Michael Vick wants a dog.

No, that’s not a joke.

“I would love to get another dog in the future,” Vick told theGrio. “I think it would be a big step for me in the rehabilitation process. I think just to have a pet in my household and to show people that I genuinely care, and my love, and my passion for animals.”

Baby steps, Mike. Baby steps.

You are just now regaining the trust from the fans. Let’s hold off on that dog thing a few more years.

It’s amazing what a great season can do for your image.

Michael Vick leads all players in Pro Bowl voting, just 18 months after he was released from prison.

“I think it’s just a credit to everything I’ve tried to accomplish on and off the field, just working as hard as I can to change things around, be a part of the solution and not the problem,” Vick said. “I changed my life and it just goes to show anybody can do it. It’s an unfortunate situation, the things that happened, I wish I could go back and change it all. I wish I could take it all back. The only thing I can do is move forward.”

Vick has 729,838 votes, nearly 39,000 more than Peyton Manning.

With each stellar Vick performance on the field, the more folks are starting to forgive and forget off the field.

And just like that, the Randy Moss era is over in Minnesota … again.

The Minnesota Vikings released Moss after his choice words during a postgame press conference on Sunday following the team’s 28-18 loss against the New England Patriots.

“This decision was made based on what we thought was in the best interests of the Minnesota Vikings, both in the short and long term,” head coach Brad Childress said in a statement. “We wish Randy the best as he moves forward in his career.”

Moss could land with a new team as early as Wednesday, though he didn’t appear in the league’s waiver report on Monday.

The writing was on the wall after this Moss outburst:

“I’m definitely down that we lost this game. I didn’t expect we’d lose this game,” Moss said. “I don’t know how many more times I’ll be in New England again. But I leave coach Belichick and those guys with a salute: ‘I love you guys. I miss you. I’m out.’ “

Indeed, he’s out … of a job.

Welcome to Minnesota, Randy Moss.

Playing in his second-straight “Monday Night Football” game, the wide receiver had four catches for 81 yards and caught Brett Favre’s 500th career touchdown, but the Vikings lost 29-20 to the New York Jets.

According to KARE reporter Dave Schwartz, Mossa at first refused to talk after the game and cursed at reporters.

Somewhere Bill Belichick is sitting in a hoodie and laughing his ass off if that report is true.

New England all knows something we don’t know when it comes to Moss, which is why the organization didn’t think twice when presented with the opportunity to trade him.

I failed to mention that the Vikings are now 1-3 and take on 1-3 Dallas next Sunday.

This could be the first of many Moss blow ups at this rate…

Football fans have short memories it appears.

According to Darren Rovell of CNBC, Michael Vick jerseys are in hot demand:

Sources tell CNBC that retailers in the Philadelphia area have placed big orders for Vick’s jersey since he was named the starter by Eagles coach Andy Reid this week.

“Certainly after coach Reid declared him the starter and offered his vote of confidence, demand and sales escalated and we did bring in more (jerseys) to meet customer needs,” said Jed Berger, senior vice president of marketing for Modell’s Sporting Goods, which brought Eagles No. 7 jerseys into its stores in Pennsylvania, Delaware and New Jersey.

Just a month ago, Dick’s Sporting Goods had no Vick jerseys in stock. Now they are gearing up for jerseys in time for Sunday’s game against Donovan McNabb and the Washington Redskins.

In this week’s episode of “Why Braylon Edwards is a Dummy,” the New York Jets wide received issed an apology for his DUI arrest on Tuesday morning.

I would like to apologize to my family, my fans, Mr. Johnson, Mike Tannenbaum, Rex Ryan and my teammates.I will respect the process that is in place and will fully cooperate with the league.

I am truly happy to be a member of the New York Jets and I hope I have the opportunity to retire here. I now have to regain the trust of my teammates, the organization and the fans.

Braylon’s beard had no comment on the arrest.

If a possible suspension from the NFL wasn’t bad enough, there’s a chance Edwards could face jail time if convicted on his DUI charge.

“The judge has been notified, pending the outcome of his case,” said Ed Ferenc, public information officer at Cleveland Municipal Court. ”If he’s found guilty, he will be called back to Cleveland and faces up to six months in jail and a $1,000 fine.”

Enjoy, Braylon!

Well, so much for Kevin Kolb getting his starting quarterback gig back.

Two days after Philadelphia Eagles head coach Andy Reid named Kolb the starter for Week 3, it was announced Michael Vick would start on Sunday against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

“When someone is playing at the level Michael Vick is playing, you have to give him an opportunity,” Reid said in a press conference. “This isn’t about Kevin Kolb’s play. You’re talking about Michael Vick as one the best quarterbacks in the NFL right now.”

Since replacing an injured Kolb in Week 1, Vick has dazzled on offense, passing for 459 yards and three touchdowns.

But the honeymoon will only last for so long.

It’s only a matter of time before we see Vick come back to earth.

When that happens, let’s see how short of a leash (pun intended) Reid has before considering returning to Kolb as the starter.

Do you think Vick will hold on to the starting role for the rest of the season?

Denver Broncos wide receiver Kenny McKinley was found dead in his home from an apparent suicide.

The 23-year-old McKinley was found dead in the second-floor master bedroom from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

“Everyone with the Broncos is shocked and saddened by the loss of Kenny McKinley,” team owner Pat Bowlen said in a statement. “He was part of the Broncos’ family and will be greatly missed by our organization. My most heartfelt condolences go out to Kenny’s family and friends.”

As a rookie, McKinley played in eight games for the Broncos before he was placed on the injured reserve with a knee injury. During the first week of training camp, McKinley suffered another knee injury, which ruled him out for the 2010 season.

Since 2007, it marks the third tragedy with the Broncos organization. Cornerback Darrent Williams was killed in a drive-by shooting in 2007 and running back Damien Nash collapsed and died after a charity basketball game.

“Kenny had a promising future on the football field, but more importantly, he was a great teammate whose smile and personality could light up the room,” head coach Josh McDaniels said in a statement. “This is a tragic loss for our football team, and his family is in all of our thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.”

Any hopes of the Oakland Raiders going 8-8 might have gone out the window on Saturday.

New quarterback Jason Campbell left Saturday’s preseason game against the San Francisco 49ers with a stinger — but that’s the least of his worries.

On the play before, Campbell injured his wrist and will undergo an MRI and X-Rays to determine how long he will be out.

With the season less than two weeks away, the Raiders have been struck hard by the injury bug. Running back Michael Bush broke his thumb and wide receiver Chaz Schilens underwent arthroscopic knee surgery and is questionable for Week 1.

Bruce Gradkowski will be the quarterback if Campbell is injured.

I would say I feel bad for the Raiders … but they are the Raiders. And there’s that whole Al Davis thing.

So enjoy another 5-11 season.

Anyone who watched two seconds of HBO’s “Hard Knocks” knows New York Jets head coach Rex Ryan has a filthy mouth.

A filthy f’ing mouth if you get my drift.

While profanity is the norm for a majority of professional coaches, former Indianapolis Colts head coach Tony Dungy said on The Dan Patrick Show last week that if he were in charge, he wouldn’t hire someone like that.

Well, needless to say, the Incredible Shrinking Fat Man was upset with Dungy’s comments.

“I’ve been a big admirer of Tony Dungy, and I’m sure a lot of people are, but he unfairly judged me, and that was disappointing to me,” said Ryan. “I’m always going to be myself and I’m a good person. Just because somebody cusses doesn’t make him a bad person. Just because a guy doesn’t cuss doesn’t make him a good person. I’ll stand by my merits.”

I can’t knock Dungy for being a Christian, but not hiring someone over their language is, well, pretty f’ing dumb if you ask me.

Sometimes a coach needs to be colorful with his language in order to get a point across to his team. In fact, same thing applies in the workplace.

Here’s hoping Ryan doubled the number of profanities just for Dungy.