"I'm not going to sit here and tell you how he's going to contribute, because I'm not naïve to think that the rest of the National Football League's not watching this, and I've got to play those guys," Reid said Friday. "I will say, though, that he will contribute. You can ask defensive coordinators on other teams if they are worried about that."
The first step is having Vick get in top-flight playing shape after two years away, but Reid and Vick were optimistic about that.
"I'm ready to go," said Vick, who was released from a federal prison in May after serving 18 months. "I've maintained, I've stayed in shape, and I've done all the things to keep up my physical physique. It was hard when I was away, but over the last two months I have been able to manage and do things to maintain my weight and my build and, hopefully, my speed."
Vick practiced yesterday for the first time. He can play in the last two preseason games. NFL commissioner Roger Goodell has said Vick's suspension could run through Week 6 of the regular season, but Goodell could let him player sooner.
Reid said again yesterday that Donovan McNabb was the starting quarterback and Kevin Kolb the second-team quarterback, though Kolb is hobbled by a sprained knee. A.J. Feeley is the third-string quarterback, for now at least.
Reid is certainly going to try to find a way to mix Vick – once considered the NFL's most explosive player – into his offense. More than likely, Vick's involvement will come in the Eagles' Wildcat package.
Last season and during camp, wide receiver DeSean Jackson was the Wildcat, lining up in the shotgun with McNabb split wide. Most of the time, Jackson ran with the ball. But there is the option to pass, and that's where Vick comes in.
