Michael Vick opts out of 'Oprah' appearance; did Eagles, dog owners force him to scramble?

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Michael Vick opts out of 'Oprah' appearance; did Eagles, dog owners force him to scramble?

Michael Vick will not appear on the Oprah Winfrey Show. A report out of Philadelphia Thursday says the Eagles did not order Michael Vick to cancel his appearance.

LM Otero/AP Photo/File

This Dec. 12, 2010 file photo shows Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Michael Vick after an NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys, in Arlington, Texas. A spokesman for The Oprah Winfrey Show said Feb. 16 that representatives of the NFL star called late Tuesday to cancel his appearance on the show for personal reasons.

By Pat Murphy

Feb. 17, 2011, 2:58 p.m. ET

We know there are probably a lot of football fans, as well as dog lovers, who were looking forward to seeing Michael Vick squirm under the steely gaze and tough questions of .

It would have been great theater. Former successful quarterback, for running a dog fighting ring, in 2010, leading the Eagles to the playoffs.

But that won't happen now. After , Vick has told Oprah he's not coming.

Thursday, a report out of Philadelphia had they had anything to do with Vick's pulling out of the show.

A says he and others who adopted dogs rescued from Vick's operation were pressuring Winfrey to allow their voices to be heard during the show that was scheduled to be broadcast Feb. 24. There has been some speculation that Vick did not want to face that gauntlet of dog lovers.