Michael Vick's representatives are working with league officials to complete plans for a meeting between Vick and NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, perhaps within the next few days, sources familiar with the deliberations said yesterday.

The outcome of the planned meeting could play a major role in Goodell's decision about whether to reinstate Vick from his indefinite suspension from the NFL, said the sources, who spoke to the Washington Post on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitive nature of the topic.

Two people familiar with the case said they believe it's possible that Goodell will opt to partially reinstate Vick, who was released from federal custody Monday and has missed the last two NFL seasons while serving his federal sentence for his role in a dogfighting operation in Virginia. That would allow Vick to sign with an NFL team, if any team is willing to sign him, and perhaps participate in training camp practices, but Goodell likely would postpone a decision about whether Vick would be eligible to participate in games during the upcoming regular season.

ESPN first reported Tuesday that Vick's meeting with Goodell could come today or tomorrow and a conditional reinstatement could be announced next week.

Several people familiar with the case stressed yesterday that Goodell does not appear to have made a firm decision about what he'll do and much could depend on what Vick tells Goodell when they meet.

League officials declined to comment about when Goodell will meet with Vick, and about Goodell's pending decision about Vick's eligibility to play.

STEELERS

NO CRIMINAL PROBE PLANNED IN QB CASE

Law enforcement officials in Nevada have no intention of opening a criminal investigation into allegations Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger raped a woman at a Lake Tahoe hotel-casino a year ago, the sheriff's department said yesterday.

Douglas County Sheriff's Deputy Teresa Duffy said the accuser would have to file a criminal complaint to trigger an investigation into the incident the woman says occurred during a celebrity golf tournament last July while she was working as an executive VIP casino host at Harrah's Lake Tahoe.

"The victim is the only one who can do that," Duffy told The Associated Press. "Unless there was a third party that actually witnessed the incident, which according to the civil case, was not the case here."

The 31-year-old Nevada woman has filed a lawsuit saying the Super Bowl winning quarterback raped her in a hotel penthouse across the street from the golf course, a claim his lawyer vehemently denies.

TRADE

LIONS SEND WR CURRY TO RAMS FOR DE HARRIS

Detroit has traded wide receiver Ronald Curry to St. Louis for defensive end Orien Harris.

Harris, 26, is 6 feet 3 and 300 pounds. He brings the size the Lions have been seeking for the defensive front.

In three seasons, he has bounced from Pittsburgh to Cleveland to New Orleans to Cincinnati to St. Louis and now to Detroit.