THE ATLANTA FALCONS HAVE RELEASED FORMER NOTRE DAME LINEBACKER PRINCE SHEMBO AFTER POLICE UNVEILED ANIMAL CRUELTY CHARGES AGAINST THE 23-YEAR-OLD. POLICE CORPORAL MICHELE PIHERA SAYS SHEMBO WAS LEFT ALONE WITH HIS GIRLFRIEND'S DOG LAST MONTH, AND WHEN THE GIRLFRIEND RETURNED, THE DOG WAS DEAD. SHE SAYS SHEMBO PROVIDED INCONSISTENT STATEMENTS THROUGHOUT THE COURSE OF THE INVESTIGATION. THE FALCONS RELEASED HIM ALMOST IMMEDIATELY AFTER THEY LEARNED OF HIS ARREST WARRANT FROM AUTHORITIES.