A high-profile defense attorney hired by Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger yesterday disputed a college student’s claim that the two-time Super Bowl winner sexually assaulted her at a Georgia nightclub. The 20-year-old told police Roethlisberger, who had been out barhopping with friends, assaulted her early Friday. Roethlisberger has not been charged.

A person with knowledge of the contract says the Philadelphia Eagles will pay Michael Vick a $1.5 million roster bonus due Tuesday.

MIAMI—Even if he was physically in town this week to visit with colleagues and renew old acquaintances in the media from his days as the Giants’ defensive coordinator, Rams coach Steve Spagnuolo is about as far from the Super Bowl as you can imagine. He had about as rocky a first year as any coach; the Rams went an NFL-worst 1-15. But once Super Bowl XLIV is over, the attention quickly will turn to Spagnuolo and the Rams. With St. Louis owning the No. 1 pick in the draft, the speculation already has begun about what the Rams will do.

Vick shows rebuilt life on docu-series

Coach Jim Schwartz said the No. 1 overall pick in the 2009 draft was expected to have undergone the surgery after the season. But Stafford was placed on injured reserve Wednesday after a physical exam indicated he wouldn’t be ready to play in the Jan. 3 season finale against Chicago. Gonzalez sprained ligaments in his right knee in the season opener and later had arthroscopic surgery on the knee, delaying his return.

Vick won the Ed Block Courage Award, voted on by his teammates on the Philadelphia Eagles. The once-disgraced star quarterback returned to the league after spending 18 months in a federal prison for his role in a dogfighting ring. Byrd, who leads the NFL with nine interceptions, was placed on injured reserve yesterday, becoming the 18th Bills player this year to go on the season-ending list. Though he’s started 11 of the past 12 games, Byrd’s been bothered by a groin injury related to surgery he had to repair a sports hernia last summer.

ATLANTA - When Michael Vick finally made it back to the end zone, a place he hadn’t been in more than three years, he was torn about what to do. A Lambeau Leap? Nah, that would’ve taken too much effort. Instead, he wanted to reward one of those fans who cheered his return to Atlanta. Only one problem - when he flipped the ball toward the stands, it got caught up in the net going up for the extra point.

A federal appeals court is backing the judge who ruled against the NFL and let quarterback Michael Vick keep more than $16 million in roster bonuses from the Atlanta Falcons.

He’s out of prison, back in the NFL, and now Michael Vick is going to star in his own television series.

Nike says it does not have a “contractual relationship” with Michael Vick, a day after the quarterback’s agent announced a deal with the manufacturer.

On Sunday, Michael Vick returned to regular season play in the NFL. He saw some action in a game in which the Philadelphia Eagles really did not need him. The atmosphere surrounding the story resembled that of the circus, which does not surprise. We are what we are. As an editorial in The New York Times reports, one vendor is marketing Vick jerseys for dogs; an animal rescue group is offering dog food donations for every sack of Vick. Send in the clowns.

PHILADELPHIA (AP)—Michael Vick’s return to the NFL was ordinary at best. The moments before it happened though, lifted his heart and made his day.

PHILADELPHIA—Superman. The Wildcat Originator. Michael Vick has the nicknames ready. All he needs is a chance to play. After spending 18 months in federal prison and sitting out the first two games as the final league penalty for his role in a dogfighting ring, Vick is eligible to play his first regular-season game in 33 months when the Philadelphia Eagles host the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday.

New England quarterback Tom Brady missed last season after suffering a knee injury in the opener. The Boss is back. Time for the Patriots—and the NFL—to rock again. Tom Brady, the NFL’s version of Springsteen/Bono/Petty, is throwing passes and avoiding paparazzi, and pro football is the better for it. This guy is no halftime act at the Super Bowl. He’s the reason New England again is favored to play in the big game.

As if Notre Dame Coach Charlie Weis hasn’t been reminded enough, a billboard a half mile from his office provided another indication of his on-the-hot-seat status. It reads: “Best wishes to Charlie Weis in the 5th year of his college coaching internship.—Linebacker Alumni.“ “Everything was great until the last word,“ Weis said, laughing with reporters. “So tell them, ‘Thanks a lot for wishing me best wishes.‘“