Mike Vick in bankruptcy court today

AP

Lawyers are facing off today in a Virginia courtroom over the former Falcons quarterback’s plan to emerge from bankruptcy. Suspended Falcons quarterback Michael Vick is in federal court this morning, where teams of lawyers are facing off over his plan to emerge from bankruptcy.

The suspended NFL star’s plan partly depends on him rejoining the league. Vick, nearing the end of a 23-month federal prison sentence for his role in a dogfighting conspiracy, hopes to earn as much as $10 million a year or more, according to court filings in his bankruptcy case.

Under the plan he submitted to the court, Vick would keep the first $750,000 of his annual income over the next five years. After that, a percentage would go to his creditors based on a sliding scale.

Supporters of Vick’s plan include a committee of his unsecured creditors, including Radtke Sports, Royal Bank of Canada, Wachovia Bank and 1st Source Bank.

“The plan should be approved because it provides substantially all the benefits of the liquidation of Vick’s assets,” said Ross Reeves, one of the committee’s attorneys, “and offers the potential of recovering lots more money in the event Vick is able to rehabilitate his career and go back and play football.”
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Mike Vick must pay his way

Fallen NFL star Michael Vick must appear at a bankruptcy hearing next month but should pay his own way from the Kansas prison where he is serving time for his role in a dogfighting conspiracy, a judge ruled Wednesday.

At an hourlong hearing, U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Frank J. Santoro rejected the government’s suggestions that he either postpone Vick’s April 2 bankruptcy confirmation hearing or allow the suspended player to testify by video hookup from the federal penitentiary at Leavenworth, Kan.

“I’m not going to be put in a position of determining credibility or demeanor over a television,” said Santoro, who has insisted since Vick filed for bankruptcy in July that he would have to testify in person.
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With the exit of DeAngelo Hall, Warrick Dunn, Alge Crumpler, and Mike Vick, who’s our star player now.

If you are a Falcons fan, you sitting in your house with your season ticket renewal forms thinking to yourself what in the hell should I do. Of course you love your team, but after a season like the 2007 season, how much can you really take.  Since Dimitroff has arrived, he’s found a way to get rid of any of Mike Vick’s friends that included Dunn, Crumpler and fellow VT player D. Hall.  It’s only a matter of time before they release Vick.  But who’s that player do we have that gets us excited again?  Who’s gonna help get the Dome back rockin like it was during the 2002 – 2006 seasons?  Is it Michael Turner?  Don’t know about that, I wasn’t jumping up and down about a back up running back being brought in for that amount of money.  Or is it someone in the draft?  It won’t be McFadden, hello, we just paid a boat load of cash to Turner.  Matt Ryan?  May be a good QB, but no one to get excited about. 

Who’s out there to take over that role?  The one who will help the Falcons get talked about again.  I don’t think that person is on the team now, but where is he?  Mr. Blank, you’ve cleaned house, now its time to redecorate.

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Falcons to trade D. Hall for Raiders’ second-round pick in ’08 draft

The Atlanta Falcons have reached an agreement in principle with the Oakland Raiders to trade cornerback DeAngelo Hall for the Raiders’ second-round pick in the 2008 draft, pending the Raiders finalizing a contract with Hall, according to a source close to the Falcons.

Hall is close to agreeing to a contract with the Raiders that will pay him just below what Asante Samuel signed with the Eagles, according to the source. Samuel signed a six-year deal worth a reported $57 million, with $20 million guaranteed.

Hall is a former first-rounder taken with the eighth pick in the 2004 draft.

Chris Mortensen covers the NFL for ESPN

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Mike Vick’s Virginia trial postponed

Michael Vick’s trial on state dogfighting charges in Virginia was set for April 2, but will be re-scheduled, according to the Surry County prosecutor’s office. A continuance has been granted, but a new date for the jury trial has not been set.

The Virginia indictment charges Vick with one count of torturing and killing dogs and one count of promoting dogfighting. Each carries a maximum five-year prison term.

Vick is currently serving a 23-month sentence in federal prison after being convicted for dogfighting related charges.

Calls to Vick’s attorney, Billy Martin, were not immediately returned.

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