Vick too sore for practice but expects to play vs. Jets

MICHAEL VICK'S rib soreness kept the Eagles' quarterback on the sideline yesterday, as the Birds began preparations for Sunday's visit from the New York Jets. Eagles coach Andy Reid said he expects Vick to be able to play, but, speaking before practice, he also seemed to think Vick might practice.

Obviously, Vick's absence from a midweek practice isn't the end of the world, but it seemed an appropriate metaphor for his season. The biggest focus, when blame is calibrated for this 5-8 year, has to be offensive-line-coach-turned-defensive-coordinator Juan Castillo (along with Reid, who gave Castillo that job). Right after that comes Vick, with his 12 touchdown passes, 12 interceptions, 78.9 passer rating, three complete games missed and two fatal fourth-quarter absences because of injury.

You could argue that Vick has deployed better weapons this season than Donovan McNabb ever commanded in 11 years as the Eagles' QB, and that if McNabb had ever put up numbers like this, No. 5 jerseys would be burning on every street corner.

In fact, McNabb had a passer rating higher than 78.9 every year from 2001 through 2009, his last season with the Birds. He's had 1 year that looks like Vick's 2011 - his 2010 season, which got him benched in Washington and traded in the offseason, after he completed 58.3 percent of his passes, with 14 TDs and 15 INTs, for a 77.1 rating. McNabb's passer rating before he got benched and released in Minnesota this year: 82.9.

The Eagles don't routinely make players who don't practice available to the media, so there were no Vick interviews yesterday, even though the starting QB for the coming week's game usually talks on Wednesday.

Had he talked, Vick might have been asked about how it feels to have the season on his shoulders, against a really tough defense, in front of a Lincoln Financial Field crowd that is more than a little miffed about how Vick has played this season, and about the team's incomprehensible 1-5 home record.

Vick came back from the 3-week rib-injury absence Sunday at Miami and the Eagles won, but it wasn't because of the QB. He was 15-for-30 for only 208 yards, his first touchdown pass since October, a terrible interception and a 69.9 rating. Vick had four passes blocked and was under constant pressure from the Miami defense.