What about Bob? Glauber's NFL Blog

It is good news for Giants fans that Michael Strahan and team officials are at least talking after a troubling period of silence through the beginning of training camp. But one thing is clear about the decision Strahan must now make: Barring an unexpected change of heart, the team will not revisit his contract situation as a means to entice him back to camp.

According to a team source with direct knowledge of the Strahan situation, the Giants have decided internally not to commit any more money to Strahan’s $4 million base salary this season. While Strahan has told GM Jerry Reese and coach Tom Coughlin that the decision is only about whether he wants to play or retire, it is widely assumed that Strahan would like to have the contract improved before reporting back to the team.

But sources also indicate that Strahan is aware of the likelihood that no more money is coming his way, and if he does decide to return to the team, he will do so at his current salary.

Strahan is currently being fined $14,000 per day, although any fine money could be rescinded if there is a quick resolution to the situation. If Strahan stays away much longer, however, it is uncertain whether the Giants would even consider reducing the fines.

The fact that Strahan and team officials talked on the eve of Simeon Rice taking a physical with the Giants tells me that Strahan is definitely feeling the pressure of his situation. The fact that the Giants said they did not intend to immediately sign Rice, who is still rehabbing from a shoulder problem, gave them some wiggle room with Strahan as far as the time factor is concerned.

The gut feeling at this point is that Strahan does come back, and that the team sticks to its stance of not paying him any more money. It also sounds as if Tom Coughlin will insist that Strahan not dwell on his future beyond this season the way Tiki Barber did throughout last season, lest it create an unnecessary distraction.

As for what to do with Rice, it’s fine to bring him in and kick the tires. But the guy can’t play for another few weeks, and there’s no sense signing him now, especially with Strahan apparently softening his position. And Osi Umenyiora was right: There’s no place for Rice to play. He’s a rush end who lines up on the right side (Umenyiora’s spot) and moving him into Strahan’s spot would be a disaster, because Rice is not an adequate player against the run.

UPDATE: Rice showed up yesterday for a physical, which he passed. Which only proves how subjective the issue of physicals are. Consider: Luke Petitgout failed the Giants physical early in the off-season, and then passed the Bucs' physical before signing. Go figure.

Here's another reason I think Eric Mangini is one of the brightest young coaches in the game.

The level of detail he uses to orchestrate practices is simply uncanny. Last year, he blared all sorts of music during practice to make the players concentrate more intensely on what they had to do. But these days, he's more inclined to pipe Mozart through the loudspeakers at practice.

And there is a reason it's Mozart and not some other composer or trendy group from today's music. Turns out Mangini had heard that people who listen to Mozart in a learning environment actually pick things up more quickly.

"From different studies they assume, and I may be a little wrong on the technical side, but Mozart's music and brainwaves are very similar, and it stimulates learning," Mangini said. "They play it in a lot of schools around the country kind of underneath, very low, to do that. So I thought if that's the case, why not give it a shot?"

More Mangini: "I bought all the Baby Mozart when [sons] Jake and Luke were young. I didn't really know why I was buying it. But then talking to different people, somebody brought it up and someone else reinforced it. I looked into it, saw that there had been studies on it, so I thought there might be something there."

Very cool stuff.

Cardinals first-year coach Ken Whisenhunt hinted that wide receiver Anquan Boldin might be doing more than just catching the football. Whisenhunt might throw a few option passes and run occasionally from scrimmage. Then again, by Whisenhunt saying so publicly, he might be trying to lull opposing defensive coordinators into a trap. Either way, it should be interesting for Boldin, who played some quarterback at Florida State. He has thrown just two passes in four years with the Cardinals . . . Former Bills and Texans receiver Eric Moulds did enough for Titans coaches to warrant a one-year deal this week. The three-time Pro Bowl receiver has more career catches (732) than all six receivers already on the Titans roster combined. The Titans had hoped to sign Keyshawn Johnson, but he decided to retire and join ESPN as a television analyst . . . Browns center LeCharles Bentley has had four surgeries on his left knee since the opening day of training camp last season, when he tore the patella tendon. The last two surgeries were performed by Giants team physician Dr. Russell Warren, who recently cleared Bentley to play again. But the Browns are being conservative, placing him on the physically unable to perform list until he improves his strength . . . Derek Anderson has the inside track over Charlie Frye to be the Browns’ starting quarterback this season. Rookie first-round pick Brady Quinn, who was a holdout when camp opened on Friday, is not expected to start right away . . . We’re still not sold on the idea that Priest Holmes will definitely play this season, despite the fact that he’s reporting to Chiefs’ training camp. He hasn’t played since suffering a serious neck injury in 2005.

Look like Michael Vick’s goose might be cooked already.

The fact that one of his co-defendants, Tony Taylor, is ready to cop a plea on Monday morning could be very, very bad news for Vick.

While no one is certain about just what Taylor will plea to, an early plea bargain generally means someone is willing to cooperate with prosecutors. If Taylor has further damaging evidence against Vick, then any chance of the quarterback getting off on the charges is that much more difficult.

A few days ago, I brought up the possibility that sometime down the road, Vick might somehow get back in the good graces of the NFL once his case was completed. But after seeing the vitriolic reaction among locals at the team’s Flowery Branch training facility, and after visiting with the team at the opening of camp, I am almost completely convinced that Vick is finished with the Falcons for good unless he is completely exonerated of all charges. And even then, I think Vick might have burned his bridge completely with team owner Arthur Blank, who is livid at what's going on.

As for Vick getting a chance with another team, that’s not going to be easy either. Not only does Vick face the possibility of prison time, but right now, he is as radioactive a personality as anyone has ever been in pro football. And if Taylor’s plea deal on Monday proves to be more damaging in the case against Vick, then the chances of him ever playing again are greatly reduced. If not gone altogether.

Good news from athetlic manufacturing giant Nike today. The company announced it was suspending its commercial deals with Michael Vick apparel in light of the heinous allegations of dog-fighting that Vick has pleaded not guilty to in federal court.

Earlier in the day, Reebok announced it would no longer sell Vick-branded apparel.

It's no surprise that the companies would bail on Vick, just like the NFL, which has barred the Falcons quarterback from attending training camp until it completes a review of the allegations against him.

Vick is as big a commerical pariah as anyone in recent memory; O.J. Simpson might be the only more radioactive athletic figure than Vick.

Wayne Pacelle, president and CEO of The Humane Society of the United States, expressed appreciation and gratitude to Nike for suspending its commercial relationship with Michael Vick.

“The allegations against Michael Vick are so serious and disturbing that The Humane Society of the United called on his corporate backers to end their commercial relationships with the star player ,” said Pacelle. “We are very pleased that Nike has today signaled it has a zero tolerance policy for athletes who may be involved with staged animal fights and other forms of malicious animal cruelty by indefinitely suspending its relationship with Vick.”

Nike's statement reads as follows:

“Nike has suspended Michael Vick’s contract without pay, and will not sell any more Michael Vick product at Nike owned retail at this time. As we’ve said before, Nike is concerned by the serious and highly disturbing allegations made against Michael Vick and we consider any cruelty to animals inhumane and abhorrent. However, we do believe that Michael Vick should be afforded the same due process as any citizen in the United States, therefore, we have not terminated our relationship”

92 didn't show up for camp today, and is apparently contemplating retirement.

Then again, we suspect if the Giants had ponied up with a few mil extra on his contract, he'd have been on hand talking about how much he loves camp and how he might never retire.

Surely it's getting harder for the 14-year veteran to get motivated to play, but Strahan is also clearly concerned that his $4 million salary is under market value; it actually is for a player of his caliber. His problem: He's 35 years old and he's had injuries two of the last three seasons.

When he's healthy, Strahan remains one of the top all-around defensive ends in the game. There is no doubt in my mind about that. But GM Jerry Reese, who has taken a hard line with other players this season - see: his release of left tackle Luke Petitgout early in the off-season - isn't inclined to re-do the deal that has two years to go on it.

The temptation is to say Strahan is in the wrong, that he should honor his contract, report to camp and just live with it. And if he's looking for more scratch to pay off his divorce settlement, then tough luck.

But the reality is that NFL contracts are relative, and it's commonplace for teams to re-do deals well before they expire. The general rule of thumb is to never let one of your better players get to the final year of his deal, although there are always exceptions.

In Strahan's case, what I would do if I were Reese is this: Tell Strahan the team is willing to at least consider revisiting the deal, perhaps waiting until the season is well underway to see whether Strahan is back to full strength after his foot problems last year. Strahan has generally been a resilient player, and keeps himself in terrific condition, and he is clearly a man on his way to the Hall of Fame.

So it's appropriate for Reese to treat this case somewhat differently than he might another player, because Strahan is one of the team's all-time greats. You can play hardball with other players, but not Strahan. He's done too much for the franchise, and he has too much good football left in him not to at least make some accomodation.

I hope the guy plays again. I really do. He's one of the handful of guys you enjoy watching every Sunday, and his level of play still still high enough to make a huge impact.

Ok, you should know that training camp is probably the most enjoyable time of the year for a football writer. Plenty of fresh stories. Plenty of optimism. No one has lost a game.

But the scene outside the Falcons headquarters today tops the charts on bizarro opening days. Never seen anything like it. Maybe because it's never been seen before.

About 125 protesters from animal rights groups on one side of the road, and maybe a dozen Michael Vick supporters on the other. Screaming at each other. Yelling insults. Sometimes swearing. Then there were a hundred or so other folks who just wanted to watch training camp practices.

The animal rights protestors brought plenty of signs - like "Michael Vick: Role Model to Parole Model" and "NFL. Sack Vick!" Another sign spelled out Vick's initials with the words: "Vicious Inhumane Cruel Kills Animals!" The other side brought a few makeshift signs saying, "We Love Michael Vick" and "Vick is the Man" and "Let Vick Play."

There has never been a more volatile scene at an NFL training camp. Then again, there has never been a star player accused of such gruesome treatment of animals. Among other things, Vick is being charged with destroying under-performing fighting dogs by strangulation, drowning, electrocution and hanging.

Several hundred miles to the north in Richmond, Va., Vick entered a plea of not guilty, as hundreds more protestors showed up to voice their displeasure.

With a trial date of Nov. 26 looming, this is not going away any time soon. And with Vick hiring high-profile lawyer Billy Martin, who knows how long a trial might last? Or whether Martin's end game will be to cop a plea, as long as Vick doesn't do jail time.

It's still not a done deal that Priest Holmes returns all the way from a neck injury, but it won't be for lack of trying.

Holmes has indicated to the Chiefs that he will report to the team's training camp later this week in River Falls, Wisc.

Team president Carl Peterson indicated that he might put Holmes on the physically unable to perform list so that the team can gauge his fitness. But so far, all systems are go for one of the prolific running back, who missed all of last season with a neck injury. He was injured in the seventh game of the 2005 season.

It's still not out of the realm of possibility that Holmes does not play this year, especially if the Chiefs coaching staff feels as if he'd risk further injury. But at least he's gotten this far.

By all indications, the Falcons are doing everything possible to distance themselves from the player who has been the face of the franchise since 2001. Their announcement yesterday that they had planned to suspend him four games and their unwillingness to guarantee he will be their quarterback once the case is resolved suggests that Vick's future is tenuous at best.

Now the question begs: Is Vick through in Atlanta? And for that matter, is he through with the NFL?

Answer: Not necessarily.

While it all looks bad for Vick now - as it should, considering the gruesome details of his alleged involvement in the operation - we are still in the very, very early stages. Time will pass, and the courts will eventually decide the matter, and that includes the possibility that Vick pleads out and does some jail time or is slapped with a heavy fine and lengthy probation.

But who's to say Vick can't eventually restore his reputation, the way other athletes caught up in criminal activities have? Does the name Ray Lewis ring a bell?

The Ravens' star linebacker was accused of a double murder in Atlanta following a post-Super Bowl party in January, 2000 and spent 15 days in jail. After months on trial, Lewis was cleared of the murder charges in exchange for a guilty plea to obstructing a police investigation and was fined $250,000 by NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue, the largest player fine ever. The negative publicity against Lewis was 10 times worse than it is for Vick.

A year, later, he won Defensive Player of the Year and led the Ravens to the Super Bowl.

These days, Lewis is known as a football player, with very few references to his involvement in the murder case.

I'm not comparing the crimes of Vick and Lewis. But it's worth pointing out that athletes - or other public figures, for that matter - can overcome horrific circumstances over time. Vick's alleged behavior is reprehensible, and he must pay his debt to society. But it's just too early to say it's over for him as an athlete, especially if he fesses up, helps animal rights causes, and turns into a decent human being.

Once the court case is completed, Vick must undergo the kind of public makeover that will allow him to move on from this ugly chapter in his life and resume his career. And it's silly to think that he can't make some kind of amends, even if the charges stick and he is imprisoned for his misdeeds.

Vick can start by turning his home in Virginia, once a burial ground for dead fighting dogs, into a rehabilitation center for animals.

He can stand up and say how wrong he was in front of the good folks from places like People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, The Humane Society and the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. And he can back up that remorse by donating hundreds of thousands of dollars of his own money to those and other animal-related organizations.

And he can offer himself up as an example to other would-be breeders to make sure they don't get involved in something that is completely barbaric.

The first step is an acknowledgement that what he actually did was wrong, something Vick might not be able to do just now because he still doesn't understand how brutal his behavior has been. But if he comes to realize the enormity of his alleged involvement, then he can begin to repair an image that is so broken that his future in football is uncertain at best.

If not, then he should never throw a football in the NFL again.

In the wake of the gambling scandal now threatening the very underpinnings of the NBA, it's fair to ask: Could it happen in today's NFL?

It's been more than 44 years since Alex Karras and Paul Hornung were each suspended for a year by then NFL commissioner Pete Rozelle for betting on games, and the league has done an exemplary job ever since in preventing a repeat.

And while it's silly to think something like that could never happen again, and while NFL games are routinely bet on from Vegas to your nearest office pool, the chances of fixing games have been greatly reduced. Thanks to the NFL's vigilance in addressing the issue, we haven't seen the kind of integrity-threatening behavior that basketball is now experiencing.

It's right there in big bold letters in every NFL locker room: NFL GAMBLING NOTICE.

It's followed by these no-no's for all players and coaches:

1. 1. Accepting a bribe or agreeing to throw or fix a game to illegally influence the outcome of a game.

2. Failing to report promptly any bribe offer or any attempt to throw or fix a game to illegally influence its outcome.

3. Betting on any NFL games.

4. Association with gamblers or with gambling activities in a manner intending to bring discredit to the NFL.

Any such conduct may result in severe penalties up to and including fines and/or suspension from the NFL for life.

Pretty strong words, wouldn't you say?

The league has also gone to great pains to spread the word in annual security meetings during training camp, which will take place shortly for all teams. And officials are greatly scrutinized throughout the season. Consider: Every single official is graded on every single play in every single game in every single season.

So the chances of a gambler getting to an official are greatly minimized. Not only that, but the league makes a good point in reminding us that it's really not such a bad idea having part-time officials. All of them undergo thorough background checks, they are highly successful individuals, from school principals, to attorneys, to millionaire real estate developers. By drawing on high-character men to officiate the games, it further lessens the possibility that they'd fall prey to a gambling element.

Again, it's not out of the realm of possibility that the NFL could see another betting scandal like the one that rocked the league nearly five decades ago. But it sure isn't likely.

The Humane Society has reacted favorably to the NFL's decision to prohibit Michael Vick from attending training camp until the league has additional time to decide his fate and perhaps suspend the quarterback for a significant period of time.

"Officials from the National Football League rightly recognized that it just cannot be business as usual for Vick and the Falcons with this chilling set of facts laid out in the federal indictment," said Wayne Pacelle, president and CEO of The Humane Society of the United States. “The NFL has taken an important first step, and it is our sincerest hope that Michael Vick not suit up for play prior to the resolution of these serious charges in federal court.”

According to the Humane Society, more than 263,000 individuals contacted the NFL through The HSUS’ online advocacy campaign, which began last week after a federal grand jury charged Vick and three co-defendants with allegedly operating a multi-state dogfighting ring. The HSUS urged the NFL to suspend Vick until the charges against him are aired in court.

The campaign has generated more online actions, more quickly, than any other campaign for the organization (only Hurricane Katrina responses numbered higher). Animal advocates generated a wave of activity that shut down The HSUS’ website (humanesociety.org) for long period of time Wednesday and Thursday.

The HSUS is renewing its call for Nike to sever its relationship with Vick while the dogfighting charges are pending.

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell has ordered Michael Vick to stay away from Falcons training camp until the league has completed a review of last week's indictment by a federal grand jury in Richmond, Va. for his alleged participation in an interstate dog-fighting operation.

Goodell gave strong hints that his powers as commissioner allow him to suspend the embattled quarterback for conduct detrimental to the league.

"While it is for the criminal justice system to determine your guilt or innocence, it is my responsibility as commissioner of the National Football League to determine whether your conduct, even if not criminal, nonetheless violated league policies, including the Personal Conduct Policy," Goodell wrote today in a letter to Vick.

Vick will not forfeit his preseason pay during his excused absence from training camp.

Goodell also told the Falcons to withhold any discipline of Vick until the league's review is completed. Goodell indicated that the review would be done as quickly as possible, although he offered no firm timetable.

Bottom line: Vick will in essence disappear from the NFL's radar screen until further notice. And you can expect that he will remain away from the Falcons - perhaps for the entire season, perhaps even his career - as a result of his current legal predicament.

One complicating factor in all this: Goodell's strengthened personal conduct policy, which was drawn up in concert with the NFL Players Association, is generally designed to severely punish repeat offenders. The difference with Vick is that this is his first major involvement with law enforcement.

But if what is included in the indictment of Vick and three others turns out to be true, then he essentially has been a repeat offender, since his activities involved in illegal dog-fighting go back to 2001. So just because it's the first time he's been caught doesn't mean his alleged actions - heinous every one of them - should mean a slap on the wrist with no serious consequences.

On the contrary. If federal authorities can prove their case against Vick and the others, then he deserves at least a one-year suspension. At least.

Mark W. e-mails us to rant about not putting the Steelers among the top 10 questions heading into the NFL season. Ah, what would the first week of training camp be without a "no respect" cry from a Steelers fan?!?!

Only this time, Mark is right ... sorta.

The Steelers are absolutely a huge story heading into training camp. Truth be told, we had him in our top 10, but had to make some adjustments due to the indictment last week of Michael Vick on being involved in an illegal dog-fighting operation.

So, Mark, here's what we had that never made it off the cutting room floor for the print edition:

Can Mike Tomlin turn around the Steelers? With Bill Cowher moving on after a terrific run in Pittsburgh, Tomlin inherits a team that can do plenty after an underachieving year in 2006. The former Vikings defensive coordinator, who has never been a head coach, has a terrific quarterback in Ben Roethlisberger, and a solid defense that he’ll make even better. It won’t be surprising at all to see the Steelers back in playoff contention.

This is easily the strangest week leading up to training camp we've experienced in 23 years of covering the NFL.

This is usually one of the best times of the year, especially for a football writer, with all kinds of stories beckoning with the beginning of the new season: The Patriots are ready for a run. The Colts are gearing up for a Super Bowl defense. Can the Giants put it together? Will the Jets take the next step after last year's stunning playoff run?

But until the Michael Vick situation is resolved, we can't get into the meat of what training camp is all about. Something should happen by tomorrow, Wednesday at the latest, and perhaps even later today, given how fluid the situation has become.

But one way or another, the Falcons want his situation resolved - at least from a football standpoint - before players take the field on Thursday for their first training camp practice at Flowery Branch, Ga.

My gut feeling is that Vick won't get anywhere near the team's facility, which has already been picketed by a few dozen protesters from People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA). Those protests will invariably continue and even escalate, especially if the Falcons take no immediate action and Vick shows up on Friday, the day after he's arraigned on charges related to an illegal dog-fighting operation.

What happens to Vick? "All options are on the table," one league source told me of the talks aimed at seeking a resolution. That means Roger Goodell can still issue a suspension, as can the team. And it's not out of the realm of possibility that Vick is given a leave of absence, which seems like the most prudent course of action given the swirling controversy.

If Vick refuses to take a leave, or if the team and league don't take any action, it would create for a disastrous training camp situation, something first-year head coach Bobby Petrino simply doesn't want. It's enough that Petrino faces the likelihood that Joey Harrington will be his starting quarterback on opening day; having Vick around, especially given the virtual certainty that he'd be suspended at some point, is simply an untenable situation.

Stay tuned on this one. We can't really move forward until it's taken care of one way or another.