Nike denies it has re-signed Michael Vick, one day after Vick's announcement

Nike has sacked Philadelphia Eagles backup quarterback Michael Vick, contradicting the player's agent who said on Wednesday that the shoe giant had re-signed him. "Nike does not have a contractual relationship with Michael Vick," Nike said in a statement issued Thursday. Vick was released from prison in May after serving time for killing dogs for sport and profit.

It's understandable that Nike would be wary of resuming business with a man convicted of running an illegal dog-fighting operation that horrified the nation. Yet on Wednesday, Mike Principe, managing director of Vick's agency, BEST, apparently believing that Nike had re-signed his client, announced as much at an event hosted by SportsBusiness Journal. Without disclosing details of an arrangement, Vick's agent, Joel Segal, said, "Mike has had a great relationship with Nike and is excited to be part of the Nike team again."