Vick says he's happy to be with Eagles

You have to remember that when the Eagles went through their first spring camp six months ago, Vick was still locked away in a Kansas prison after being convicted on dogfighting charges.

Vick indicated during an interview that aired on NBC before Sunday night's game against Dallas that he would have a difficult time returning to the Eagles next season in a reserve role, but he insisted he is not unhappy with his current situation.

"I'm happy to be playing football," he said. "This is probably the last time I'm going to address this situation. I'm just happy to be playing football. Like I've said, two months ago, two years ago, I wasn't playing football. I didn't even know if I had a future being in the NFL. I'm just happy to be able to put on a uniform. I'm happy to be standing at this locker.

"The only thing I said [during the NBC interview] was that if the situation came about where I had to be the third quarterback I wouldn't like it . . . but, hey, I'd have to deal with it. I just want to have a chance at playing, and that's just me being a competitor. I think that's what our coaches appreciate, and that's the type of person I am and the type of player I am. If that's not the situation, then I have to keep working every day to get better."

Vick may be happy, but he has not been productive through the Eagles' first eight games, and his role running what coach Andy Reid calls the Spread Eagle offense has been minimal. He has run the ball 12 times for 27 yards and completed 2 of 6 passes for 6 yards.

He admitted that he doesn't want to be a Wildcat quarterback the rest of his career.

"I don't want to line up and hand the ball off and have to read the defensive end or whoever we're reading for the rest of my career," he said. "That's not what I do. I didn't come into the league doing that. I don't want to do that the rest of my career unless it's involved in the offense."

Reid said he had no indication that Vick was unhappy.

"I don't know what he said," the coach said. "I just know he and I talk every day and he's glad to be here. He appreciates the opportunity, been a pleasure to have on this football team. I know Michael Vick can be a starting quarterback in the National Football League and be a very good one. I think he's back physically where he needs to be to do that, and whatever is in the future is in the future. But right now I'm sure glad to have him here."

The Eagles' coach was asked if he envisioned more from Vick and the Wildcat offense when the team surprisingly signed the quarterback to a two-year deal in August.

"Not necessarily," he said. "I didn't set a number on it, and I know certain games you use it, certain games you have to stay away from it."

Vick said he thinks the element of surprise in the Eagles' version of the Wildcat offense is removed because he has to come in from the sideline.

"You have to do it on a consistent basis," he said. "Like I said before, it's different when you're out there full time and the defense can't tee off and know exactly what you're going to do. I'm not saying they know exactly what we're going to do every time we come out there, but the majority of the time it's going to be a run, and maybe they're keying up on that."

Contact staff writer Bob Brookover at 215-854-2577 or bbrookover@phillynews.com.