FLOWERY BRANCH -- Some Atlanta Falcons players are standing by Michael Vick.

"It's like we have a family member or brother done something wrong," said running back Warrick Dunn.

"You chastise him but still have to support him at the same time," he added during a news conference that several players attended Tuesday.

Receiver Alge Crumpler also spoke in Vick's defense.

"I think Michael's loyal to a fault," he told reporters.

"I think that really hurt him in this situation. Obviously the facts are going to come out; the real facts are coming Monday."

Linebacker Keith Brooking said he thinks Vick is accepting responsibility for his alleged crimes.

"Mike is a young man. I think he's taken a step as far as being accountable for this," said Brooking.

Coach Bobby Petrino said the challenge is to stay focused on Monday's preseason game against Cincinnati at the Georgia Dome.

That's the same day Vick will plead guilty in federal court to dogfighting charges.

He could be sentenced to 12-18 months in prison.

Vick said through a lawyer Monday that he will plead guilty to a federal charge of conspiracy to travel in interstate commerce in aid of unlawful activities and conspiracy to sponsor a dog in an animal fighting venture.

Three Vick associates have pleaded guilty to the conspiracy charge and said Vick provided virtually all the gambling and operating funds for the "Bad Newz Kennels" dogfighting enterprise. Two of them also said Vick participated in executing at least eight underperforming dogs, raising the possibility of the animal cruelty charges.