Reid: Vick Will Play Thursday

This afternoon, Andy Reid held a press conference announcing the Michael Vick will play this Thursday night against Jacksonville. Reid said the Vick will play during the first three quarters with the starting squad. Reid also said that Kevin Kolb will quarterback during the fourth quarter.

Reid: "I can only go off what I've seen in practice and it looks like he's moving around pretty good. Realistically, it's been two years. We'll see how it works out. We'll give him a couple shots in there and see what he can do."

"I'm just going to take it play by play and see how he adjusts to game speed. If I think that's a problem, I'll probably discontinue the reps. If I feel he's adjusting OK, I'll continue to give him an opportunity here and there."

It will be interesting to see how Vick performs and how Reid uses him. Vick will actually appear in a bankruptcy court hearing the morning of the game. He will show up though. That is confirmed.

Brian Westbrook will also make his preseason debut. Westbrook is coming off an ankle injury. I am also interested to see how he looks. Hopefully, he hasn't lost a step.

Reid Confirms Vick Debut

Andy Reid said today that Michael Vick will make his Eagles debut Thursday night against the Jaguars. If everything goes well over the next few practices. I guess that means, unless Vick gets injured, he will appear in the game this week.

Reid: "I want to see how he does this week. He worked throughout the week here as we went to the game [in Indianapolis]. He did a couple of workouts here and was here yesterday on the players' day off and worked hard. He's getting through that soreness and we'll just see how it goes for this week as he goes through practice.

"I think he wants to get in and play again. I can't tell you right now how much he is going to play. But he's shooting to play this game.

"It looks like -- I'm talking the football side -- it looks like he's in pretty good shape. You could tell he's done some running and some lifting. It looked like he started out a little rusty throwing the ball and as the week went on that smoothed out for him a little bit."

Good. I will be watching for Vick. It will definitely be exciting to see how Vick can play. Some people have suggested that Vick won't play because Reid doesn't want him to be the focus, but the team because of their sloppy play two days ago.

Reactions to Vick's First Practice

T

he Philadelphia Eagles newest acquisition was on the practice field today at the NovaCare Complex. Michael Vick's first impressions from his new teammates were very good. Although Vick is still trying to get into football shape, his teammates were impressed with him today.

Safety Quintin Mikell: “That was great too. He was dropping some dimes in 1-on-1s. He looked good. We were joking – we wanted to see him take off one time, but he wouldn’t do it.”

Receiver Reggie Brown: “He’s taking it slow. I know how strong his arm is – but still accurate."

Receiver Danny Amendola: "He throws the ball the ball as hard as anybody I've ever seen." “He throws the ball as hard as anybody I’ve ever seen."

Vick himself said he felt "great" during practice. Coach Andy Reid said Vick needs to lose "2-3 pounds" or "5 pounds". Vick should be able to do that easily after some practices in the Philly heat.

Andy Reid: “Now, he’s not getting any younger, but once he gets back in shape, I don’t think you’re going to see person that’s slower and can’t throw as well.” Let's hope for your sake, Andy.

The Eagles organization shouldn't be worried about fans boycotting their team. I was actually at a Jersey shore beach today and I saw a plane whose banner read, "Shame on Eagles... boycott the game." No real Eagles fan would boycott their team just because they do not agree with a decision they made.

I am hearing a lot of people on the radio and on the computer saying that they will never root for the Eagles again, or that they will start rooting for the Steelers. That won't hurt the Eagles. Those "fans" wouldn't be the ones shelling $80 for a game or God-knows-how-much for season tickets.

Reaction to Vick Press Conference

The Philadelphia Eagles have just wrapped up a press conference announcing the signing of Michael Vick. Vick, Andy Reid, Tony Dungy, and owner Jeff Lurie all spoke at the press conference. Vick said he was very remorseful and sorry, but he had to say that or Jeff Lurie would have cut him at the conference.

If you scroll down you can see a video, provided by ESPN, of Vick at the press conference.

Vick: "I know I've done some terrible things, made a horrible mistake. Now I want to be part of the solution and not the problem." He better not be the problem. He caused enough problems for the NFL. Let's hope he can still play.

Vick: "For the life of me, I can't understand why I was involved in such pointless activity. Why did I risk so much at the pinnacle of my career?" I don't know Mike, that's the question everyone was asking when the dogfighting news came out.

Vick: "I'm glad I got the opportunity and the second chance. I won't disappoint." That sounds like a guarantee.

Owner Jeff Lurie spoke after Vick, Reid, and Dungy. He said he had to do a lot of "soul searching" and and he spoke a lot about the horrific acts Vick committed. He ripped into Vick, but he thinks that Vick can become an ambassador for the fair treatment of animals.

Lurie will hold Vick on a very short lease (no pun intended). Vick messes up just once, Lurie gave the impression that the Eagles will not hesitate to cut Vick if this doesn't work out. This seems like a low-risk, high-reward situation to me. If Vick screws up again, he's gone. If he works out, he could be very good for this team.

Vick Signed by Eagles

http://www.flickr.com/photos/keithallison/ / CC BY-SA 2.0

The Philadelphia Eagles have agreed with terms to ex-con and QB Michael Vick to a 1-year deal with a club option for a second. While I was watching the Eagles first preseason game, I found out that the Eagles got a deal done with Vick. I'm am in pure shock.

Chris Mortensen of ESPN first reported this story during the Steelers-Cardinals preseason game. I had heard rumors about the Eagles signing Vick be he was the first reliable source. You have to give him props.

According to ProFootballTalk, the first year of the deal is worth $1.6 million. The Eagles reportedly have the option of bringing Vick back for a second year, and that would be worth $5.2 million.

I like this move myself. Vick could become a game-breaker either as a part-time QB or in the Wildcat formation. Maybe Reid will use Vick to give McNabb a rest or something. Maybe Reid will reveal this in the post-game press conference (I wish).

Keep in mind that Vick has not been fully reinstated yet. He is allowed to play in preseason games, but he is not yet cleared for regular season duty. Roger Goodell has until week 6 to inform Vick of his status. But Goodell can clear Vick to play at any point up till then.

I have more on this when more comes out. The post-game press conference will be interesting to watch. If your in the Philly area then it will be on CSN after the game.

Vick Reinstated, Maybe With a 4-Game Suspension

        According to ESPN, Michael Vick will be reinstated into the NFL.  Goodell will reportedly announce that Vick can go to training camp if he is signed.  Goodell's decision could involve a four-game suspension for the former Falcon star.

        Vick should be reinstated.  Let me say that right now.  He paid his dues in prison and financially.  There are players who killed people driving drunk and they were allowed back in the league.  Heck, if Pacman Jones can get five chances, why can't Vick get a second?

        The big question is who is willing to sign the elusive QB.  People say a veteran team like New England should sign him to be backup to Tom Brady.  Every owner in the NFL understands that, if they sign Vick, there will be protests from animal rights organizations.  The Patriots may not want the baggage that Vick brings.

        In my opinion, nobody will sign Michael Vick.  First of all, no one has seen him play in two years.  And even two years ago, he wasn't all that good.  Vick will probably start off in the newly-formed UFL.  That way, GMs can at least see if he can still play.  Then, maybe a team signs him midseason if they have a QB issue.