EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - Michael Vick now knows when he'll get a chance to play and we could soon find out about his first public appearance away from the field.
After NFL commissioner Roger Goodell announced yesterday that Vick would be eligible to return for the Eagles' Week 3 game against the Kansas City Chiefs at Lincoln Financial Field, team president Joe Banner was asked when the quarterback would start making the rounds in the community as promised when he signed three weeks ago.
"I think you'll see Michael at an event very soon," Banner said before last night's 38-27 loss to the New York Jets in the preseason finale. "We'll be announcing something after we wrap up some details. As far as the organizational support for the issues around animal rights . . . we're working aggressively to have some concrete ideas. I think it will probably take a few more weeks, if not a little longer, to get them to the point where they're operational and we can announce them."
Banner said the Eagles have been pleased with everything Vick has done since joining the team.
"He's been a model citizen at this point, whether we're talking about the plans we're putting together in the community, whether talking about his work ethic at practice, or the hours he's put in coming to the office from early in the morning to late in the evening to make himself the best he can be. He's doing everything we could ask him to do."
The Eagles took another hit on the offensive line when tackle Winston Justice left last night's game against the Jets in the first quarter with a strained pectoral muscle.
Justice never returned to the game, and it was unclear last night how long he might be injured.. Justice worked with the first unit through much of training camp because of Shawn Andrews' ailing back. Last night, Justice started at right tackle with other members of the Eagles' second-team line.
Coach Andy Reid gave the projected starting line the night off in the preseason finale. The unit - Jason Peters at left tackle, Nick Cole or Max Jean-Gilles at left guard, Jamaal Jackson at center, Stacy Andrews at right guard and Shawn Andrews at right tackle - never had the opportunity to play in a preseason game together. The Eagles open the regular season at Carolina on Sept. 13.
Peters, Stacy Andrews and Shawn Andrews all dealt with injuries or were recovering from injuries in training camp, though they probably will play against Carolina.
