold-the-fort guy until Russell is ready – and Mike Williams, who is close with Raiders head coach Lane Kiffin, will work out for Oakland.

Patriots: While it was addition by subtraction for Oakland getting rid of Moss, it was a coup for the Patriots to get him. The 30-year-old Moss can’t pull the garbage he did in Oakland and Minnesota, not in a locker room with Tom Brady, Tedy Bruschi and, most of all, head coach Bill Belichick. Pats get Miami safety Brandon Meriweather in the first round to address a huge need on defense, and fourth-round defensive tackle Kareem Brown adds quality depth at the position. Not only that, but Belichick traded down with his second first-round pick and got San Francisco’s first-rounder in 2008. If Belichick stays around – it’s not a given, considering his contract runs out after this season – he’ll be dealing with yet another draft loaded with high picks next year.

LOSERS:

Redskins: The Redskins had huge needs along the defensive line, finishing last in sacks in 2006. So what do they do? Draft a safety, of course. We have no problem with LaRon Landry as a player. In fact, scouts love his upside and believe he’ll be one of the league’s best players for a long time. BUT THE REDSKINS DIDN’T NEED ANOTHER SAFETY! They needed a pass rusher, and they passed on all of them. The Redskins are also to be chided for trading away picks in previous drafts, leaving them without any picks in rounds 2-4.

Chiefs: Ok, so you’ve told 37-year-old quarterback Trent Green he’s no longer wanted, and you’re ready to make a trade. The Dolphins are a willing partner, and they’ve even negotiated a new contract with Green. But Chiefs GM Carl Peterson stubbornly refused to deal Green because he didn’t like what the Dolphins were offering, so the odds are that the Chiefs will now have to release green with no compensation whatsoever. No quibble with first-round receiver Dwayne Bowe, but third-round defensive tackle Tank Tyler a behavioral risk, not to mention a guy whose weight has been a problem.

Dolphins: Biggest losers of all. Ted Ginn Jr. at No. 9, when Brady Quinn is
sitting there? And now they’re not even sure Ginn will be ready for training camp because of a foot problem that might wind up being chronic. They get QB John Beck in second round, but he'll be 26 when season starts, and no telling if he's starting caliber. The Dolphins are now saying interested in keeping Daunte Culpepper when it's likely they want to release him. And they, like Kansas City, failed to pull trigger on trade for Green.