Michael Vick

[Hooch]

Falcons Release Vick

ATLANTA (AP)—Less than five years after the Atlanta Falcons signed Michael Vick(notes) to a $130 million contract, the suspended quarterback was released in a 98-word statement.

Before Friday’s announcement—a move that clears Vick to sign with any NFL team—general manager Thomas Dimitroff called the team’s former franchise player.

Dimitroff said Vick, who has missed two seasons while serving a prison sentence for running a dogfighting ring, deserved to hear first about his release. He said Vick “was upbeat” in the short conversation and was looking forward to moving on.

“Respect him as an individual and as an athlete in this profession. It was the right thing to do and I’m happy that we had a conversation today.”

Dimitroff said releasing Vick allows the Falcons “to have a clean slate going into the summer” and allows Vick the freedom to negotiate with other teams.

“I think what we thought about a lot was going into the summer, having a clean slate, not talking about this a lot and not having this be any sort of an issue at all, for Michael, for us,” Dimitroff said. “It was about being positive. It was about moving forward.”

Vick is eligible to immediately sign with a team even though he has not been reinstated by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell.