Source: Vick to start; Bradley, Kolb progress, but still out of practice
Michael Vick is expected to start Sunday, a team source said. Stewart Bradley and Kevin Kolb sat in team meetings today, but both still appear unlikely to play this week.
Source: Vick to start; Bradley, Kolb progress, but still out of practice
Jonathan Tamari and Jeff McLane
Michael Vick will start Sunday against the Lions, according to a team source, confirming what was widely expected.
Linebacker Stewart Bradley and quarterback Kevin Kolb both sat in team meetings today, a sign of progress after they were each concussed Sunday, but it still seems highly unlikely that either will play against Detroit.
Bradley was seen doing light exercises in the Eagles training room, though neither player is expected to practice today.
Even if team doctors clear the two, they would still need to get an OK from independent doctor to return to play.
While the Eagles won't publicly commit to playing Vick as a starter against the Lions, coaches did say that Mike McGlynn will start at center and Omar Gaither will start at middle linebacker if Bradley is held out.
Coordinators Marty Mornhinweg, Sean McDermott and Bobby April gave glimpses into their planning and concerns for their game this week.
Mornhinweg stressed the challenge presented by the Lions' defensive line, which features defensive end Kyle Vanden Bosch and defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh. "Their front is just excellent and this will be a really good challenge for us."
McDermott -- somewhat less convincingly -- played up the talent of Lions back up quarterback Shaun Hill, expected to start in place of the injured Matthew Stafford. "He's a veteran quarterback, so he has seen the blitz looks ... he has great football instincts, so I'm sure he's well prepared to do a good job."
Bobby April, meanwhile, said his team has work to do on both kick off coverage and kick returns.
The Eagles gave up long returns after several scores Sunday, giving the Packers the chance to strike back.
"It was not good. The thing about that particular play, it's a critical play for a lot of reasons. It's the first defensive play of the series," April said. "We have a chance to literally establish the field position for our defensive football team with one single play, so it's critical that that one single play to determine that is good."
On kick coverage, April said he needs to better detail his plans and a few individual players need to make better plays in coverage. Just one person getting of his block can stop a return short. The return game, April said, is tougher to address because a kick return requires 11 players working in unison. Despite averaging a start around the 30 yard line, April said that number was bolstered by a Packers' kick out of bounds.
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We can't lose to Detroit and their Shawn Hill, even with Vick, right? Right!??!!??— dragoon6- Comment removed.
Question: What's the difference Vick and Kolb? Answer: experience- I don't believe that number of Super Bowl wins determines how good a QB is. Going by that criteria, Rex Grossman would be a better QB than Dan Marino. All that can be determined by the Packers game was that Vick was a better QB than Kolb....in THAT particular game. It doesn't necessarily mean he'll be a better QB for the rest of the season...or even against Detroit.— SteveS11
- what? You mean they are not going to put a concussed Corn Kolb out there???? I can't believe it!!!— tralala
- I think we know what has to happen here. AR has to go and take Banner and Roseman with him. Too many draft pick busts. Call Bill Cowher or Chucky. We'll never get close to a SB as long as AR is coach. I'd love to say give him a chance, but how long do we have to wait?— bigblues
- This is so stupid and disingenuous (a team source). Given the situation, who else would be starting, but Vick????????????— Marchmadness
- All you boneheads should realize right now that it doesn't matter who the birds have at QB. They will fail as long as Andy is their head coach...you are all wasting your time comparing Kolb/Vick...neither will ever win a SB under Reid.— tralala
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- good luck mike, I just want a win. Last week clearly shows who the weak link is in this franchise. And its clearly the coach. Look again at the weaver play-single back trips right bunch. And have our All pro fb run up the gut.— Onlineps2beast
- Kolbb is totally over rated he his the next coming of andre ware better yet another UH guy david klinger. Both were system QB who failed miserably in th NFL and it ment that for both those guys "not for long".. Vick may not be the long term solution but a fix for the current situation at hand. We should have signed Troy Smith. Andy Reid needs to be fired like today and let us hire Herm Edwards or Bill Cowher. We are letting to much good talent go to waste.— monty00_7
They should be able to beat the Lions with Howard Eskin under center. If they lose this game then the season is in jeopardy, and they can focus on developing their young players, not winning games.
— blaqjaq- lilbill20 get back in your cave, humanity has moved on, even Mike vick has changed his ways. your football knowledge shows you must be a 15 year old kid that knows squat....where is your girlfriend lone wolf4. Kevin will never be the same guys, it doesnt matter how much the machinery supports him, he will be scared of missing a couple of days between sunday and monday and wait and watch. the only good coming out of this is Andy is a gonner, too bad he cant take lilbill$20 wolf4 with him...— jameslaka
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