Michael Vick should be allowed to keep nearly $20 million in bonus money even though his NFL career is on hold because of his role in a dogfighting operation, a lawyer for the players' union argued Friday. The NFL Players Association asked a federal judge to overturn a special master's decision that Vick should forfeit the bonus money because of his guilty plea. The former Atlanta Falcons' star faces up to five years in prison when he is sentenced Dec. 10. Dogfighting wasn't the issue at Friday's hearing. Instead, the arguments turned on interpretations of the NFL collective bargaining agreement. Union attorney Jeffrey Kessler argued that Vick's "roster bonus" should be treated the same as a "performance bonus," which can't be forfeited under the collective bargaining agreement. "A roster bonus is a performance bonus," Kessler said, explaining that Vick earned it simply by being on the Falcons' roster in 2005 and 2006 and that the money a player earns can't be taken back under the contract.

Suspended Atlanta Falcons' quarterback Michael Vick has agreed to set aside close to $1 million to pay for the care of the 54 pit bulls seized from his dogfighting operation. In court documents obtained by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Billy Martin, one of Vick's attorneys, said Vick will deposit $928,073 on Friday into an escrow account controlled by Martin's Washington law firm. The money is being set aside "to pay whatever restitution amount is ultimately ordered in this case," a court filing said, according to the Journal-Constitution. In court papers filed last week, the government asked U.S. District Judge Henry Hudson to issue a restraining order that essentially would freeze the money to fulfill Vick's legal obligation to cover the costs of caring for the dogs and finding homes for them.

Rams' quarterback Marc Bulger failed medical tests and has been ruled out for Sunday's game against Atlanta. The news came Thursday, four days after Bulger sustained a concussion against the Seahawks. Bulger left in the first quarter and was held out of practice Wednesday.

A judge on Tuesday scheduled an April 2 trial date for jailed Atlanta Falcons' quarterback Michael Vick on two state felony dogfighting charges. Vick's lawyer Lawrence Woodward requested a jury trial during the 5-minute session. The suspended NFL star did not attend the hearing in Surry County Circuit Court. Vick is being held in a Warsaw, Va., jail after surrendering on Nov. 19 to begin serving time for a federal dogfighting conspiracy conviction. Vick faces up to five years in prison when he is sentenced Dec. 10 in the federal case. The two state charges - beating or killing or causing dogs to fight other dogs and engaging in or promoting dogfighting - also are punishable by up to five years in prison each.

Warrick Dunn of the Falcons became the 22nd player in NFL history to rush for 10,000 yards, reaching the milestone with a 2-yard run Thursday night against the Colts. Dunn's short run up the middle came early in the second quarter. He finished the night with 70 yards on 17 carries, pushing him to 10,044 in his 11-year career.

Peyton Manning and the Colts are still trying to recapture their Super Bowl-winning groove. But they sure looked a whole lot more like themselves Thursday night. All it took was a trip to Atlanta. Manning threw three touchdown passes, Anthony Gonzalez had 105 yards receiving and the defending champs, after getting stunned with 10 quick points by the Falcons, rebounded for a 31-13 victory.

For the fourth time in five games, the Atlanta Falcons have switched starting quarterbacks with coach Bobby Petrino turning the job back over to Joey Harrington for the Thanksgiving night matchup against the Indianapolis Colts. Harrington, 29, has started eight games for the Falcons this season and has posted a record of 3-5, including two straight victories before being replaced by Byron Leftwich last week. Petrino had committed to Lefwich for the rest of the season when he elevated him to the top of the depth chart for the Oct. 21 game against New Orleans. But Leftwich suffered an ankle injury in that game, underwent surgery, and missed two games before returning last Sunday against the Tampa Bay Bucs. Leftwich struggled against the Bucs, turned the ball over three times, and was replaced by Harrington who led Atlanta to its only score in a 31-7 defeat. The former Jacksonville starter also suffered a tailbone injury against Tampa Bay. It is not known yet if he will be available for the Thanksgiving game.

Falcons' quarterback Michael Vick surrendered to U.S. marshals Monday, three weeks before his sentencing on a dogfighting charge, and was being held in a regional jail. Vick is scheduled to be sentenced Dec. 10 on the dogfighting conspiracy charge but turned himself in because he was anticipating a prison term, according to a court document. Vick could be sentenced to up to five years in prison.

Even though Joey Harrington led Atlanta to two straight victories, Byron Leftwich remains the No. 1 quarterback for the Falcons. Coach Bobby Petrino made it clear Wednesday that Leftwich will reclaim the starting spot as soon as he's healthy -- a stand that caught Harrington off guard. "That message has not been conveyed to me," Harrington said after working with the first team at practice, while Leftwich returned to the field with the second teamers. "That wasn't my understanding coming into today. But I'm not going to create a fuss. I'm going to do my job for this team." After the Falcons lost five of their first six games, Petrino announced that Leftwich would be the starter the rest of the year. He lasted just a little over a half in his first start Oct. 21, going down with a severely sprained ankle at New Orleans.

Joey Harrington took the hit. Alge Crumpler did the rest. Just before he was drilled to the turf, Harrington found Crumpler over the middle for a 30-yard touchdown with 20 seconds left to give the Atlanta Falcons a 20-13 win over the Carolina Panthers on Sunday. Crumpler, who returned after missing the previous two games with ankle and knee injuries, caught the short pass over the middle and sliced between safeties Chris Harris and Quinton Teal for the score. Harrington watched from his back after being hit by Thomas Davis then limped off the field as the Falcons (3-6) won their second straight game. The late score ruined the return of 43-year-old Vinny Testaverde, who limped around despite a sore right Achilles' tendon, but couldn't lead the Panthers (4-5) to the end zone. Their lone touchdown came on Ken Lucas' 27-yard fumble return as they lost their third straight and their sixth straight at home.