Vick, Goodell hold secret meeting

RICHMOND, Va. - Michael Vick might soon discover just who's interested in giving him a second chance.

Two people familiar with the meeting confirmed the NFL commissioner, Vick, agent Joel Segal and two other members of the suspended quarterback's team met Wednesday at a security firm in New Jersey. The two people requested anonymity because the league has not acknowledged the meeting.

NFL spokesman Greg Aiello declined to confirm the meeting when contacted by The Associated Press on Thursday and insisted no decisions on Vick's future have been made.

"This is a serious matter," Aiello said in an e-mail. "We are engaging in a careful and thoughtful process."

Roger Goodell told the AP on Tuesday, a day after Vick was released from federal custody, that he hoped to make a decision "in the near future."

Goodell suspended Vick indefinitely in August 2007 after the former Atlanta Falcons quarterback admitted bankrolling the "Bad Newz Kennels" dogfighting operation. Goodell has said Vick must show remorse and signs that he has changed before he would consider reinstating him.

SI.com first reported the meeting at Buckley Petersen Global Inc. in Allendale.

Earlier Thursday, Vick's Virginia-based attorney Lawrence Woodward denied reports that Vick spent his first night of freedom at a Virginia Beach strip club.

"It is absolutely, categorically false," Woodward told the AP.

An Internet blogger reported Vick was seen at the strip club Atlantis on Monday night, hours after the electronic monitoring device he wore for two months under home confinement was removed. Woodward said Vick was not in Virginia Beach that night and was not at any strip club.

"He has been spending time with his family and friends and working with his advisers on legal matters and trying to get back to playing football," Woodward said.

Vick also denied the reports in an interview with the Daily Press of Newport News.

"That's crazy," he told his hometown newspaper. "That is the last place on my mind. I was out of town. I guess it's just someone trying to be hurtful."

Two dancers arriving at the club Thursday, who identified themselves as Tropical and Tara, said they did see Vick and NBA free agent Allen Iverson there Monday night.

Leon Rose, Iverson's agent, said the basketball star hasn't seen Vick since his release from prison.

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Associated Press Writer Steve Szkotak in Virginia Beach, Va., contributed to this report.