Vick Not On Sideline For Eagles
PHILADELPHIA (AP) -- Michael Vick was not late, and he was not supposed to be on the sideline for the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday.
That's what Eagles coach Andy Reid said after a 31-17 victory over Atlanta in which Vick was the third quarterback. Vick has injured rib cartilage that he sustained two weeks ago.
"I told the kid to be here are 12:15, and he showed up at 12:15," Reid said. The game kicked off at 1 p.m. "That's it, enjoy the win.
"We just kept him in the locker room, not near the field. Today, I just wanted him here. I wasn't going to let him get in the game and throw the ball. He was not getting hit (Sunday), The chances of him being in there were slim to none. He needed to be around here dressed and in the locker room."
When Vick was not in the stadium 90 minutes before kickoff, even as some of his teammates were working out on the field, it caused a stir. The Eagles said there was nothing amiss and that Vick had permission to show up late.
On Friday, Vick practiced for the first time since getting hurt in a loss to Washington. He began the season as the backup to Kevin Kolb, who lost his job after sustaining a concussion in Week 1 because Vick was sensational in his absence.
Kolb excelled against the Falcons, going 23 for 29 for 326 yards and three touchdowns. Reid was asked if such a performance might lead to Kolb leaping over Vick as the starter. He said Vick remains the No. 1 quarterback when he's healthy.
"This is a beautiful thing, sitting as a chubby coach in the National Football League and you have two good quarterbacks," Reid said with a smile. "I told you (Vick) is the starting quarterback before. Yeah, he is."
Cynics might suggest Reid didn't want Vick on the sideline in case Kolb struggled and the sellout crowd at the Linc began chanting for Vick. But Reid said using Vick wasn't even part of the game plan, with the exception of "a completely emergency deal."
"I already had wide receivers coached up if it was an extended period," he added about who would have gone behind center if Kolb and second-stringer Mike Kafka were injured against Atlanta.
Reid expects Vick to practice this week as the Eagles prepare for Tennessee. They have a bye the following week.
"We'll see how he does," Reid said. "He's already made long strides."
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