The Lions had veteran wide receiver D.J. Hackett in for a visit earlier this week. Hackett's agent, Kevin Robinson, told the Detroit News that he isn't sure if the Lions are ready to sign his client to a deal prior to training camp. Players report on Friday, but Detroit's first practice isn't until Saturday afternoon.

Bill Belichick spoke Thursday about Michael Vick. "You know, Michael's an outstanding player," Belichick said when asked about him on the first day of training camp. "He hasn't played in a couple years, but right now our focus is on our team and our players and trying to get the New England Patriots ready. So that's really where my attention has been. But he's a tremendous athlete. Where he exactly is right now, I don't know."

Michael Vick said Thursday that he is getting close to signing with a team, but declined to elaborate further. Vick made the comment to reporters as he left a courtroom after a hearing in his bankruptcy case. Asked about his progress in signing with a team, Vick said: "We're getting close." He declined to answer additional questions. Vick is free to sign with a team and could be playing in the NFL by week six. He also could play in one of a couple of football minor leagues if no NFL team signs him. His agent, Joel Segal, did not immediately return a telephone message.

The Ravens are the only NFL team that has acknowledged evaluating the pros and cons of signing Michael Vick. "We've had long discussions about Michael Vick and we have a feeling about how he would impact our team and not impact our team," coach John Harbaugh said on Tuesday. Previously, Baltimore general manager Ozzie Newsome, who declined to comment this week, had said that the team had enough quarterbacks.

The growing list of teams that aren't interested in Michael Vick now includes the Dolphins. "We don't have an interest," Dolphins General Manager Jeff Ireland said in a statement. "We like the players we have on our current roster." Speculation that Vick could join Miami had grown because of the team's propensity to use versatile players in the Wildcat offense.

If Derrick Mason doesn't return to the team after a sudden retirement, the Ravens won't have many options at wide receiver. They signed Drew Bennett last week, but he retired soon after because an injury. Fan House points out that the best available wide receivers are Amani Toomer, D.J. Hackett and Matt Jones. Baltimore has been linked to Joe Horn as well.

Willie McGinest will consider playing in the NFL for another season if he receives an interesting offer. McGinest would prefer to get an offer from the Patriots. "I do want to play, but only if the situation is right," McGinest told The Associated Press. "If not, I'm probably retired."

Special teams star Joshua Cribbs intends to report on time for Cleveland's training camp on Friday. Cribbs still hopes to renegotiate his six-year, $6.7 million contract that has four years remaining, a source said Saturday. Cleveland's first full-squad practice is August 1.

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones has reiterated that the team has no intention of signing Michael Vick. Jones has repeatedly denied any interest in Vick, but with a final decision expected on Vick's reinstatement and possible suspension looming, rumors have run rampant.

The Browns are close to signing first-round pick Alex Mack, and an agreement is expected to be reached on Friday. However, Cleveland is still far from getting all of their rookies under contract. Negotiations with second-round picks Brian Robiskie, Mohamed Massaquoi and David Veikune are going nowhere, sources told the Cleveland Plain Dealer.