Falcons looking to trade rights to Vick

FLOWERY BRANCH, Georgia (Ticker) - If Michael Vick makes it back to the NFL, it won’t be in an Atlanta Falcons uniform.

Falcons general manager Thomas Dimitroff said the team is seeking to trade the rights to Vick, who currently is suspended and jailed on federal dogfighting charges.

The announcement came as little surprise, since team owner Arthur Blank previously had said Vick did not figure in the team’s future.

But Dimitroff’s comments, which were part of an interview on the team’s web site, marked the first time the Falcons said they were looking to trade Vick.

“With regards to Michael Vick, we’ve decided to seek a trade of his contractual rights to another NFL club,” Dimitroff said. “We took a number of steps in the 2008 season, including using our first pick to draft a quarterback. We feel a trade is the best move for the Falcons, and it’s also in the best interest of Michael.”

Atlanta got more than it bargained for in last season in rookie quarterback Matt Ryan, who was drafted No. 3 overall and led the Falcons to the playoffs one year after a disastrous 4-12 season.

Vick is serving a 23-month jail term in Leavenworth, Kansas on federal dogfighting charges. He is expected to be released in July.

A former No. 1 overall pick in 2001, Vick has been suspended indefinitely by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, but Dimitroff said the will not preclude Atlanta from trading his rights.

“NFL rules allow teams to trade the contractual rights of suspended players,” Dimitroff said. “We have not been advised by anyone from the league office of any type of timeline regarding Michael Vick being reinstated. So, we don’t know when that might occur. That decision is up to the commissioner.”

Vick pleaded guilty in August 2007 to the federal dogfighting charge, admitting that he bankrolled the operation known as “Bad Newz Kennels” which was based on his property rural Virginia.

Court papers revealed disturbing details of the operation, including the execution of under-performing dogs by electrocution, drowning, hanging and other means.

Details of the operation prompted outrage against the once-popular Vick by various animal-rights groups.

In 2004, Vick signed a record $130 million, 10-year deal, but in November he filed for bankruptcy, claiming assets of $16 million and liabilities of $20.4 million.