McNabb believes Vick could help other teams

MIAMI BEACH, Fla. - Donovan McNabb, who championed bringing Michael Vick to the Eagles last summer, last night threw his weight behind Vick's stated desire to find a place where he can start next season.

"Michael Vick's done a great job," McNabb said in response to a question from ESPN's Steve Levy, in one take of several made during a taping of Super Bowl XLIV preview material on the ESPN set at Miami Beach. "He's a great guy, he's worked extremely hard to prepare himself. I think this is a perfect opportunity for a ballclub to give him an opportunity to start for them, be their quarterback, and he's going to make a lot of plays for them."

McNabb reiterated that he expects to remain with the Eagles this year.

Levy referred to McNabb's 11-year tenure in asking what fans could expect.

"They'll see me again for 12, and hopefully a lot more," McNabb said. "It's an exciting time, I'm looking forward to it, you know I don't want to be anywhere else but in Philadelphia."

McNabb's Vick remarks were notable in light of a report from onetime Eagles executive Michael Lombardi, now of the National Football Post, who said he has been told the team will keep Vick. Vick has confirmed that he has asked to be traded. The team must pick up a $1.5 million option by March 5 to retain his rights. Other teams seem to expect Vick to be available in a trade.

McNabb, who appeared on "SportsCenter," talked at length with Levy and former quarterback Steve Young about the Super Bowl matchup.

McNabb said that if Indianapolis defensive end Dwight Freeney is out or ineffective with an ankle problem, New Orleans quarterback Drew Brees can get more receivers into patterns.

"Your backs don't have to check, your tight ends don't have to check, they can get out in the route, which puts more pressure on your safeties and your linebackers, and they have to cover . . . The [Colts'] linebackers aren't great coverage guys. So now you're going to put them against a Reggie Bush, against a [Mike] Bell, against a Pierre Thomas, against a Jeremy Shockey, who probably is pretty healthy right now."

McNabb picked the Colts and clearly felt the Saints' defense will be overmatched against Peyton Manning.

He said the Saints "have given up a lot of big plays all year, and I don't think it's going to be any different."

McNabb said Manning's experience, having been to the Super Bowl 3 years ago when the Colts won it, will be "a major factor."

He noted that 17 of the Saints' 35 sacks have come through blitzing, indicating they might not be able to get pressure from their front four.

The Eagles beefed up their rebuilt player personnel department yesterday by hiring former Cleveland general manager Phil Savage, 44, as a consultant.

Like former head coach Dick Jauron, hired the day before as defensive backs coach, Savage brings experience to a comparatively young and inexperienced group. He ran the Browns from 2005-08.

For more Eagles coverage and opinion, read the Daily News' Eagles blog, Eagletarian, at www.eagletarian.com.