RICHMOND -- The judge in the Michael Vick dogfighting case said Monday it would be next week before a rumored plea deal would reach his courtroom.

In an exclusive interview with WSB-TV Channel 2 reporter Tom Jones, U.S. District Judge Henry E. Hudson said he has heard nothing about a possible deal between Vick's attorneys and prosecutors.

Hudson has scheduled a status hearing for 3 p.m. on the case.

Hudson said he is waiting for an annoucement from the Vick camp, just like everyone else.

The judge added that if a deal is reached in the next few days, it would be next week at the earliest before a plea agreement hearing could be added to his schedule.

Speculation had swirled that Hudson cleared his docket Monday to make room for a Vick hearing, but the judge denied that was the case.

Hudson said his calendar was cleared to make room for a plea hearing in another case.

A grand jury is scheduled to convene today in the federal court where Falcons quarterback and three co-defendants were indicted on dogfighting charges last month.

There's no indication whether the grand jury will take up further allegations against Vick. But federal prosecutors have said they plan to seek a superseding indictment in the case.

That would mean more charges against Vick. He's the lone defendant who has not been convicted now that all three of his co-defendants have reached plea deals.

Vick's attorneys were negotiating with federal prosecutors last week, hoping to strike a deal.