Posts Tagged ‘Philadelphia Eagles’

PHILADELPHIA — Donovan McNabb is still not able to practice and it appears unlikely he will play this week.

McNabb, who suffered a broken rib in a season-opening win over the Carolina Panthers, is expected to miss his second straight game as the Philadelphia Eagles (1-1) meet the Kansas City Chiefs (0-2) at Lincoln Financial Field.

With the Eagles on a bye next week, resting McNabb gives him more time to heal before the Eagles host the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Oct. 11. McNabb was at Thursday’s practice, but only watched.

Third-year QB Kevin Kolb started last week in a loss to the New Orleans Saints and is expected to start again.

Veterans Jeff Garcia and Michael Vick, back from his league suspension, will be the backups.

Eagles coach Andy Reid has said that Vick is not ready to be a starter. Eagles offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg said Thursday that Vick definitely will see action in Sunday’s game.

“He’ll play. How much we’ll see as the week goes on,” Mornhinweg told reporters, according to The Morning Call. “I think he’s in top physical condition. We’ll see how he handles a few things we have in for him.”

Vick, in an interview with CBS to air Sunday, said he thought he would be a starting quarterback upon his return to the NFL.

“This is not the exact scenario I thought would play out,” Vick told CBS. “I thought I’d be playing with a team and actually starting.”

Vick told CBS he plans on making his second chance in the NFL last.

“I know I can play this game,” Vick said. “I know I can play it for a long time. I still have the speed, the quickness and the mind to run an NFL offense.”

Jeff Garcia is back with the Philadelphia Eagles. The team has agreed to terms on a one-year deal with Garcia, a 10-year veteran who played for Philadelphia in 2006 and went 6-2 in eight starts — including the playoffs — while McNabb was injured.

The Eagles needed a backup quarterback in case McNabb, who suffered a broken rib in Philadelphia’s 38-10 win over Carolina in the season opener, is not able to play this week against the New Orleans Saints.

Third-year pro Kevin Kolb filled in for McNabb and will start if McNabb is out, coach Andy Reid said.

“Whether it’s a week or two weeks or the entire season, I’m excited about the opportunity,” Garcia said in a conference call. “As far as a team I can go to and blend right in, this is the team for me to do that.”

Garcia, who was signed by Oakland in the offseason to push JaMarcus Russell and serve as a mentor to the former No. 1 overall draft pick, was released by the Raiders on Sept. 5 after playing little in the preseason. He said he could’ve stayed with Oakland, but didn’t think it was the right fit. But he also wasn’t ready to call it a career.

“I didn’t want it to be over,” Garcia said. “I feel there’s a lot of quality football left in me.”

A four-time Pro Bowl selection, Garcia played well in his previous stint with the Eagles three seasons ago, throwing 11 touchdown passes against two interceptions in eight starts. In the process, he also became very popular with fans.

“I know the circumstances are different,” Garcia said. “I’m OK with whatever helps the team.”

With Michael Vick back in the NFL, so is the availability of customizable jerseys bearing his name. Including one for your dog.

The New York Daily News revealed on Wednesday that the league is selling jerseys that consumers can custom-order for their pets with Vick’s name on it. “Like any other player, customers can obtain that name and that jersey if they wish,” NFL spokesman Greg Aiello told the Daily News. “As far as putting it on the dog product, he’s working with humane societies, working to educate others on this issue, so we don’t see a problem.”

Vick signed with the Eagles last week, less than a month after finishing a 20-month sentence for a federal dogfighting conviction.

The league is still ruling out customized jerseys with names and phrases it considers offensive. And “Bad News,” the name of the dogfighting ring Vick was associated with, is now on the list.

“That has been added to the filter of names that are inappropriate, and fans will no longer be able to customize their jerseys in that way,” Aiello told the Daily News. “You can choose to purchase a Vick jersey just like any other player, but ‘Bad Newz’ is inappropriate for obvious reasons.”

Also, Dick’s Sporting Goods said Wednesday that it will not sell Vick’s jersey until they get more feedback from Eagles fans.