Falcons upset with Vick

For the third time in nine months, Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick is making headlines for all the wrong reasons.

Vick surrendered a water bottle to security at Miami International Airport that smelled like marijuana and contained a substance in a hidden compartment. He was not arrested and was allowed to board an AirTran flight that landed in Atlanta before noon Wednesday.

Miami police said Thursday it could be weeks before a decision is made on whether to file charges against the three-time Pro Bowl player.

Falcons owner Arthur Blank, General Manager Rich McKay and Coach Bobby Petrino met with Vick, who left team headquarters without speaking to reporters. McKay described Blank as being “upset” with the quarterback, whose $137 million contract was the richest in the NFL when Vick signed it three years ago.

Under Florida law, possession of less than 20 grams of marijuana is a misdemeanor punishable by up to a year in prison and a $1,000 fine. First offenders rarely do any jail time.

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Brain damage from hits on the field ultimately led to the suicide of former NFL defensive back Andre Waters, according to a forensic pathologist who studied Waters’ brain tissue.

Bennet Omalu of the University of Pittsburgh told the New York Times that Waters’ brain tissue resembled that of an 85-year-old man and that there were characteristics of early stage Alzheimer’s. Omalu told the newspaper he believed the damage was related to multiple concussions Waters sustained during his 12-year NFL career with the Philadelphia Eagles and Arizona Cardinals.

Waters was 44 when he committed suicide last November.

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The Miami Dolphins hope to complete their search for a coach by Saturday, and the front-runner appears to be San Diego Chargers offensive coordinator Cam Cameron, who kept his hotel room near the Dolphins’ complex Thursday night after a second day of interviewing with team officials.

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New England Patriots safety Rodney Harrison participated in the opening of practice Thursday but was still listed as doubtful for the AFC title game Sunday.... The Jacksonville Jaguars signed linebacker Daryl Smith to a five-year contract extension worth about $25 million.... The New York Giants made Kevin Gilbride their offensive coordinator, an expected move after he replaced John Hufnagel in the week leading up to the team’s final regular-season game.... Larry Coyer joined the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as an assistant head coach. He had been fired as defensive coordinator of the Denver Broncos.