IT'S THE PLAY nearly everyone has talked about since Sunday.
Michael Vick, subbing for an injured Kevin Kolb against the Green Bay Packers, felt his protection collapsing midway through the third quarter and ran for 31 yards.
It wasn't just what Vick did. It was how he did it.
He was fast, lightning-fast, and elusive.
It was as if he hit a replay button on the "Michael Vick Experience" - that roller-coaster ride of highlight films that once made Vick the NFL's highest-paid quarterback.
To be honest, it was a glimpse from the past many thought could not be seen again.
Apparently, Vick, who missed two full seasons while in prison on charges related to his dogfighting operation, still might be able to play a little bit.
Normally, that would be a good thing to say about your backup quarterback. But Vick isn't your ordinary backup.
He was 40-30-1 as the starting quarterback for the Atlanta Falcons from 2001-06. He guided Atlanta to the NFC Championship Game in the 2004 season. He made three Pro Bowls.
Vick turned 30 in June, and there is enough empirical evidence to suggest he might be better than several starting NFL quarterbacks - including Kolb.
Kolb was awful during his time on the field in the Eagles' opening loss before getting knocked out of the game with a concussion.
Vick was impressive in the backup role, passing for 175 yards, rushing for 103 more and leading the Birds to 17 of their 20 points.
Indications are that Kolb, who failed a baseline concussion test yesterday, will not play Sunday in Detroit. That means Vick will take all of the practice reps and have the rest of the week to prepare for the Lions.
"If I'm the guy, then I'm going to get ready to try to put this team in position to win, and that's still the ultimate goal," said Vick, who would make his first start at quarterback since Dec. 31, 2006. "I don't really go out and try to prove to anybody that I can still play this game.
"I just have to make the most of the opportunity and try to help this football team win until [Kolb] comes back and he's healthy."
But what if Vick plays well?
What if he leads the Eagles to a victory against Detroit and then the following week in Jacksonville?
What if, without even trying to, Vick proves to everybody he can still play?
Since coach Andy Reid makes the final decision, you have to take him at his word yesterday when he said, "Kevin knows he's the guy."
