Richmond, Va. -- Falcons quarterback Michael Vick and his three co-defendants pleaded not guilty to federal dogfighting-related charges and asked for a jury trial in federal court Thursday, as his football team prepared to move on without him at its first practice of the 2007 season.

Vick and the others also waived their right to a speedy trial because of the complexity of the case, prompting the judge to set a trial date for Nov. 26, deep into the Falcons' schedule.

Michael Vick is free following his arraignment in federal court, but must surrender his passport and breeder's license.

BRANT SANDERLIN / AJC

vick in court • VIDEO: Vick apologizes to mom, teammates • PHOTOS: The scene in Richmond

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The Falcons will have played 11 of their 16 regular-season games by then. Vick will remain free until the trial, but his availability to play is unclear. The NFL has told him to stay away from training camp while the league investigates the charges.

Federal prosecutors also announced they plan to seek a "superseding" indictment soon, meaning more charges and defendants are possible and that additional details about the case could become public.

Moments after the hearing, Vick's attorneys proclaimed his innocence through a prepared statement they read to a crush of reporters outside the courthouse.

"Today you all either heard or saw Michael take the first step toward proving his innocence," said his attorney, Billy Martin.

"We intend to prove Mike's innocence at trial. We are conducting our own investigation. ... And we look forward to the opportunity to being able to walk inside this courtroom and saying to the world that Michael Vick is innocent."

Martin also read a statement from Vick, saying he takes the charges seriously while apologizing to his mother and teammates. Vick was not present at the news conference, though his mother, Brenda Boddie, stood beside his attorneys.

"Above all, I would like to say to my mom I'm sorry for what she has had to go through in this most trying of times. It has caused pain to my family and I apologize to my family," Martin read from Vick's statement before adding this about the embattled quarterback: "Michael wants the world to know that there is nowhere he would rather be right now than at training camp with his teammates."

A federal grand jury this month indicted Vick and three co-defendants -- Purnell Peace, Quanis Phillips and Tony Taylor -- on a charge of conspiracy to travel in interstate commerce in aid of unlawful activities. They also are charged with sponsoring a dog in an animal-fighting venture.

Prosecutors said Vick and the others face up to five years in prison and $250,000 in fines if convicted on the first charge. If convicted on the other charge, they could face up to one year in prison and $100,000 in fines.

Vick, dressed in a dark suit, blue shirt and a blue tie and matching handkerchief, sat flanked by several of his attorneys in court, appearing impassive and saying little. He respectfully answered "Yes, sir" to Federal District Court Judge Henry E. Hudson's many routine questions. And when asked for his plea, Vick declared "Not guilty."

At a separate bond hearing Thursday, Judge Dennis W. Dohnal determined that Vick was not a flight risk or a threat to the community and ordered his release with some restrictions.

Among other requirements, Vick and the others are forbidden from selling or buying any dogs or contacting anyone else involved in the case. They also must reside at their primary residences and surrender all travel documents. Vick was also ordered to give up any animal breeder or kennel licenses he might have.

Vick's co-defendants, because of prior records, received additional stiffer restrictions.

Peace, because of prior drug-related convictions in the 1990s, was ordered to submit to an electronic monitoring program and periodic drug and alcohol testing. Phillips has to do the same. And Taylor was ordered to undergo substance abuse evaluation and treatment.

The indictment says Vick and the others set up a business called Bad Newz Kennels to raise and train pit bulls for fighting. They staged the fights, according to federal prosecutors, in Smithfield, Va., on property Vick bought in June 2001. Prosecutors say Vick and his associates crossed state lines to participate in dogfights in several other states, including North Carolina, South Carolina, Maryland and New Jersey.

For their case, prosecutors are relying on four unnamed cooperating witnesses mentioned in the indictment.

Vick's name also is mentioned repeatedly in the document. The indictment says Vick, Peace and Phillips executed approximately eight dogs they determined not to be good fighters by several methods -- hanging, drowning and slamming at least one dog's body to the ground.

The indictment also says Vick and the others bet on the dogfights. And it details how Vick retrieved a book bag containing $23,000 in cash at one point to pay a winning opponent.

The case stems from a drug investigation involving Vick's cousin -- Davon Boddie -- on Vick's rural property in Surry County, Va. Boddie listed the property as his address after being arrested on a drug charge in April.

After they investigated the property, authorities said they found kennels, treadmills, a "rape stand" used to restrain aggressive female dogs during breeding, and 54 pit bulls, some with scars and injuries officials said were consistent with dogfighting.

During an interview in April, Vick blamed family members. He has declined comment since then.

"I'm never there. I'm never at the house," Vick said in April. "I left the house with my family members and my cousin. They just haven't been doing the right thing. The issue will get resolved."

Meanwhile, the indictment has jeopardized Vick's NFL career. On Monday, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell ordered Vick to stay away from the team indefinitely until the league determines whether he violated its player-conduct policy.

On Tuesday, Falcons owner Arthur Blank confirmed that before Goodell stepped in, the team had drafted the paperwork necessary to suspend Vick for four games and even discussed releasing Vick outright.

The dogfighting charges have sparked numerous protests from animal-rights activists, who have called on the NFL and the Falcons to suspend or fire Vick.

Dozens of these activists appeared outside the courthouse Thursday, some booing Vick and carrying sighs declaring: "Prosecute all dogfighters." Several of Vick's fans also appeared in downtown Richmond, wearing Vick's No. 7 jersey and declaring he is innocent until proven guilty.

"He is doing well," Collins Spencer III, a former CNN anchor Vick has hired to help him deal with the news media, said after the court hearings.

"It was an emotional moment for him. We thought the best thing was for him to appear in court and then to leave and go home."

-- AJC sports columnist Terence Moore contributed to this report.