Friday, September 17, 2010
Vick to start at QB for Eagles against Lions
PHILADELPHIA (AP)—Michael Vick(notes) has always appreciated the chance that the Philadelphia Eagles gave him to return to the NFL. Now, he’s getting an opportunity to return the favor.
Vick will start at quarterback for the Eagles on Sunday against the Detroit Lions, the first time he’s been under center at the start of a game since his time with the Atlanta Falcons—long before the world learned about his cruel world of dogfighting.
Eagles coach Andy Reid made it official Friday when he ruled quarterback Kevin Kolb(notes) out for Sunday’s game with the concussion he suffered in their season-opening loss to the Green Bay Packers. Middle linebacker Stewart Bradley(notes) was also ruled out with a cReid said that both players passed the written part of the concussion test, but they had to see Dr. William Welch to pass the next phase. That appointment was set for Friday.
“We’ll see how that goes before we go any further,” Reid said.
Meanwhile, the Eagles head to Detroit looking to even their record at 1-1. And starting at quarterback will be Vick, who last started the final game of the 2006 season for the Falcons against, ironically enough, the Eagles.
“It would be gratifying,” Vick said of leading the Eagles to a win. “This team took a chance on me when not many others would.”
Vick missed the entire 2007 and ’08 seasons after his involvement in a dogfighting ring came to light. The Eagles signed him last preseason and, after serving a four-game suspension, he played in 12 regular-season games for the team primarily as an option in the wildcat formation.
For the season, Vick completed 6 of 13 passes for 86 yards with one touchdown. He also ran the ball 24 times for 95 yards and two touchdowns.
Any rust that may have been lingering came off in chunks last week against the Packers, though, when Vick came into the game in the second half with the Eagles trailing 20-3. His elusiveness in the open field and strong arm helped Philadelphia get within 27-20, before his last drive stalled on fourth-and-1 from the Green Bay 42.
Vick still finished 16 of 24 for 175 yards and a touchdown while running for 103 yards.
“Michael is excited to step in and play,” Reid said. “As we all know, he was one of the great quarterbacks in the league before he was incarcerated.
“He did a great job of getting back into shape, that’s number one. Then, the speed of the game—you’re talking about a guy who was one of the fastest players in the game and he was stumbling a little last preseason. Then you look last Sunday and he was as fast as he was. He not only ran for 100 yards, but he also threw the ball well.”
Vick took all the reps with the first team in practice this week and should be as ready to start as he’s been since he left the Falcons.
“This is a big game,” Vick said. “It’s not about me making my first start or none of that. I’ve put all of that aside. It’s about us going on the road and trying to get a win. We need to go out there and get a win, that’s what matters. Nobody wants to be 0-2.”
oncussion
Charles Barkley's controversial admission
If not for the NCAA's four-year statute of limitations, Auburn might be vacating some victories from one of its few decent eras of basketball.
Charles Barkley was discussing Reggie Bush's decision to return the Heisman Trophy during an interview with Dan Patrick on Friday morning when the conversation turned to his own college career. The always outspoken former Auburn star admitted that he too received money from agents during college in the 1980s, though Barkley described it as "chump change" that he paid back once he signed his first NBA contract.
[Related: Read Reggie Bush's official statement renouncing his Heisman]
"If a guy wants to borrow money from an agent because he's poor, what is wrong with that?" Barkley said. "Nobody can tell me what is wrong with that. I got money from agents when I was in college and I went in the '80s. Most of the players I know borrowed money from agents. The colleges don't give us anything. If they give us a pair of sneakers, they get in trouble. Why can't an agent lend me some money and I'll pay him back when I graduate?"
Listen to Charles Barkley's entire interview here
Barkley said the agents who pay potential future clients are "well known" in hoops circles because "they've been giving money to college kids for years." Ironically, however, the only agent who didn't pay Barkley while he was at Auburn ended up being the one that initially landed him as a client.
The revelations from Barkley aren't exactly surprising considering the SEC's reputation was even less pristine when he played than it is today, and the former Auburn star has hinted that he was on the take in the past. Still, at a time when the NCAA is trying to crack down on rogue agents and restore the notion of amateurism to college sports, you can be certain that folks at Auburn and other schools probably weren't thrilled with Barkley's message.
As for Barkley's opinion on the Bush case, it meshes with the former NBA star's belief that top college athletes should both receive a stipend from their universities and be allowed to accept money from prospective agents.
"I'm disappointed Reggie is giving the Heisman back because these colleges are making so much money off these kids," Barkley said. "Reggie made one mistake. He should have paid those [agents] back and this whole thing never would have happened."
Thursday, September 16, 2010
Penalty to be reduced if Chargers deal Jackson
The NFL and the NFL Players Association reached a settlement on the case of wide receiver Vincent Jackson(notes) which will allow Jackson to miss only one game instead of three because of a roster exemption.
“We got two-thirds of what we wanted and Vincent is very happy with that,” NFLPA attorney Richard Berthelsen said Thursday after he and league attorneys worked out the settlement. The sides did that rather than take the issue to arbitrator Rosemary Townley
Jackson will have to miss the first four games of the season if he is traded by the San Diego Chargers. If Jackson is dealt by 4 p.m. ET, Sept. 22, he will be available to play for his new club beginning with the new team’s fifth game. Jackson is already serving a three-game suspension for violation of the league’s substance-abuse policy. He was facing the possibility of missing three more games because the Chargers had placed him on the roster exemption list. Jackson will still have to sit three games if he reports to the Chargers.
Before the season, Jackson had reached an agreement with an undisclosed team for a one-year deal. Jackson is expected to make approximately $6 million.
Several media outlets have reported that the team is the Minnesota Vikings, who need a receiver after having lost Sidney Rice(notes) for at least seven more games because of hip surgery.
The Chargers have given three teams permission to talk with Jackson about a possible trade. The Seattle Seahawks and St. Louis Rams are among the three, but both have passed on the idea for now because they don’t want to both pay Jackson for a long-term deal and give up a draft pick.
What remains to be seen is whether San Diego is willing to deal Jackson. There is speculation that the Chargers will continue to play hardball with Jackson, who was offered a one-year deal as a restricted free agent. The Chargers initially offered $3.268 million for one year, then reduced the offer to $583,000 when Jackson didn’t sign.
The Chargers may wait it out to see if Jackson will report for the final six games of the season. If they do, Jackson reports and then leaves as a free agent in 2011, they would likely get a compensatory third-round pick in 2012
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Pack's Grant headlines big NFL day
The Green Bay Packers put running back Ryan Grant on season-ending injured reserve(ankle).
Monday, September 13, 2010
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