FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. -- The Atlanta Falcons want a refund of up to $22 million in bonus money paid to suspended quarterback Michael Vick.

An arbitrator will hear the team's case Thursday with attorneys from the NFL Players' Association arguing against the Falcons' claim.

Team president and GM Rich McKay and three other team officials will represent the Falcons in a private hearing in Philadelphia. They're expected to argue that Vick knew he was in violation of the contract when he signed the $130 million deal in December of 2004, and that he used proceeds from the deal to fund his dogfighting operation.

Special master Stephen B. Burbank will serve as the arbitrator. He said he doesn't expect the hearing to go beyond a day.

Vick has admitted helping to kill six to eight dogs and bankrolling a dogfighting operation that was based in Virginia and extended into other states. He pleaded guilty to a federal dogfighting conspiracy charge and will face sentencing Dec. 10.

State Charges

He also faces state charges in the case. He was charged last week in a rural Virginia county, home to the dogfighting enterprise since 2001.

On Wednesday, a state judge in Virginia set a Nov. 27 hearing date to decide on a trial date for Vick and three co-defendants on the state charges.

Vick and the others aren't expected to be at the hearing.

A prosecutor said he hopes to begin the trial as soon as possible.

Vick is facing two felony counts for beating or killing or causing dogs to fight other dogs and engaging in or promoting dogfighting. Each felony is punishable by up to five years in prison.

Vick has been suspended indefinitely by the NFL without pay.

Vick's Cousin Pleads Guilty

Meanwhile, the Vick family member whose drug arrest led to the discovery of Vick's dogfighting compound pleaded guilty Wednesday to possessing marijuana with intent to sell.

Davon Boddie, Vick's cousin, was given a five-year suspended sentence by Hampton Circuit Judge William Andrews.

Boddie, 27, used to live in the house owned by Vick at 1915 Moonlight Road in Surry County, site of Vick's "Bad Newz Kennels" dogfighting operation. He now lives in Newport News.

Boddie was arrested April 20 after a police dog tracked a scent of marijuana coming from his parked car. When Boddie was patted down, police found 79 grams of marijuana on him and in his trunk, authorities said.

His arrest led to the search of the Surry County property, where authorities found dozens of pit bulls and equipment commonly used in dogfighting.