Dungy: Vick will find his options restricted

From combined dispatches

Tony Dungy thinks Michael Vick will be back in the NFL this season, maybe even this week.

He’s still not saying where the 29-year-old free agent quarterback will land - or how many are interested.

In a telephone interview with the Associated Press on Wednesday, Dungy said Vick will be working from a small list of teams because many do not want to risk a potential backlash from fans.

“It’s a complex issue,” the former Indianapolis Colts coach said from his home in Tampa, Fla. “You have to get past the possible reaction of fans, and it has to be a team that has an opening and has [salary] cap room. I think Indianapolis would be a great place for him to develop as a person, but he’s not a fit with that offense. It’s going to be a lot like that.”

Dungy has been involved with prison ministries for years and now serves as Vick’s mentor.

Vick was convicted in August 2007 of conspiracy and running a dogfighting operation, sentenced to 23 months in federal prison and suspended indefinitely by the NFL.

But after serving his time and being released from home confinement July 20, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell conditionally lifted Vick’s suspension - allowing him to sign with a team.

While he waits, Vick is attempting to revive his image with a series of appearances.

He flew to Chicago for a Wednesday event hosted by the Humane Society of the United States. Vick also spoke to a small crowd Saturday near Atlanta, explaining to attendees that what he did was wrong.

EAGLES: Offensive lineman Todd Herremans could miss the rest of the preseason with a foot injury.

Coach Andy Reid says the starting left guard has a stress reaction in a bone in his foot just above the arch.

The injury means the Eagles probably won’t have their projected starting offensive line play together before the season opens Sept. 13.

TEXANS: Houston’s top draft pick, linebacker Brian Cushing, won’t play in Saturday’s preseason opener against Kansas City and could miss the second preseason game as well because of a sprained left knee.

Cushing did not practice and instead watched both workouts with a brace on his knee. Coach Gary Kubiak said no one is sure when he was injured, but the knee started bothering Cushing on Tuesday night, and he was taken for an MRI.

JETS: Left guard Alan Faneca will miss the team’s preseason opener against the St. Louis Rams because of a broken finger.

COLTS:ZZ Safety Antoine Bethea has cracked a bone in his right hand, leaving him on the sideline for both of Indianapolis’ practices.

Coach Jim Caldwell did not give a timetable for Bethea’s return.

KICKOFF: The NFL announced that Tim McGraw and the Black Eyed Peas would perform before the NFL season opener between the Super Bowl champion Steelers and the Tennessee Titans in Pittsburgh on Sept. 10.

McGraw and the Black Eyed Peas, both three-time Grammy winners, will hold a free concert open to the public at Point State Park.