Eagles fans greet Vick warmly

Michael Vick, amid much hoopla and some minor protests, returned to the NFL last night during the Eagles' wild, 33-32 come-from-behind exhibition victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars.

David Akers' 34-yard field goal with 15 seconds left provided the winning margin.

The most controversial addition in Eagles history, Vick was on the field for a total of five offensive plays that counted and one that was negated by a holding penalty.

"It was a surreal feeling coming out of the locker room and all these big guys with Philadelphia Eagles symbols on their helmets and green and white, and I had to kind of pinch myself to remind myself that it was real," Vick said. "This is something I've been waiting for for a long time, suiting up and playing a game, regardless of whether it's preseason or regular season. It's been a long journey for me, and I just want to do it right this time."

Donovan McNabb, the Eagles starting quarterback who said he wanted Vick here, indicated those six plays interrupted the flow of the first-team offense at times. Asked if the Eagles needed to get back to the basic offense after incorporating Vick into the first four possessions of the first half, McNabb answered affirmatively.

"Absolutely, absolutely," McNabb said. "I did. In that situation, it's needed. I know what we were trying to do [with Vick] and we were able to get that done. And I thought it was time for us to kind of get our offense going. If you're going to show different looks, make sure it's the right time."

Eagles coach Andy Reid said if the Eagles are going to use Vick then it has to become part of the offensive flow.

"If you're going to use that a little bit, then you need to work it in there," he said. "I expect the guys to make that part of their rhythm and make it work."

Vick, after spending the morning in bankruptcy court in Virginia, lined up five times in the shotgun formation, ran once, and completed all four of his passes, although only one of the throws was longer than 4 yards.

It only took two plays for Reid to send Vick into the game and the crowd at Lincoln Financial Field reacted with more appreciation than condemnation of the quarterback who spent 18 months in a federal prison after being convicted on dogfighting charges.