HAMPTON, Va. — Michael Vick is out of prison and headed home, broke and reviled for running a dogfighting ring, but hopeful for a second chance at his once-charmed life as a star NFL quarterback.

The suspended quarterback served 19 months in prison on the dogfighting conviction that capped one of the most astonishing falls in sports history — one that stole his wealth and popularity.

"Football is on the back-burner for now," said agent Joel Segal, who negotiated Vick's 10-year, $130 million contract with the Atlanta Falcons but will be asking for substantially less if his tarnished client's suspension is lifted by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell.

Falcons owner Arthur Blank said Vick deserves a second chance, but it won't be with Atlanta, which has severed ties with its former star.

Vick, who turns 29 in June, left the federal penitentiary in Leavenworth, Kan., by car early yesterday, undetected by hordes of reporters who had staked out the prison.

He was accompanied on the 1,200-mile ride by his fiancee, Kijafa Frink, a videographer and several members of a security team assembled by Vick's lawyers and advisers, a person familiar with the plans told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the person was not authorized to comment on the matter. The person did not know the reason for the videographer.

Vick was sentenced to 23 months in federal prison for financing a dogfighting conspiracy. He won't be released from federal custody until July 20, but his departure from Leavenworth begins a new chapter.

MEETING

'ROONEY RULE' TO EXPAND

NFL teams looking to hire general managers may soon be required to interview at least one minority candidate.

Commissioner Roger Goodell said yesterday the league's owners discussed expanding the Rooney Rule — which already applies to coaching openings — during the final session of their two-day meetings in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. No vote was taken, though Goodell indicated any changes could be made soon.

"It's a judgment I will make with the diversity committee," Goodell said.

The Rooney Rule is named for Steelers owner Dan Rooney, who was not at the meeting for a good reason: He's at what Goodell described as "ambassador school."

Rooney, a lifelong Republican, was picked by President Barack Obama earlier this year to be U.S. ambassador to Ireland.

"When he gets concluded with his tutoring, I will probably speak with him and we'll make a determination from there," Goodell said.

The Rooney Rule was born nearly seven years ago, when two lawyers threatened to sue the NFL if it didn't open up more opportunities for minorities. Rooney led a committee to develop a policy to stop what the league viewed as an embarrassing lack of diversity.

Expanding that policy to GMs isn't expected to meet much resistance.

"It's a good idea," Dolphins owner Stephen Ross said. "We certainly have it with the coaches and this would be expanding it to the general managers. From what I understand, we did follow that when we did hire Bill Parcells."

More talks were held yesterday on a 17- or 18-game regular season, but once again no vote was held and the league's analysis of such a move will continue.

"We did not take any action, but it was a very good discussion," Goodell said.

ELSEWHERE

Browns: Wide receiver and return specialist Josh Cribbs is not attending Cleveland's voluntary minicamp as he tries to get the team to renegotiate his contract. Cribbs, who has four years remaining on a six-year, $6.7 million contract he signed in 2006, wants a new deal said his agent, J.R. Rickert.

Cardinals: A benign, baseball-size tumor has been removed from the chest of Arizona defensive end Kenny Iwebema. Coach Ken Whisenhunt says the surgery was performed on Monday. The tumor was discovered during routine X-rays before the start of minicamp April 30. Iwebema was a fourth-round draft pick out of Iowa in 2008.

49ers: San Francisco cornerback Walt Harris could miss the upcoming season after tearing a ligament in his right knee. Harris, 34 and a 13-year pro entering his fourth year with the 49ers, was injured during Tuesday's practice in a collision with receiver Dominique Ziegler. Harris will need surgery on his anterior cruciate ligament.

Jaguars: Jacksonville waived receiver D'Juan Woods and acquired cornerback Tyron Brackenridge off waivers from the New York Jets. Woods, signed as a rookie free agent out of Oklahoma State in 2007, spent parts of the last two seasons on Jacksonville's practice squad.