Michael Vick might soon discover just who's interested in giving him a second chance.

Two people familiar with the meeting confirmed NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, Vick, agent Joel Segal and two other members of the suspended quarterback's team met yesterday at a security firm in New Jersey. The two people requested anonymity because the league has not acknowledged the meeting.

ESPN reported on its Web site last night that an anonymous source said Goodell had decided on a conditional reinstatement that would allow Vick to attend training camp if he signs with a team and that he also could be suspended for the first four games of the 2009 season.

Goodell told the AP on Tuesday, a day after Vick was released from federal custody, that he hoped to make a decision "in the near future."

Goodell suspended Vick indefinitely in August 2007 after the former Atlanta Falcons quarterback admitted bankrolling the "Bad Newz Kennels" dogfighting operation. Goodell has said Vick must show remorse and signs that he has changed before he would consider reinstating him.

SI.com first reported the meeting at Buckley Petersen Global Inc. in Allendale.

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger vowed yesterday to fight a Lake Tahoe casino hostess' rape allegations against him, calling them "false and vicious."

Roethlisberger was served with a civil lawsuit last weekend when he returned to Lake Tahoe, where a 31-year-old Nevada woman alleges the quarterback raped her in a hotel penthouse in July 2008. Roethlisberger was in Nevada on both occasions to compete in a celebrity golf event.

The woman did not file a criminal complaint.

"Saturday was the first I heard of her accusations," Roethlisberger said. "Her false and vicious allegations are an attack on my family and on me. I would never, ever force myself on a woman."

Roethlisberger, who is not married, said he would fight what he called "outrageous allegations," but said he would not discuss his private life or the lawsuit in the media.

NFL DRAFT GOES TO 3-DAY SCHEDULE

The NFL is making its already popular draft even more television-friendly, moving the first round to Thursday night.

Next year's draft will switch from a two-day, weekend format to a three-day event with the opening round in prime time for the first time.

The NFL said yesterday that the first round will begin at 7:30 p.m. EDT on April 22. The second and third rounds will start at 6:30 p.m. on Friday, with the last four rounds beginning Saturday morning.

The draft will continue to be televised by ESPN and NFL Network and held at Radio City Music Hall.

SOCCER

U.S. IN GOLD CUP FINAL AFTER 2-0 WIN

New players, same result for the U.S. men's soccer team.

Clarence Goodson scored at the end of the first half and Kenny Cooper at the end of the second to give the Americans a 2-0 victory over Honduras last night at Chicago, and a spot in their third straight CONCACAF Gold Cup final.

The Americans, winners of the last two Gold Cup titles, will play either Costa Rica or Mexico in Sunday's final at the Meadowlands.

Kamehameha alum Brian Ching grazed the crossbar in the 44th minute with a left-footed shot from close range.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

WHEATIES SEEKING ANOTHER FORMULA

Cereal maker General Mills Inc. said yesterday it will launch a new version of Wheaties it says is designed for athletes, with input from athletes such as NFL quarterback Peyton Manning and NBA star Kevin Garnett.

The Golden Valley, Minn.-based company says it is testing three types of the new version of Wheaties, with athletes and some readers of Men's Health magazine. It will announce the new product in September.

The company said in a news release the new version, called Wheaties Fuel, will not replace the 85-year-old original Wheaties when it hits stores in January.

Besides Manning and Garnett, other athletes working on the project include baseball player Albert Pujols, gold-medal decathlete Bryan Clay, a Castle High alum, and triathlete Hunter Kemper.

ELSEWHERE

Diving: China's He Chong followed up his Olympic gold with a world championship in the 3-meter springboard yesterday at Rome, pulling off one of the most difficult dives on his final attempt to beat out American Troy Dumais and Canada's Alexandre Despatie. Chong pulled off a forward 2 1/2 somersault with three twists in pike position, and received scores ranging from 7.0 to 8.0. He finished with 505.20 points.

Hockey: The Chicago Blackhawks say recently signed right wing Marian Hossa will undergo surgery today on his right shoulder to repair a small tear in his rotator cuff. The Blackhawks knew about the injury when they signed the five-time All-Star to a 12-year, $62.8 million contract July 1 and were hoping to avoid an operation. Hossa probably won't be ready for the opener against the Florida Panthers on Oct. 2.

WNBA: Two WNBA players will update their Twitter accounts during tomorrow's All-Star game. The league said that Alana Beard of the Washington Mystics and Swin Cash of the Seattle Storm will post messages pregame and postgame, during timeouts and at halftime. The game will be played at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn.

Football: Minnesota has signed cornerback Antoine Winfield to a five-year contract extension. Winfield, 32, was heading into the final year of his contract. He is coming off his first Pro Bowl appearance.