PHILADELPHIA — Michael Vick will put on his No. 7 jersey instead of a snazzy suit. He'll be on the field instead of watching from a luxury suite.
Tune in today for more details.
Vick will make his longanticipated return to the NFL when the Philadelphia Eagles (1-1) host the Kansas City Chiefs (0-2) at Lincoln Financial Field. From the second he comes out for pregame warmups, all eyes will be on Vick.
Once the game starts, no one knows for certain what Vick's role will be, particularly with starter Donovan McNabb nursing a cracked rib. Vick hasn't played a regular-season game since Dec. 31, 2006. He spent 18 months in federal prison for his rolein a dogfighting ring, and sat out the first two games as the final league penalty.
Kevin Kolb is expected to make his second consecutive start, but there has been no word on how the Eagleswill use Vick. He could be featured prominently in Philadelphia's version of the Wildcat offense, or he may only take a few snaps in that formation. He might line up in the backfield as a running back or be split outside as a wide receiver. There is even a chance he's under center as a traditional quarterback.
"My role is my role right now. I don't know what the situation is or may be," Vick said. "Right now, I'm just a guy to come in and run my package."
That package includes several plays in the Wildcat formation. The Eagles used it nine times in a 48-22 loss to New Orleans last Sunday with three players - wideouts De-Sean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin and running back BrianWestbrook - taking snaps.
Vick, a three-time Pro Bowl quarterback during six seasons with the Atlanta Falcons, is the ideal guy to run the Wildcat because he's a threat to pass or run. Vick ran a version of this offense with the Falcons beforethe Miami Dolphins made it popular last year.
"We started doing it in 2006," Vick said. "It really helped our football team reach a certain plateau that we wanted to reach. Down the stretch, it kind of wore itself out and it wasn't as productive as it was in the first half of the season.
"It can be a part of your offense, but not a major part of your offense. You have to throw it in every now and then. This league is too complex and too fast and the coaches are too smart to line up and run it all the time."
The Chiefs spent time preparing for Vick and whatever new wrinkles he adds to Philadelphia's already potent offense, but they realize the Eagles have several otherweapons, including Westbrook and Jackson.
"You have some other problems, too," Chiefs Coach Todd Haley said. "They showed nine snaps or so of this Wildcat or whatever you want to call it. I would expectthat if [Vick] is in the lineup and active that he could be a part of that similar to some of the preseason stuff. That's the wave right now."
Kansas City's defense certainly won't be surprised whether the Eagles use Vick or someone else to operate it.
"You have a plan and you practice it," Chiefs safety Jarrad Page said. "When they come out and run it, you know what to do."
Matt Cassel will start for the Chiefs, though Brodie Croyle performed better in the opener.
Cassel was 24 of 39 for 241 yards and 1 touchdown with 2 interceptions in a 13-10 loss to Oakland. Croyle completed 16 of 24 for 177 yards with 2 touchdowns and no interceptions in a 38-24 loss at Baltimore the week before. But the Chiefs invested too much in Cassel to bench him after just one start; he was injured for the Baltimore game.
"There is not a quarterback controversy," Haley said.
Sports, Pages 33 on 09/27/2009