I'm a home team fan. I bleed Eagles green. (You would have to if you grew up living with my father.) Be it a run into the playoffs or if our playoff hopes get dashed early in the season, I'm in front of the television every time the Birds take the field. So, with preseason 2009 underway I settled in front of the tube to see this year's crop of Eagles hopefuls along with the regular cast of characters. Would McNabb look good in the early showing? While Westbrook is still on the mend, how does LeSean McCoy look? Wow, we have a real fullback in Leonard Weaver this year; I wonder how he'll look? With DeSean Jackson, Kevin Curtis and Jeremy Maclin as primary receivers, would this be the year we learn to take chances down the field?
As the game played out and the first quarter came and went, I had mixed feelings about the game. Yes, it’s the first game of the preseason so it's all a feeling process and there were some glimmers of excitement coming from Maclin, Weaver and McCoy. I figured I would call my dad close to halftime to get his reaction on the game. Around 9:30 as I reached for my phone to give pop a call, I hear the words, "Michael Vick has signed a two-year deal with the Eagles."
It took a moment to sink in. Michael who? Did I hear right? Michael Vick? Oh shit! (I didn't realize my father picked up the phone on the last part.)
After telling him that I would call him back, I reached for my netbook and upon searching Michael Vick Eagles in Google, the Associate Press story was at the top of the search results. While details were sketchy it looked as if the Eagles were giving Vick a chance. But my question was why?
Don't get me wrong, I am all for second chances. Hell, I'm a parent so I am no stranger to giving someone a break. But is the Vick what the Eagles need right now? Well, I guess with the injury to Kevin Kolb being more severe than first thought, the answer to that question is yes.
I'm sure the Eagles organization knows what they are doing. While I can respect anyone for wanted to help out their fellow human being, the Philadelphia Eagles is still a business at heart and Jeffrey Lurie knows a good business venture where he sees it. With Reid and McNabb helping to mold Vick's character, the City of Philadelphia is the one of the best places to find redemption. Philly fans are notorious for their passion. Should Vick produce in the role he's expected to play we Philly fans will shower him with praise and adulation. If he messes up, then we'll boo his ass faster than we would Terrell Owens.
Let's be real, while Vick doesn't necessarily want to play second fiddle. He knows he has to start somewhere. He's been away from the NFL for two years. (Playing yard ball in prison doesn't count.) He is under fire from protesters and the NFL alike. Every move he makes from here until society has pardoned him in their hearts will be scrutinized. Vick is going to feel like someone's always watching him (to borrow from Rockwell). And you know something? He's right.
I'm not stupid not to realize what the man did. I read the news articles and listened to the reports on the radio (I don't watch a lot of television). What Michael Vick did was messed up; he's the first to tell you. But the man served the sentence that was imposed on him. He's doing whatever he needs to do to fulfill the requirements of his probation. Not to mention that he is only conditionally reinstated. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell going to play the Vick situation close to the vest. Should the Eagles No. 2 quarterback not only produce but to continue to show he's a change man, you Goodell would have no choice to fully reinstate Vick. However, should Vick even flinch the wrong way, then he can join Cleveland Browns receiver Donte’ Stallworth sitting at home on Sundays watching the game from the living room instead of the sidelines.
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