Red-Zone Report

The signing of Michael Vick does not pose a threat to Eagles QB Donovan McNabb for one simple reason: Vick will not play quarterback for the Eagles in 2009. At least not exclusively.

Vick will play the role of option QB, RB, maybe even WR. He will provide the Eagles with an offensive weapon that opposing defenses will have to prepare for and track throughout the game. If they don’t, they may pay for it.

In six NFL seasons, Vick has compiled 11,505 passing yards and 3,859 rushing yards — a 3-to-1 ratio.

[In comparison, Kordell Stewart, in his "Slash" role --and throughout his career-- only got as close as a 5-to-1 ratio, pass vs. run, with comparable passing statistics.]

With Vick lined up in the back field, split-back, pro-formation, a number of things are possible: A) Direct snap to Vick; B) Hand-off to Vick on a running play; C) Pitch to Vick with the option to throw.

Or none of the above. But either way, defenses will have to account for him.

When Vick is on the field, he will occupy at least one defender. That should free things up slightly for the Eagles receiving corp and versatile back Brian Westbrook (who had off-season surgery remove scar tissue and bone fragments from his right ankle).

My point is, the Ealges have added another weapon to their offense. And it’s been the plan all off-season. The first three draft picks were on the offensive side of the ball, and 6 of 8 picks overall.

Vick will provide a way to keep the Eagles offense near the top and improve their chances in the post-season. Vick will not challenge McNabb at QB or clock significant playing time behind center. He is simply another wrinkle in the Eagles offense, part of head coach Andy Reid’s mission– maybe his last chance – to get the Eagles back to the Super Bowl.

Source: NFL.com, profootballreference.com, football.about.com (photo); 10:15 p.m. et

It seems Michael Vick has found a new home in the NFL. He will play backup quarterback to the Philadelphia Eagles’ Donovan McNabb.

After 19 months in Federal Prison, Vick will be rejoining the NFL. Eagles’ head coach, Andy Reid isn’t known for his decision making. Reid has stuck with always injured QB McNabb for three seasons.

His decisions have, however, paid off. Reid has taken the Eagles to an unprecidented 5 NFC title  games. Will this decision be another TO mistake? Or, will Vick prove he’s worth a second chance?

As the NFL preseason gets underway, all fans will be watching Vick closely to see if he fails or (hopefully) rises above.

AdAge.com is reporting that former NFL quarterback Michael Vick–jailed for funding a dog-fighting ring – is in talks to become a PETA spokesman.

“I’m familiar with [the plan],” Dan Shannon, director of youth outreach and campaigns for PETA, was quoted on AdAge.com.

“We have been in discussions with Michael Vick, with his management team, about the possibility of him putting out a public-service announcement with PETA when he’s out of jail.

“We want him to discourage people from taking part in dog-fighting. I can do it until I’m blue in the face and it might not convince anybody. Michael Vick sure can. He can say, ‘Look, I did it, I was wrong, and it ruined my career.’”

Update: Rich Thomaselli of Adage.com is reporting that talks between Vick and PETA broke down after pyscological evaluations of Vick.

According to Dan Shannon, director of youth outreach and campaigns for PETA,  it appears there is ”zero chance” that this deal will happen at the present time.

Source: AdAge.com – 2:15 p.m. et – Updated May 3 6:34 p.m. et

The AP has reported that former Falcons quarterback Michael Vick has been approved for release to home confinement.

Vick will be placed on an electronic monitoring system and will only be permitted to leave home for activities approved by his probation officer, the AP has reported.

So he isn’t completely off the leash. Per PFT, Vick is scheduled to be freed July 20.

More on this tonight -

Source: USAToday.com, Profootballtalk.com - 12:55 p.m. et

As mentioned in Saturday’s RZR Notes, the Falcons are looking to trade Michael Vick before he gets reinstated.

What Vick did was wrong, immoral and most of all: Absolutely disgusting.  But, there’s a lot of NFL players who do absolutely disgusting things.  Current St. Louis Rams defensive end Leonard Little killed a woman while driving drunk and then got a second DUI.

I’m an animal lover, specifically dogs, but there’s absolutely no way Michael Vick should be forced out of the NFL while a monster like Leonard Little is making Pro Bowls.

Sure, Vick wasn’t a good quarterback (in fact, he was pretty poor). But, with the Wildcat formation making some serious NFL inroads, Vick could be a valuable addition to a team as a part time passer, part time runner/receiver.  Many NFL teams will shy away and not want to take the public relations hit that signing Vick would entail, but look for a team with either a no-nonsense coach with nothing to lose (Kansas City, perhaps?) or a senile owner (Oakland Raiders) to possibly be interested.

Source: NFL.com, cnnsi.com – 9:13 a.m. et

Michael Vick has been ordered to pay the Royal Bank in Canada a sum of $2.5 million, the Atlanta Journal Constitution is reporting.

The United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia granted a motion Wednesday for summary judgement against Vick for default and breach of a Jan. 18, 2007, promisary note.

Vick was found in default of $2,421,170.90. He must also pay interest at a rate of $499 per diem from Sept. 19, 2007 from May 7, 2008, a total of 231 days and a total value of $115,269. Vick must also pay attorney’s fees and additional costs totaling $11,950.97.

The Royal Bank sent a letter to Vick on Aug. 31, 2007, demanding that he repay the line of credit issued in January 2007, reportedly for a real-estate venture. The money was not to be used for personal, family or household purposes, the AJC found.

The lawsuit claimed that Vick was in default of the loan for “numerous reasons.”

Vick is currently serving a 23-month sentence in federal prison for a felony conviction on dogfighting charges.

Source: Profootballtalk.com, AJC. May 8 – 12:45 p.m. et

After Governor Eliot Spitzer’s recent uh…mishap, Michael Vick’s fall from grace doesn’t seem so bad.

And now we’ll have more time to forget about Vick. His April 2 trial on state dogfighting charges has been delayed, the SportingNews has reported. It will be rescheduled on March 25.   

And for those who still see Vick in a bad light, he can always say, “Hey, at least I didn’t drop $80,000 on prostitutes.”

Source: SportingNews.com. March 14 – 11:25 p.m. et