49ers head coach says team doesn’t want Vick

Indianapolis — San Francisco head coach Mike Singletary reiterated that the 49ers are not interested in trading for imprisoned and suspended Falcons quarterback Michael Vick.

He did not rule out pursuing him in the future when Vick’s status is resolved.

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AP

Niners coach Mike Singletary said Friday in regards to Michael Vick: ‘Anything can happen, but I feel that right now the most important thing for us is to focus on the quarterbacks that we have.’

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“Anything can happen, but I feel that right now the most important thing for us is to focus on the quarterbacks that we have,” Singletary said Friday at the NFL scouting combine. “Knowing that Michael Vick is under contract. Knowing that he has his own situation that he has to deal with, we are not going to go there.”

Vick is to be released from federal prison on July 20. He would then have to be reinstated by the NFL.

The Falcons have announced their intentions to trade his rights. If the Falcons can’t find a trade party and they release Vick once he is reinstated, they would take a $15.430 million salary cap hit in 2009. He is also due a $680,000 bonus in 2010.

The team is still seeking a return of some of the bonus money paid to Vick. That legal issue has not been resolved.

“I think anytime that a team embraces someone like Michael Vick … a team has to decide if they have the infrastructure that is strong enough to bring him in, that can handle it,” Singletary said.

Singletary considers it a part of his job to help build character in his players.

“If I’m not making investments into the lives of players, then I’m not coaching,” Singletary said. “If I’m just teaching them Xs and Os, then I should be doing something else. I think every player that we have, it is vitally important that we give that kid, that young man, something more than just going out and winning football games.”