Vick memo auction tops $10,000

WASHINGTON -- Bids topped $10,000 on Thursday on an Internet auction site for what an animal rights group says are notes from football star Michael Vick's speech apologizing for a dogfighting scandal.

The Humane Society of the United States is selling on eBay the single-page, six-point outline of the speech Vick gave at an Aug. 27 news conference in Richmond after pleading guilty in his dogfighting case.

The group is planning to put all proceeds in a restricted account dedicated to the prevention of dog fighting.

Bidding has been fierce since the group first offered the notes Tuesday, even though there is no verification that the notes were used by Vick.

Vick attorney Billy Martin said through a spokesman that the notes were not taken by Vick. The spokesman would not say whether an adviser or attorney wrote the notes for him.

Bodden pleads not guilty

Browns cornerback Leigh Bodden, possibly facing discipline from the NFL following his arrest at a Cleveland airport, expects to play in Sunday's season opener against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Bodden pleaded not guilty Thursday to misdemeanor charges of aggravated disorderly conduct and resisting arrest. He was arrested a day earlier after police accused him of driving in reverse down a one-way street and becoming verbally abusive outside Hopkins International Airport, where he said he was picking up his family.

-- AP