HOUSTON — Atlanta Falcons coach Dan Quinn is feeling better about his Pro Bowl center.
While Alex Mack again was listed as limited during Friday’s final practice before the Super Bowl, Quinn said he looked better than he thought the previous day after viewing the tape.
Mack is slowed by a fibula injury sustained in the NFC championship game.
Quinn said he is confident Mack will be “able to do on the things we’re going to ask him to do in the game. It’s going to hurt, but a lot of guys are playing through stuff.”
Star receiver Julio Jones [toe] and pass-rushing end Dwight Freeney [calf] also were limited in the final practice at Rice University.
But all three were removed from the injury report.
Also Quinn, the second-year coach, was chosen the Salute to Service Award recipient by the NFL and USAA.
Quinn won for his commitment to supporting the military and their families and will be recognized at the NFL Honors TV program today during which The Associated Press will announce its NFL individual award winners.
VICK TO RETIRE: Michael Vick, who rose to stardom with the Atlanta Falcons before he was sent to prison for running a dogfighting operation, told ESPN he is retiring from playing in the NFL.
The 36-year-old Vick, a dynamic dual threat with his speedy legs and powerful left arm, passed for 22,464 yards and 133 touchdowns during his 13 seasons with the Falcons, Eagles, Jets and Steelers. His 6,109 career yards rushing are an NFL record by a quarterback.
He did not play this season.
TITANS’ SPAIN REPORTED BEING DRUGGED, ROBBED: Authorities in Orlando, Fla., are searching for a woman suspected of drugging and robbing Tennessee Titans offensive lineman Quinton Spain.
An Orange County Sheriff’s Office report released Friday said Spain told deputies he was robbed of $113,000 in jewelry last week.
The report says Spain met the woman at an Orlando nightclub. They drove back to Spain’s hotel room, where the woman made him a drink. Spain told deputies he doesn’t remember anything after that until he woke up to find he was missing a $60,000 gold chain, a $40,000 Rolex watch and another gold chain worth $13,000.
Spain didn’t return an email seeking comment.
PIERRE-PAUL, ESPN SETTLE SUIT: New York Giants defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul and ESPN settled a lawsuit about the network’s disclosure of his medical records from a 2015 fireworks accident.
ESPN announced the settlement, saying it believes the network’s reporting about the injury was newsworthy and journalistically appropriate.
Giants spokesman Pat Hanlon declined comment.
FORMER PLAYERS TO HELP CONCUSSION RESEARCH: Former 49ers offensive lineman Randy Cross is among 30 retired NFL players who have pledged to donate their brains to concussion research.
Pro Bowlers Keith Sims and Shawn Springs also were among the players. More names will be released later this month.
The pledges are for the Concussion Legacy Foundation, founded by Chris Nowinski, the former WWE wrestler who has been among the most outspoken critics of the way the NFL has diagnosed and treated concussions over the years.
First Published February 4, 2017, 5:20 a.m.
