IRVING – Michael Vick and Leonard Davis were the top two picks in the 2001 NFL Draft. That may be where the similarities end.

Both have made headlines for their encounters with animals recently – but for very different reasons.

Last May, Davis was given the Compassionate Action Award by PETA for saving a horse that fell in a sink hole near his Chandler, Ariz., home. Davis drove his tractor across the street, put some straps on the horse's waist and used the tractor to pull the horse out. On Monday, Vick agreed to plead guilty to federal conspiracy charges for his role in a dogfighting ring.

Vick's impending prison term, which is expected to last at least one year, and a likely suspension from the NFL were a topic of conversation inside the Cowboys' locker room Tuesday, although some players were reluctant to speak about Vick.

"You gotta do the right things," Davis said. "You hate to hear that something like that has to happen, but we're no different than just the regular person out there. You can't really go around thinking we're above the law or nothing like that. We've got to watch ourselves, the things we do and the people we're around just as much as anybody else. The difference is we're in the public eye."

Wade Phillips was the Atlanta Falcons' defensive coordinator from 2002 to 2003 and replaced Dan Reeves as head coach for the final three games of the regular season in '03. Vick threw four touchdown passes to help Atlanta to a 2-1 mark under Phillips.

"Mike, with me, on the field worked hard," Phillips said. "And you just don't know what people are doing off the field, and he just made an awful, awful mistake and he's going to have to pay for it. But I don't think Mike Vick is a bad person. He made a bad life choice, certainly, but just being around him, guys that work hard and are honest with you at practice, I respect him that way. But certainly what he did nobody can [defend]."

Tight end Jason Witten is one of 12 players on the Conduct Advisory Committee that took part in a conference call with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell on Monday. Formed in February at the NFL Scouting Combine, the committee has been one avenue Goodell has used to get players' input on off-field behavior issues.

"I think it's a wake-up for a lot of players," linebacker Bradie James said. "Before we even thought about playing in the NFL, somebody's been around or heard about dogfighting. We were talking the other day that we didn't know it was a felony and then it became federal. But now, if whoever was in it and you've got a pit bull, you need to let the pit bull go. It's not even worth it."

VERNON BRYANT / DMN

The Cowboys beat Michael Vick and the Falcons last season, 38-28.

While not condoning the actions of Vick or Tennessee cornerback Adam "Pacman" Jones, who is suspended for the year, or Cincinnati receiver Chris Henry, who is suspended for eight games, veteran cornerback Aaron Glenn would like to see the league have mandatory meetings involving former players that have gone through hardships to help younger players deal with the pressures of being rich and famous.

Glenn said the hardest thing for players to do is to stop being friends with people from childhood who may be doing the wrong things.

"I know it's not easy to be in the situation he's in or for anybody who has grown up in a situation like I hear he grew up in. It's tough to change. It's not going to be easy for him unless he has some help," Glenn said. "Collectively, something has to happen where guys can get help, because it can only enhance themselves and the league. Nobody can say this doesn't give a black eye to the guy or the league. Am I right, or am I wrong?"