Subject: Philadelphia Eagles believe Michael Vick will play vs. New York Giants, source says - ESPN
From: "Eric Schwerin" <[email-masked]>
To: "Hunter Biden" <[email-masked]>
Date: Wed, 21 Sep 2011 17:56:15 -0400

http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/6999497/philadelphia-eagles-believe-michael-vick-play-vs-new-york-giants-source-says

Source: Eagles hopeful on Michael Vick

Although quarterback Michael Vick first will have to pass his concussion tests before being officially cleared, the Eagles believe he should be able to play Sunday against the New York Giants, a team source told ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter.

Team sources told ESPN's Sal Paolantonio that Vick split snaps with backup quarterback Mike Kafka with the first-team offense in Wednesday morning's walkthrough.

"Kafka took the majority of them," one senior offensive player told ESPN.

Vick suffered the concussion Sunday night in Philadelphia's 35-31 loss to the Falcons in Atlanta and was forced to leave the game in the second half.

Head athletic trainer Rick Burkholder on Wednesday said Vick doesn't have "a whole lot of concussion symptoms," and would undergo further testing, including seeing an independent neurologist in the next day or two.

"Just because he doesn't have symptoms today doesn't mean he won't have symptoms tomorrow," Burkholder said. "You can't predict."

Vick did not practice in the afternoon.

"It's hard to give you the future because you have to do things the right way and go through the process," Reid said.

Vick threw for a pair of touchdowns for the Eagles (1-1), but couldn't continue after getting spun by a Falcons rusher into one of his teammates, right tackle Todd Herremans. He was replaced by Kafka.

Kafka, a fourth-round pick last year, played well in his NFL debut. He completed 7 of 9 passes for 72 yards and finished off the touchdown drive after Vick got hurt.

Kafka drove the Eagles to Atlanta's 22 in the final two minutes, but Jeremy Maclin dropped a pass on fourth-and-4.

"I have a lot of confidence in myself and my abilities," Kafka said. "Coach Reid puts a lot on the quarterback and puts a lot on the offense, but I know we haven't made a decision on who's going to be the quarterback yet, so we're all working to get better. We're all working to get better at these little things that we have to hone in on."

Vince Young, who was signed to be the backup, has missed the first two games with a hamstring injury. He's close to returning.

"We're pretty fortunate to have three quarterbacks who can play the game," Reid said. "My message to all three of them was: 'Get ready accordingly.'

Giants coach Tom Coughlin, in his Tuesday conference call with the media, said he expected Vick to play, and that New York was not putting together a different game plan without Vick in it.

Since the NFL instituted new guidelines, only one Eagles player -- wide receiver Jason Avant -- has played the next game after suffering a concussion.

However, Avant had two extra days off because a snowstorm postponed Philadelphia's game against Minnesota last December.

"Every situation is different," Avant said. "I got up right away, immediately knew where I was, who hit me, what the score was."

The Giants are hoping Vick plays, safety Antrel Rolle said Tuesday.

"I want the best of the best," he said on his weekly radio spot with WFAN. "And he is the best. I hope Michael Vick plays, because at the end of the day, I don't want any excuses when we go down to Philly and put it to them the way we will."

Information from ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter, ESPN national correspondent Sal Paolantonio, ESPNNewYork.com Giants reporter Ohm Youngmisuk and The Associated Press was used in this report.

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Eric D. Schwerin
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