Falcons won't cut Vick at this time

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga., Aug. 27 (UPI) -- The Atlanta Falcons on Monday said they would try to get signing bonus money back from Michael Vick but wouldn’t immediately cut ties with the quarterback.

Vick formally entered a guilty plea to conspiracy charges related to a federal investigation into a dogfighting operation. He is to be sentenced Dec. 10 with prosecutors suggesting he spend 12-18 months in prison.

The NFL earlier suspended Vick from the Falcons' training camp.

After entering the plea, Vick apologized, mentioning Falcons owner Arthur Blank by name.

Blank, during a news conference, said he accepted Vick's apology but added that he was "profoundly disappointed and saddened" by the actions Vick has admitted. He also said Vick wasn't cut from the team.

"Cutting him may feel better today, emotionally, for us and many of our fans. But it's not in the long-term best interests of our franchise," Blank said.

Atlanta General Manager Rich McKay said the team sent Vick a letter seeking to recover part of the $40 million signing bonus paid to Vick. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution said the team was looking to get back as much as $22 million.