http://hamptonroads.com/2008/08/michael-vick-says-he-plans-play-nfl-again
NEWPORT NEWS
Michael Vick's representatives are talking to the NFL on his behalf
about a return to football, the imprisoned quarterback told creditors
in a bankruptcy court meeting.
Vick, on speaker phone from Leavenworth, Kan., said Friday that he does not know what his earning potential is.
"My plan is to go back into playing football," he said.
Vick, 28, did not divulge details of the discussions but said his
agent and lawyers are talking to the league. He is suspended
indefinitely from the NFL because of his conviction on a federal
conspiracy charge related to a dogfighting operation he bankrolled in
Surry County.
Later, Vick's bankruptcy attorney in New York, Peter Ginsberg, declined to say how far the talks with the NFL have gone.
"It's premature to comment on it," he said.
Vick's projected release date from prison is July 20, according to the Federal Bureau of Prisons Web site.
Vick filed for bankruptcy protection in July in Newport News, his
hometown. The meeting Friday allowed lawyers for the U.S. Office of the
Trustee and creditors to ask Vick about discrepancies and information
missing from his statement of assets and liabilities.
Vick answered questions for more than two hours, shedding light on
how little he knew about some of his finances and how he met some of
the people he trusted with his money.
Vick said no one is talking on his behalf to the United Football
League, a start-up league that could begin play next year. A report
this month by SportsIllustrated.com quoted UFL commissioner Michael
Huyghue as saying there was a 98 percent chance Vick would sign with a
UFL team.
At one point Vick was asked about David Talbot, Vick's former
financial adviser who is accused of defrauding church members in New
Jersey.
Vick said he met Talbot in April through his brother, Marcus, who is a good friend of Talbot's son.
Talbot, 54, visited him one day in prison and told him he could help Vick get released, Vick said.
"David Talbot told you he could get you released from prison?" asked
Kenneth Whitehurst, an attorney with the Office of the U.S. Trustee.
Vick said Talbot told him he knew people who could help, but the discussion quickly turned to Vick's finances.
"He told me he was a doctor," Vick said.
Vick didn't know it at the time, but Talbot had filed for bankruptcy
protection three times, each time failing to make payments, according
to Vick's bankruptcy lawyers.
Vick said the attorneys from his criminal case, Billy Martin and
Lawrence H. Woodward Jr., didn't want him to take on Talbot as his
financial adviser.
"But I still did it anyway," Vick said.
In July, Talbot said in an affidavit to a federal bankruptcy judge
that he had earned Vick's trust and was also providing spiritual
guidance.
At some point Talbot, who had power of attorney for Vick, removed
$50,000 from an account and told Vick it was to go toward a laywer in
the bankruptcy case, Vick said.
"I don't know where it went," he said.
Vick said Talbot may also have a $20,000 chain that Vick had given to Marcus.
"My brother left a piece of jewelry at his house," Vick said. "I
don't know what happened. I'm still trying to get specific details."
Vick and his bankruptcy lawyers cut ties with Talbot this month
after they learned about his financial history and the allegations in
New Jersey.
In another twist, Vick said he may have claims of up to $2 million
to make against Woodward, the lawyer who helped defend Vick on his
dogfighting charge and had worked on business deals for him.
Woodward, reached later Friday afternoon, said he didn't have any comment about the matter.
Vick didn't provide details of the potential claims. He said he only knows what he has been told by his bankruptcy lawyers.
Subject: MICHAELVICK ON RETURNING TO NFL 
