NFL News and Notes

(The Football Fanatics NFL Preview will begin on Thursday).

The Atlanta Falcons were hoping that beleagured quarterback Michael Vick wouldn't have to deal with the courts until after the season....wrong!

According to a summons issued Wednesday, the Falcons' quarterback is scheduled to make his first court appearance after being indicted by a federal grand jury on July 26. Vick faces multiple charges related to an alleged dogfighting ring at a home he owned in Virginia. July 26 is the same day the Falcons are scheduled for the initial on-field practice under first-year coach Bobby Petrino.

So instead of being in the huddle for the first training camp practice of what many NFL observers contend is the most crucial season of his career, Vick will be in a Richmond, Va., courtroom.

The quarterback is to appear for a 3:30 p.m. bond hearing in front of U.S. Magistrate Judge Dennis Dohnal. That will be followed by a 4 p.m. arraignment before U.S. District Judge Henry Hudson, who would likely be the presiding judge if Vick goes to trial.

The Falcons are scheduled to practice at 3 p.m. The court proceedings are expected to be brief. Bond will likely be set, and Vick will pay it and then be released. The expectation is that he will rejoin his teammates for the Friday practice, which is scheduled for 8:30 a.m.

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Daunte Culpepper finally has what he asked the Miami Dolphins for weeks ago - a chance to start over with a new team.

Miami released the former Pro Bowl quarterback Tuesday, wrapping up a contentious split between player and team. The move came one day before a breach-of-contract grievance filed by the NFL Players Association on Culpepper's behalf against the Dolphins was scheduled to be heard, and after Miami unsuccessfully tried for weeks to trade the 30-year-old.

Culpepper became expendable once the Dolphins made a trade six weeks ago with Kansas City for Trent Green, who'll be Miami's starter entering this season.

With training camps set to open in the next couple days, Culpepper -- who, in 84 games as a starter, has completed 64.2 percent of his passes for 21,091 yards and 137 touchdowns -- will be moving quickly to find a new club.

The Jacksonville Jaguars are thought to be among his potential suitors; coaches there told quarterbacks Byron Leftwich and David Garrard earlier this offseason that they would consider acquiring him before training camp if he was available. Culpepper had his best NFL seasons with the Vikings under coach Mike Tice, now an assistant head coach in Jacksonville under Jack Del Rio.

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Despite his continuing unhappiness with his contract status, six-time Pro Bowl guard Alan Faneca will report to the Pittsburgh Steelers' training camp on time next Monday afternoon, for what he reiterated will be his final season with the franchise.

The Steelers' top lineman, a team captain and a fixture at left guard since moving into the starting lineup midway through his rookie campaign, Faneca is entering the final year of his contract. Barring an extension, Faneca will be eligible for unrestricted free agency after the 2007 season. It is doubtful the Steelers would use the franchise tag to retain Faneca's rights.

The nine-year veteran skipped all of the Steelers' organized team activities (OTAs) sessions under first-year coach Mike Tomlin this spring. He did attend the mandatory minicamp in mid-May. But he missed one practice of that weekend session when he became upset at a comment one Pittsburgh official reportedly made and left the team's complex. Faneca then returned to the minicamp after a chat with Tomlin but made it clear he would not be back with the club until it convened for training camp at St. Vincent College.

Faneca said he will not allow his contract situation to become a distraction.