PETA to NFL Commish: Sack Michael Vick!

Stripper mistresses (Joslyn Noel Morse) and baby mama drama (Tom Brady) make for good celebrity gossip. A federal indictment on dogfighting charges? That's another story.

A pop star (Britney Spears) buying a $3,000 dog she will neglect in a few days is sad, but still funny celebrity news. A federal indictment on dogfighting charges? Not so much.

Yes, Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick has managed to turn the worlds of sports, Hollywood gossip and animal rights on their respective heads this week.

Friday, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell met with animal welfare officials inside NFL headquarters Friday as about 50 PETA demonstrators took post outside, urging him to suspend Vick following his indictment.

"Sack Vick! Sack Vick!" chanted the demonstrators, organized by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, as they walked peacefully in front of the Park Avenue building.

Many held dogs who had "Sack Vick" signs on their backs and one woman brought a pit bull, the breed killed in the dogfighting ring that the Atlanta quarterback is accused of sponsoring.

Yikes. If anyone out there is happy, it's Beyonce and her fur-wearing diva pals, as someone new far much more worthy of PETA's wrath has now emerged.

The leaders of the demonstration focused on Goodell's recent suspension of Tennessee's Adam "Pacman" Jones for one year under the NFL's "personal conduct" policy, though Jones has not been convicted of any crime.

"We think they should do the same with Michael Vick," said Dan Shannon, an assistant director of campaigns for PETA. "We don't think their 'wait and see' attitude goes far enough. If they suspended Pacman Jones, they can suspend Michael Vick."

After Vick's indictment, the NFL said it would monitor legal developments in the case. Michael Vick is scheduled to be arraigned Thursday.

On Friday, though, NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy said:

"We agree with them that dogfighting is cruel, degrading and illegal. The alleged activities are very disturbing and we are extremely disappointed Michael Vick has put himself in this position. We are having extensive dialogue with numerous groups and individuals... and are reviewing all of our options to deal with this as quickly as possible."

An attorney for the Humane Society - which recently criticized Britney for buying a purebred pup on a whim - said she was disappointed in the NFL stance on Vick.

"There is a precedent in the Jones suspension," Sherry Ramsey said, adding that her group wrote to the NFL in May, offering to help educate players about dogfighting.

She says she did not receive a reply.

However, two letters written June 21 by the NFL to the Humane Society said warnings on animal fighting and animal cruelty are now being included in the annual briefings - to take place at all 32 training camps this summer - by league security staff to players.

"We are in total agreement that there is no place for animal cruelty and illegal animal fighting and take very seriously the allegations of dog fighting against Michael Vick," wrote Peter Abitante, Goodell's personal assistant.

"We do not condone this activity and will not tolerate cruelty or mistreatment of animals. If Mr. Vick or anyone associated with the NFL is found to have violated state or federal law, the commissioner will impose significant discipline under our personal conduct policy."

Well, here's hoping that this case is resolved promptly and Michael Vick gets what he has coming to him. And maybe that a nude Pamela Anderson decides to make an appearance outside NFL offices to protest dogfighting on behalf of PETA.

Hey, why not?