Chiefs QB Cassel could miss opener

By Jason Cole, Yahoo! Sports 6 hours, 46 minutes ago

Quarterback Matt Cassel(notes) could miss two to four weeks with a strained medial collateral ligament in his right knee, a source within the Kansas City Chiefs organization said.

Cassel, who the Chiefs acquired in a trade with New England this offseason, was hurt Saturday night in an exhibition game against Seattle. The injury is not expected to require surgery because MCL injuries usually heal on their own.

However, the injury means Cassel could miss the Chiefs’ season opener at Baltimore on Sept. 13. If Cassel can’t play, Tyler Thigpen(notes) is expected to start the season. Thigpen, who had been the subject of trade rumors earlier this week, played in 14 games last season when the Chiefs went through injuries at quarterback. He finished the season with 18 touchdown passes, 12 interceptions and a quarterback rating of 76.0.

Cassel also suffered an ankle injury, but that was not considered as serious as the MCL injury.

 

Cutler sharp at Bears win

By RICK GANO, AP Sports Writer

CHICAGO (AP)—Jay Cutler(notes) wasted little time showing the fans at Soldier Field what they’ve been waiting to see ever since he joined the Chicago Bears.

Cutler came out and led the Bears to points on their first three possessions — his only three series of the game— as Chicago moved out to a quick 17-point lead and beat the New York Giants 17-3 Saturday night.

Playing a game with the Bears for the first time on his new home field, Cutler completed 8 of 13 passes for 121 yards, led TD drives of 80 and 92 yards and threw for a score.

His sub-par performance a week ago in the preseason opener against Buffalo was quickly forgotten.

“It’s preseason. Everyone got a little excited last week when we didn’t produce but we looked OK tonight,” Cutler said. “There’s still room for improvement, so we’re going to go back to work. We’re coming together as an offense. We’re not quite there yet.”Cutler outplayed Eli Manning(notes), who left after four series. Manning completed 7 of 10 passes for 62 yards. He was sacked twice, fumbled once—the Giants recovered—and was also called for intentional grounding.

The Giants made a quick turnaround and had a short practice week after beating Carolina on Monday night.

“That’s no excuse. We were prepared and we looked at everything. We just didn’t execute. Too many negative plays,” Manning said.

Cutler has already being hailed as the Bears’ best quarterback since Sid Luckman and his arrival after a testy departure from the Broncos has been making headlines for months. The Pro Bowl quarterback hit only 5 of 10 passes against the Bills but looked much smoother Saturday night.

“We’re kind of coming together, myself and the line, you know, with how I can move in the pocket, and when I can step up, when I can take off,” Cutler said.

“It doesn’t happen overnight. We’ve got some new linemen, new receivers, a new quarterback. We’re all trying to figure it out.

On his first pass attempt Cutler was hit as he dropped back but completed it a 27-yarder to his former Vanderbilt teammate Earl Bennett(notes). He then hit a 10-yard pass to Devin Hester(notes) before a drop and an overthrow left him 2-for-4 on the opening series, one that ended with Robbie Gould’s(notes) 44-yard field goal.

Later in the first quarter, he connected on a 15-yarder to Bennett and then a 17-yarder to Greg Olsen(notes) during a five-play, 80-yard TD drive that was capped by Forte’s 32-yard TD run for a 10-0 lead.

Forte, a standout as a rookie a year ago who’d hurt a hamstring during offseason drills, sat out last week’s exhibition opener against Buffalo.

The Giants were depleted defensively. Linebackers Antonio Pierce(notes) and Michael Boley(notes) were on the inactive list as were cornerback Aaron Ross(notes) and safety Kenny Phillips(notes). Defensive tackles Rocky Benard and Chris Canty(notes) were also sidelined by injuries. Backup DT Jay Alford(notes) was carted off with a knee sprain early in the third quarter.

But Giants defensive end Justin Tuck(notes) called the performance one “that leaves a bad taste.”

“It’s the preseason, but we didn’t do what we wanted to,” he added.

Cutler and Hester nearly connected for a big play to start the second quarter. Cutler rolled out and found Hester more than 10 yards behind the Giants’ secondary, but the former kick returner couldn’t catch up with the long pass that would have been an easy touchdown.

“We had a shot there. I overthrew it a little bit. It’s going to happen,” Cutler said.

Later in the same drive, Cutler showed off his legs, scrambling 12 yards for a first down. Cutler then made a nice lead pass to to Devin Aromashodu(notes), whose highlight-reel, fully extended catch was good for a 38-yard gain and first down at the Giants 1. Cutler then faked into the line and tossed a TD pass to Desmond Clark(notes) to make it 17-0.

New York (1-1) also used David Carr(notes) and Andre’Woodson at quarterback but couldn’t find the end zone or offensive consistency.

Giants coach Tom Coughlin said his team couldn’t get first downs—only 11 for the game— or protect the passer well. “There was no continuity,” he said.

“We got beat. We have no excuses.”

 What retirement? Favre coming back with Vikings

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. (AP)—Brett Favre’s(notes) latest retirement lasted all of three weeks.

The three-time MVP has done about-face for the second time in as many years and will play for the Vikings this season.If the wait for Favre’s decision seemed neverending, it was resolved Tuesday in a few short hours: the 39-year-old Favre jumped on a team plane in Mississippi and was picked up at the St. Paul airport by coach Brad Childress himself. The two drove to the team’s practice facility, where Favre waved to hundreds of cheering fans.

No less than 90 minutes later, Favre was on the field in his familiar No. 4 jersey with purple shorts and a purple helmet, a vision that has had Packers fans cringing about for months. He shook hands with a few of his new teammates and quickly began throwing as fans peeked through the security fence to catch a glimpse of the superstar.

Shortly after practice began, the Vikings confirmed the agreement that seemed so inevitable all summer, only to be held up on July 28 when the man who holds every major NFL career passing record told Childress he wasn’t ready to play, citing a lack of confidence in his beat-up body to hold up over an entire season.

Childress and Favre were expected to discuss the change of heart at a news conference later Tuesday.

Childress a few weeks ago said he had not planned to pursue Favre after he said he was staying retired. And yet here comes Favre, once reviled by a Vikings fan base that hustled to welcome him to town.

“I don’t have any problem rooting for one of the greatest quarterbacks ever,” said Phil Setala, a 23-year-old from Minneapolis who was at practice proudly wearing a purple No. 4 jersey.

Even the governor chimed in.

“It’s going to be good for the team. It’s going to be good for the state. It’s going to be exciting,” a giddy Gov. Tim Pawlenty said after a speech.

Last month, Favre explained his decision by saying he had to be “careful not to commit for the wrong reasons.”

“I’m 39 with a lot of sacks to my name,” he said.

He has a lot of interceptions to his name, too, more than any other quarterback in NFL history. The last time Favre appeared in the playoffs—a bitter loss at Lambeau Field by the Packers to the Giants in the NFC Championship game following the 2007 season—he put up one of his worst performances in recent memory.

Now the question becomes how Favre will fit in with a team that’s already done with the grind of training camp, not to mention how his health will hold up so soon after he questioned it. Favre had arthroscopic surgery to fix his throwing shoulder in May.

The Vikings got an encouraging performance in their preseason opener last week from quarterback Sage Rosenfels(notes), who has been competing with Tarvaris Jackson(notes) for the starting job, but neither of them have been consistently sharp in practice this month.

And neither is anywhere in Favre’s league. His zinger of an arm and toughness in the pocket are a combination few possess. With an offense he claimed this summer he could operate in his sleep, Favre seems to fit well with Minnesota—epecially given the Vikings’ problems finding a reliable quarterback since Childress took over in 2006.

The Vikings have Pro Bowl players all over their roster, with reigning NFL rushing leader Adrian Peterson in the backfield and a dominant defensive line. No matter who’s behind center, they ought to be in position to defend their NFC North title.

To win the conference, and perhaps that elusive Super Bowl, they’ll need stability at the sport’s most critical position.

Favre has wrestled with retirement for most of this decade and the will-he-or-won’t-he saga became an annual offseason drama for the Packers, his longtime home. In Green Bay, the latest news elicted a few shrugs, little more.

A few months after Favre’s tearful goodbye news conference in March 2008, Green Bay traded him to the Jets when he tried to come back, only to learn the Packers were committed to Aaron Rodgers(notes). Favre started strong in New York, but faded down the stretch amid problems with his throwing arm and, with another “I’m done” announcement, headed for his second retirement.

The Jets released him from his contract right after the draft and soon after, the Vikings were openly expressing interest. Favre spent the summer working out in Mississippi and led everyone to believe he was on his way back to the NFL until last month.

“It was the hardest decision I’ve ever made,” Favre told ESPN then. “I didn’t feel like physically I could play at a level that was acceptable.”

 

Donte’ Stallworth suspended without pay for season

NEW YORK (AP)NFL commissioner Roger Goodell decided Donte’ Stallworth’s(notes) football punishment should last much longer than his 24 days in jail.

The Cleveland Browns receiver, who pleaded guilty to killing a pedestrian while driving drunk, was suspended without pay Thursday for the entire season. He is barred from team activities until he is reinstated after the Super Bowl.

Your conduct endangered yourself and others, leading to the death of an innocent man,” Goodell wrote in a letter to Stallworth released by the league. “The NFL and NFL players must live with the stain that you have placed on their reputations.”

Stallworth struck 59-year-old crane operator Mario Reyes the morning of March 14 in Miami. He pleaded guilty June 16 to DUI manslaughter, a second-degree felony, and was suspended indefinitely by Goodell two days later.

“Regardless of the length of my suspension, I will carry the burden of Mr. Reyes’ death for the rest of my life,” Stallworth said in a statement. “I urge NFL fans not to judge NFL players or me based on my tragic lapse in judgment. I am a good person who did a bad thing. I will use the period of my suspension to reflect, fulfill my obligations, and use this experience to make a positive impact on the lives of those who look up to NFL players.”

Stallworth drew a 30-day jail sentence and reached an undisclosed financial settlement with the family of Reyes, who was leaving his job when killed.

Goodell said he didn’t take the sentence into account in determining if Stallworth violated the league’s substance abuse and personal conduct policies. The commissioner held a hearing with Stallworth, his representatives and union officials Aug. 5. He also met privately with Stallworth on Monday at the 28-year-old player’s request.

“As you recognized both at and following the hearing, guilt or innocence as a matter of criminal law is not the same as a violation of NFL policies,” Goodell wrote.

Stallworth signed a seven-year, $35 million contract in 2008 and received a $4.5 million roster-signing bonus the night before the crash. He will lose the remaining $745,000 on his deal for 2009.

Browns coach Eric Mangini wouldn’t say whether he was open to bringing Stallworth back next season.

“There’s really no decision that’s been made; there’s no timetable that’s been set,” he said. “The focus is on what we have to do here, the players that are here and that’s really the direction we’re headed.”

This was Goodell’s second high-profile disciplinary decision in the last three weeks. On July 27, he conditionally reinstated Michael Vick(notes) after the quarterback served 18 months in prison for running a dogfighting ring.

Police said Stallworth had spent the night drinking at a Miami Beach club and had a blood-alcohol level of .126, above Florida’s .08 legal limit. Besides jail time, his sentence included two years of house arrest, eight years of probation and other restrictions.

Prosecutors have said surveillance video showed Reyes running across MacArthur Causeway and being hit by Stallworth’s 2005 Bentley. On a 911 call, Stallworth said that Reyes “came out of nowhere.” A police report said Reyes was rushing to catch a bus home.

At the time of the plea deal, Miami-Dade State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle cited Stallworth’s lack of criminal record, cooperation and willingness to accept responsibility. Rundle also said the Reyes family—particularly the victim’s 15-year-old daughter—wanted the case resolved to avoid any more pain.

A college star at Tennessee, Stallworth has also played for the New England Patriots, Philadelphia Eagles and New Orleans Saints.

When the Browns signed Stallworth they hoped he could be a No. 2 receiver who could take pressure off Braylon Edwards(notes). But Stallworth never got going after hurting his leg in training camp and made only seven starts. Edwards spent the season dropping important passes and Cleveland finished 4-12.

Once it became apparent Stallworth could miss time, the Browns signed 12-year veteran David Patten(notes) and drafted Brian Robiskie(notes) and Mohammed Massaquoi in April to add depth at receiver.

“He’s going to be well-missed,” defensive end Corey Williams(notes) said, “and we’re going to support him as much as we can.”

AP freelancer Scott Petrak in Berea, Ohio, contributed to this report.

 Johnson a man of big numbers, few words

By Jason Cole,

HOUSTON – When you’re climbing a mountain, there’s no time for wasted breath. Expending even the smallest amount of precious air on idle talk is going to just slow down the process.

Perhaps that’s why Houston Texans wide receiver Andre Johnson(notes) parcels out words the way bankers loan money these days. For Johnson and the Texans, it’s about making the climb – not telling people all about it along the way. In the look-at-me era of NFL receivers – where Terrell Owens(notes) has a reality show and Chad Ochocinco(notes) rambles endlessly on “Hard Knocks” – Johnson is unconcerned about his lack of notoriety. Though Johnson led the NFL in catches (115) and receiving yards (1,575) last season and is considered by many coaches and executives to be among the top handful of receivers in the game, getting him to talk about this is like trying to run through a cinder-block wall.

“All the stories I have about ‘Dre aren’t really about him,” said David Anderson(notes), another Texans wideout and resident entertainer, given his impressions of boxer Ricky Hatton or quarterback-turned-analyst Ron Jaworski. “They’re about the things we do to him to make him talk. You really have to grind on him to get something out of him. He’s fun and he’ll joke around, but it takes a lot to bring him out.”

Or as Texans wide receiver Darnell Jenkins(notes) said: “If ‘Dre don’t know you, he’s not going to say anything to you. He’s not being mean about it; he just won’t talk. That’s just him.”

Always has been. Back in Carol City, Fla., where Johnson grew up with his brother and mother, “there wasn’t much talking going on,” said Johnson, a first-team All-Pro last season. “If I don’t know you, I’m not really going to talk to you. It has nothing to do with trust. I may say a few words to you, but not like I’m going to just start talking to people out of nowhere.”

So it should be no surprise that Johnson agreed in his first contract not to do any national endorsements or ads for at least one year.

“I actually just did my first national commercial this offseason, and this is my seventh season,” said Johnson, agreeing to the request without a second thought, assuring the organization that his focus was on football. “That stuff doesn’t make me. What I need to do is whatever it takes to get this team to its first playoff appearance. That’s all that matters.”

Johnson isn’t dismissive or rude, and it’s not that he can’t be bothered talking. Over the course of two days this week, he did eight interviews with various media outlets and he’s extremely accessible to reporters who cover the team regularly – win or lose.

Ultimately, while he may not have much to say, Johnson wants to make people feel at ease. It’s part of his approach to making Houston great. As the Texans embark on their eighth season since joining the NFL as an expansion team, Johnson understands his role as a foundational piece.

He was Houston’s second first-round pick, coming in as the third overall selection of the 2003 NFL draft. Considering that 2002 No. 1 pick David Carr(notes) is already gone, Johnson is basically a founding father. Just as he helped the University of Miami return to greatness in the late 1990s after the school was on probation, he senses the same mission in Houston.

“I feel the same way, like I’m going through a process,” said Johnson, who rarely looks anyone straight in the eye as he initially starts to speak, portraying an almost shy quality. “At Miami, my redshirt year there, I think we lost four games and went to the Gator Bowl. Then, my first year playing, we went 11-1 and it felt like you were part of something special, bringing the program back. The next year, we won a national championship and then we played for another one the next year.

“Here, it’s kind of like the same thing. You come to a new organization, it’s a process. It’s not going to happen overnight. I definitely feel like we’re climbing the mountain.”

Johnson seems to plot a course with that in mind. While teammates and coaches unanimously call him that rare combination of best player and hardest worker on the team, Johnson doesn’t preen in his workouts. At 6-foot-2, 228 pounds, he is built more like a linebacker, but he doesn’t show it off.

“We were lifting one time and ‘Dre has about 30 pounds of muscle on me,” said Anderson, who is all of 5-10, 194 pounds and often goes unrecognized as a football player. “His body is ridiculous. But we’re doing the incline press and we’re both doing the same weight, like about 185 pounds. I’m kind of looking at him like I can’t believe I’m lifting the same amount as him.

“He starts joking about how his muscles are just ‘air’ muscles, just pumped up with a lot of air … so I laugh and go on to the next thing. I turn around and he’s thrown another 90 pounds on the press after I left. It was like he didn’t want to embarrass me.”

That’s exactly the case.

“I’m never going to make my teammates feel bad,” Johnson said. “I wouldn’t do anything like that. Sometimes guys feel like you’re on a different level than they’re on, but I don’t look at it like that. I make it so they feel comfortable working out with me. I want them to feel the same way I feel.

I’m never going to say, ‘Oh, you’re lifting that light weight?’ or anything like that.”

At the same time, there is no question that Johnson is the player the Texans have built their passing game around. Last year, as the team struggled to an 0-4 start after the devastation of Hurricane Ike, Johnson came up with a season-turning play.

Facing a fourth-and-10 late in the fourth quarter against the Miami Dolphins, quarterback Matt Schaub(notes) rolled right and threw back to his left to Johnson, who had been running a crossing pattern from left to right before cutting back to the left sideline. The juggling catch allowed the Texans to keep the game-winning drive alive.

“That’s the play of the year for us,” said wide receiver Kevin Walter(notes). “We don’t get that, who knows where our season goes.”

Said head coach Gary Kubiak: “That play and that drive completely switched the gears for us. We’re 0-4 at the time, pick up that game, go 8-4 the rest of the way and finish 8-8. As a coach, that’s what you talk about with guys – that one play can make a difference in a whole season – and that proved it.”

When asked about the play, Johnson almost shrugs it off.

“As I was running that play, I didn’t feel no extra pressure, like I had to be the one to make the catch or anything like that,” Johnson said. “I knew the situation, but it wasn’t like it had to be me. … I’ve never been a person who felt like they needed a lot of attention. I’ve never been that way.”

Given his lack of chatter relative to the other marquee performers at his position, it shows.

Bears QB Cutler wins 27-17 in return to Denver

By ARNIE STAPLETON, AP Sports Writer

DENVER (AP)—Jay Cutler(notes) got the last laugh—and now he can put Denver in his rearview mirror for good.

The Pro Bowl passer, who forced a blockbuster trade out of Denver last spring and became the Chicago Bears’ first franchise quarterback since Sid Luckman, returned to Invesco Field on Sunday night and led his new team to a 27-17 preseason win over the Broncos.

Cutler disregarded the thousands of hecklers, including Broncos pass-rusher Elvis Dumervil(notes), in leading Chicago on three scoring drives, capped by a 12-play, 98-yarder just before halftime that gave the Bears a 17-3 lead.

“It’s a little bit weird. Different locker room, different sideline,” Cutler said. “But that’s how it goes. I love where I’m at in Chicago. I think we’re heading in the right direction offensively.”The adversary he left behind, Broncos rookie coach Josh McDaniels, had a distressing home debut. So did Denver’s new quarterback, Kyle Orton(notes), who gashed his right index finger to cut short a middling performance against his former team and left his new club to wonder if he’ll be ready for the season opener in two weeks.

Cutler dodged a heavy blitz package and threw for 144 yards and a score in a crisp 15-for-21 performance. He called it a night at halftime and basking in the glow of his successful return to Invesco Field, where just eight months ago he was a beloved figure, a Pro Bowl passer and the heir apparent in this town to Hall of Famer John Elway 

While fans came to jeer him, they also saw why they’ll miss this immensely talented young quarterback.

“I thought it was going to be like this,” Cutler said. “They got good fans here. A lot of boos—they got pretty loud there at one point. It was what we kind of prepared for.”

At one point on the Bears’ 98-yard TD drive, the jeers turned to cheers when Dumervil blew past left tackle Orlando Pace(notes) for a third time and put a hit on Cutler after he had released the ball. The personal foul gave the Bears (2-1) a first down at the Denver 14, but the riled-up crowd didn’t care.

Two plays later, Cutler feathered a 6-yard pass to running back Matt Forte(notes) in the end zone.

Some of the night’s catcalls were directed at McDaniels. The brash 33-year-old coach chased off his franchise quarterback shortly after replacing Mike Shanahan and now finds himself in a bitter feud with star receiver Brandon Marshall(notes), whom he suspended for insubordination last week.

McDaniels tried to play down the drama of this reluctant reunion—neither man sought each other out for a handshake—yet he couldn’t help but notice the fans felt differently.

“It was a great atmosphere. This is certainly more than a six on a scale of 1 to 10,” McDaniels said, taking a subtle shot at Cutler, who had disparaged Denver’s fans recently by saying the Bears’ followers were a 9 and Denver’s a 6.

“There’s certainly a level of excitement you don’t usually see in most preseason games.”

Wearing a hoodie like his mentor, Bill Belichick, McDaniels was flustered by an ineffective offense that committed multiple mistakes and plenty of penalties — 10 for 86 yards—and a defense that again couldn’t force a turnover. Denver is minus-8 in takeaways in the preseason.

And now he’s missing four playmakers on offense—Orton, Marshall, receiver Jabar Gaffney(notes) (broken thumb in practice Friday) and top draft pick Knowshon Moreno(notes) (knee)—plus right guard Chris Kuper(notes), who appeared to break his right ankle in the first quarter.

After his follow-through on an incomplete pass to Correll Buckhalter(notes) before halftime, Orton glanced down at his bloody finger, held it up for the sideline to see and then trotted off the field. It appeared it was dislocated and he was trying to snap it back in place. He declined to say how many stitches he needed, if any.

McDaniels told NBC that Orton’s finger wasn’t broken but that more tests were needed.

Orton was 12 for 16 for 96 yards—good numbers, sure, but in a half-dozen drives, he only led the Broncos (0-3) to a single field goal, not the kind of home debut he was anticipating after getting off to a rocky start in Denver with four interceptions so far.

Cutler received a rude reception from Denver’s pass rush that hounded Chicago into three three-and-outs in the Bears’ first four possessions. But the Bears went ahead for good at 10-3 on Forte’s 1-yard run that followed Devin Hester’s(notes) 54-yard punt return to the Denver 4. Then Cutler directed his 98-yard beauty and celebrated back to his bench.

“He was excited and he should be because it was a heck of a drive,” Bears offensive coordinator Ron Turner said.

With Orton’s backup, Chris Simms(notes), sidelined by a high ankle sprain that could keep him out another month, the Broncos had to turn to rookie Tom Brandstater(notes), who went 8 for 10 for 110 yards and an interception on a tipped pass.

The Broncos might have to start Brandstater in their preseason finale Thursday against Arizona.

“Look, we’ll play with who we can play with,” McDaniels said. “Life goes on sometimes in this league and you play with who you have.”

A fitting epitaph on a night where Cutler walked away a winner, leaving behind a coach scrambling to patch a broken offense and a city wondering what might have been had these two men just gotten along.

 Vick signs deal with Eagles

By ROB MAADDI, AP Sports Writer

PHILADELPHIA (AP)—By halftime, the Linc was buzzing: Michael Vick(notes) was an Eagle.

Suddenly, no one seemed to care much about the preseason game against the New England Patriots on Thursday night. All that mattered to most fans was that the disgraced quarterback had joined their team.

Even though five-time Pro Bowl quarterback Donovan McNabb(notes) is the man on the Philadelphia Eagles, the team gave Vick a one-year deal with an option for a second year.

“We don’t need another quarterback, especially him,” longtime fan Donald Crispin said.

The 29-year-old Vick, once the NFL’s highest-paid player, has been out of action since 2006. The former Atlanta Falcons star was convicted in August 2007 of conspiracy and running a dogfighting ring, and served 18 of a 23-month sentence in federal prison. He also was suspended indefinitely by the NFL.

I’m a believer that as long as people go through the right process, they deserve a second chance,” Eagles coach Andy Reid said. “He’s got great people on his side; there isn’t a finer person than Tony Dungy. He’s proven he’s on the right track.”

Commissioner Roger Goodell conditionally lifted Vick’s suspension on July 27, allowing him to sign with a team, practice and play in the last two preseason games. Once the season begins, Vick can participate in all team activities except games, and Goodell said he would consider Vick for full reinstatement by Week 6 (Oct. 18-19) at the latest.

The Eagles reached the NFC championship game last season under McNabb, but are still looking for their elusive first Super Bowl win.

McNabb has led the Eagles to five NFC title games and one Super Bowl appearance in the last eight years, and was rewarded with a $5.3 million raise in the offseason. The Eagles tore up his old contract with two years remaining, and gave him a new deal worth $24.5 million over the next two seasons.

Philadelphia is a surprise landing point for Vick. It was among 26 clubs that said there was no interest in him, but that may have changed when backup Kevin Kolb(notes) strained a knee ligament earlier this week. Kolb’s injury isn’t serious and he’s expected to return next week. The Eagles also have veteran A.J. Feeley(notes).

“There won’t be a quarterback controversy,” Reid said. “We have to make sure he gets back in football shape. He comes into a good, stable unit here. Donovan and Michael are very close.”

Reid made sure he spoke with McNabb before signing Vick.

“I pretty much lobbied to get him here,” McNabb said. “I believe in second chances and what better place to get a second chance than here with this group of guys. … He’s no threat to me, not for Kolb. We had the opportunity to add another weapon to our offense.”

Vick could be used in a variation of the Wildcat offense that the Miami Dolphins made popular last season. He’s also familiar with the West Coast offense, though Atlanta ran a different version than the one Philadelphia uses.

“He’s an unbelievable athlete, both running the ball and throwing it,” Reid said. “I’ll think of something for him.”

When news of Vick’s signing circulated in the press box during the first half of the Eagles’ preseason opener against the Patriots, even the team’s public relations staff seemed surprised.

The crowd quickly caught on at Lincoln Financial Field. Fans standing on the concourse were in disbelief. One guy wondered how quickly he’d be able to buy a Vick jersey. Another asked if this was a joke.

“It doesn’t make any sense,” said Michelle Harlan, a mother attending her first NFL game with a young son.

In a “60 Minutes” interview set to air Sunday, Vick accepted blame for not stopping the illegal dogfighting operation he bankrolled.

Vick said he feels “some tremendous hurt behind what happened.”

He said he should have taken “the initiative to stop it all … I didn’t.”

Asked if he was more concerned about his playing career or the dogs he hurt, Vick replied, “Football don’t even matter.”

The animal rights group, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, wasted no time reminding people exactly what Vick had done.

“PETA and millions of decent football fans around the world are disappointed that the Eagles decided to sign a guy who hung dogs from trees. He electrocuted them with jumper cables and held them under water,” PETA spokesman Dan Shannon told The Associated Press.

“You have to wonder what sort of message this sends to young fans who care about animals and don’t want them to be harmed.”

Reid believes most Eagles fans will accept Vick.

“This is America. We do make mistakes,” Reid said. “This situation is a chance to prove he’s doing the right things. He’s been proactive speaking across the country.”

Since Reid became the head coach in 1999, the Eagles have avoided players with character issues. The lone exception came in 2004 when Philadelphia acquired wide receiver Terrell Owens(notes). That move paid off when Owens helped lead the Eagles to the Super Bowl in his first season. But T.O. quickly wore out his welcome, criticizing management over a contract dispute and feuding with McNabb. He was released midway through the 2005 season.

“I couldn’t envision Mike being here,” said former Eagles linebacker Ike Reese(notes), a teammate of Vick’s in Atlanta in 2005-06. “I didn’t see where he fit in. I think most people in the locker room would accept it. Donovan is very secure in his position. He wants to see Mike get another opportunity.”

Players around the NFL expressed happiness that Vick was back in the league.

“That’s a lot of talent right there that was going to go to waste if nobody picked him up,” Baltimore running back Willis McGahee(notes) said. “I think he’ll fit in pretty good there. They’re going to take care of him.”

Ravens wide receiver Derrick Mason(notes) said he hopes the Eagles use him as a quarterback instead of a gimmick player.

“He’s better than 95 percent of the quarterbacks that are starting right now in this league,” Mason said. “He can sit behind Donovan and learn, and hopefully he’ll get an opportunity to get in there some games. But if he just takes this time to grow as a player, his future is going to be bright.”

AP Sports Writers Hank Kurz Jr. in Richmond, Va., Jon Krawczynski in Minneapolis and Dave Ginsburg in Baltimore and AP writer Dan Robrish in Philadelphia contributed to this report.