Richmond, Va. -- Michael Vick drew a loud response — both cheers and jeers -- as he was escorted by U.S. marshals into the Lewis F. Powell federal courthouse shortly before 3 p.m. Thursday.

He entered a plea of not guilty to the dogfighting charges that have jeopardized his future with the Falcons and the NFL.

BEN GRAY / Staff (ENLARGE)

Radio hosts from The Morning Sludge on Y101 broadcast (and protested) from the U.S. Courthouse in Richmond, Va., where Michael Vick is set to appear July 26 on federal dogfighting charges.

Vick's appearance here -- his second since the dogfighting indictment -- drew a phalanx of news cameras across the street from the building.

It also drew animal-rights protesters, who police restricted to a gated area across the street from the courthouse and who appeared to greatly outnumber a smaller group of Vick supporters.

Early Thursday, protesters from People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals lined up in front of the federal courthouse with Michael Vick protest signs and solemn faces. One sign, bearing a picture of a scarred pit bull, read, "Prosecute all DogFighters. Justice for All Victims."

"We are just going to be peaceably demonstrating about this issue, sending a message to the federal government that people want to see this case prosecuted vigorously," said Dan Shannon, PETA's assistant director.

"We don't want to lose sight that Michael Vick is not the end of the problem.

"There are a lot of people who aren't as famous that are involved in this sort of thing and they also need to see their day in court eventually."

Three loud Falcons fans, who drove down from Boston, came to counter the protesters. One held a sign that read "PETA = Hypocrites." Another held one that said, "Let Vick Play."

"There are a lot of serious allegations, but he hasn't been proven guilty yet," said Michael Geary, 21. "He's innocent until proven guilty, so why are they not letting him play? Let him play. Let him ride this out himself.

"He's not a Pacman Jones. He's not out shooting people."

Geary said he's been a Falcons fan "since they got Michael Vick."

The courtroom was packed with about 100 people, including Vick's mother, Brenda Boddie, and former Falcons and Virginia Tech teammate Keion Carpenter.

The media, some arriving as early at 6 a.m., spent the day jockeying for prime positions. Most were sent to an overflow room that held 200 people and showed the proceedings on closed-circuit television.

Behind the courthouse, 27 media vehicles -- including WSB, CNN, Fox News, WJLA (Washington), ESPN and WDBJ (Roanoke, Va.) -- lined the streets.

One local radio show, The Morning Sludge on Y101, had three cast members broadcasting live while dressed in dog suits.

Also on hand in the crowd outside: John P. Goodwin, the deputy manager of animal fighting issues for the Humane Society of the United States.

"The intensity of the crowd and media here really demonstrates that this has struck a chord with the American public," Goodwin said. "This is a culture where dogs are considered best friends and family members and not a culture where we tolerate fighting dogs to the death."

Cathy Coulter and two friends were at the front of the line to get into the courtroom. Coulter, a Richmond area high school teacher, said ESPN was paying her and her friends $150 each to hold their spots in line. The Associated Press paid $50 for individuals to hold their spot.

"This is really exciting. I have never been a part of anything like this," Coulter said.

Animal rights activists have called on the Falcons to suspend or fire Vick. Vick's critics have set up a Web site to get him fired: www.kickvick.com.

Some have called for a boycott of Nike until it scraps its endorsement contract with Vick and have even set up a Web site www.boycottnikenow.com. Two days after Vick was indicted, Nike suspended the release of its latest product bearing his name — the Zoom Vick — a shoe that had been scheduled to hit stores next month.

Vick's legal and media relations team had met at a local steakhouse here Wednesday night, plotting strategy for the hearing.

Vick, who didn't arrive in Richmond until Thursday, has hired Collins Spencer III, formerly of CNN, to help him deal with the press. He also has added at least one more lawyer to his legal team: Daniel Meachum, an attorney from Atlanta.

Meachum met Thursday night with Spencer and another Vick attorney, Billy Martin, of Washington. The quarterback is also being represented by his longtime lawyer, Lawrence H. Woodward Jr.