To Our Constituency:

Dennis Sprung and I have sent the following letter to the NFL Commissioner and therefore we certainly think that direct communication to the Commissioner is appropriate.

Ron Menaker

July 20, 2007

Roger Goodell
Commissioner, National Football League
280 Park Avenue
New York, NY  10017

Dear Commissioner Goodell:

As the Board Chairman and President & CEO of a 123-year-old sport-governing body, we are very much aware of the conflicting pressures you face in the matter of the Michael Vick indictment.

Michael Vick is not only a nationally known superstar, but he is also the face of the National Football League’s Atlanta franchise.  The Atlanta Falcons will not take any unilateral action on the matter because of the negative impact both in their financial liability and their on-field performance.  The buck thus stops with you as NFL Commissioner.

It is easy to take the position that you will just let the legal process play out, and that he is innocent until proven guilty, which is what the NFL and the Falcons, as well as the players association, have done to date.  However, the nature of the crimes described in detail in the indictment in this case are so heinous and repulsive that they should be strongly condemned by any civilized person.  This activity is anathema to everything the American Kennel Club stands for, and the millions of AKC registrants and competitors, many of whom have been NFL fans, unilaterally condemn it and those who perpetrated it.

It is common for state laws to recommend the immediate suspension of a teacher when charged with certain crimes.  To acknowledge the severity of Mr. Vick’s charges, we urge his immediate suspension.

Respectfully,

RONALD H. MENAKER Chairman of the Board		DENNIS B. SPRUNG President and Chief Executive Officer