FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. (AP) — New coach Dan Quinn says the Atlanta Falcons made the right decision to cut ties immediately with Prince Shembo after the linebacker was arrested last week for killing a dog.
The team waived Shembo last Friday, the same day he turned himself in at the Gwinnett County Detention Center on a cruelty to animals charge.
Shembo's quick departure indicates that the Falcons are still sensitive to animal abuse eight years after star quarterback Michael Vick served an 18-month federal prison sentence for running a dogfighting ring.
The charges against Vick caused a national uproar over dogfighting in 2007. That same year, Falcons defensive tackle Jonathan Babineaux, who's still with the team, was arrested for his alleged involvement in the death of his girlfriend's dog, but the charges were later dropped.
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