"At the very latest, Roger Goodell will let Michael Vick back on the field in the regular season for the Eagles' fifth game (the sixth week of the season) in Oakland on Oct. 18 - unless he does something stupid again. If Vick continues to show remorse, remain pro-active in the anti-dogfighting campaign and doesn't stray from the zero tolerance behavior policy the Eagles set up, then Goodell could let him back a little sooner. But there's no way he should allow him to play in four weeks and overshadow the season opening weekend.

Goodell has already done the right thing and suspended Donte Stallworth for the season.

That takes care of two of the NFL's three most high-profile conduct issues.

So, what becomes of Plaxico Burress?

I've heard from sources that if any team wants to sign him, Goodell will suspend Burress for the first eight games of this season at a minimum, and potentially for the entire 2009 season. The law and order commissioner is not going to take it easy on Burress.

It's been quiet since Burress was indicted on Aug. 3 on two counts of criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree, a felony, and one count of reckless endangerment in the second degree, a misdemeanor. His lawyer predicts the trial won't take place before next spring.

Unless Burress plea bargains and goes to jail in the next few weeks, he is available to be signed by any NFL team for the 2009 season. But there's no chance Goodell will let him play right away. And as long as no team indicates they want to sign him, Goodell is under no pressure to make a ruling. The Jets, Bears and Bucs at one point had interest, but all have backed off.

Presumably, any team interested in signing Burress will first call the commissioner's office to determine if he's going to suspend him. They have the right to know if he will be available before bringing him in. As of the middle of last week, Goodell had yet to meet with Burress and no team had called the league office to get a feel for what Goodell will do."