The Eagles had been "controversy-free lately," but the team has "rejoined the circus" after signing QB Michael Vick to a two-year contract, according to Les Bowen of the PHILADELPHIA DAILY NEWS. Eagles President Joe Banner said that the team agreed to terms with Vick on the deal "about 48 hours before the news broke" Thursday night. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has said that Vick "will be eligible to play in the final two preseason games, so his Eagles' debut could be" August 27 at Lincoln Financial Field against the Jaguars ( PHILADELPHIA DAILY NEWS, 8/14 ). The two-year deal pays Vick $1.6M the first year and $5.25M the second year. But Vick's second-year money could increase significantly, based on playing-time incentives, said a source. This source spoke on the condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak publicly about the deal ( Liz Mullen, SportsBusiness Journal ). Goodell previously indicated that Vick could gain full reinstatement to the league by Week Six of the regular season, but ESPN.com's Chris Mortensen wrote, "Don't be surprised if Goodell reinstates Vick earlier than Week 6, maybe even by Week 3" ( ESPN.com, 8/13 ). REID, MCNABB SUPPORT SIGNING : In Philadelphia, Bob Brookover writes the signing is "shocking news," as Banner prior to Eagles training camp "quickly dismissed the idea" of signing Vick. But Eagles coach Andy Reid said, "I'm a believer that as long as people go through the right process, they deserve a second chance." Reid admitted that his personal life "influenced his strong feelings about Vick, referring to the arrests of his two sons, Britt and Garrett, on drug charges." Reid: "I've seen people that are close to me who have had second chances that have taken advantage of those. It's very important that people give them an opportunity to change, so we're doing that with Michael" ( PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, 8/14 ). Reid said the fact Vick "has aggressively attacked the issue that he was presented with and done it in a manner that is not only proactive, but sincere," is part of the reason the club felt comfortable signing Vick ( Mult., 8/14 ). Eagles QB Donovan McNabb said he "pretty much lobbied to get" the Eagles to sign Vick ( WASHINGTON POST, 8/14 ). TOUGH DECISION FOR LURIE : Eagles Owner Jeffrey Lurie said signing Vick "took a lot of soul searching for me." Lurie: "I was asked to approve Michael Vick joining a very proud organization several days ago. Sometimes in life, you have to make extremely difficult and soul-searching decisions where there's no right answer. ... This was one of them." Lurie called himself an "extreme dog lover" and said when he was asked "to approve something that you completely find despicable and anathema, it takes a lot of soul-searching." However, after "multiple conversations" with Reid, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and former NFL coach Tony Dungy, who is serving as a personal advisor to Vick, Lurie said, "I felt more open to giving a human being a second chance who possibly could become a socially active NFL player who actually could do great things off-the-field" ( Mult., 8/14 ). SURPRISE! FOXSPORTS.com's Jay Glazer writes the Eagles are a "surprise landing point for Vick," and when news of his signing reached the press box during Thursday night's Patriots-Eagles preseason game, "even the team's public relations staff seemed surprised." The Eagles "have avoided players with character issues ... since Andy Reid became the head coach" in '99, with the "lone exception" being the acquisition of WR Terrell Owens in '04. Meanwhile, Glazer cites "several head coaches" as saying that they "would love to have signed Vick but were unable to because of trepidation on the part of their owners" ( FOXSPORTS.com, 8/14 ). In Philadelphia, Rich Hofmann writes his "first reaction was stunned," as the Eagles "preach relentlessly about character players, and Vick just spent time in prison for his involvement in a dogfighting scheme, a truly heinous crime." It "just doesn't seem like an Eagles kind of move, but here we are." The Eagles "have just turned the National Football League on its head," as they "have just committed the biggest news of the 2009 season before a pass has been thrown in earnest" ( PHILADELPHIA DAILY NEWS, 8/14 ). WILL VICK BE A DISTRACTION? In DC, Michael Wilbon writes Vick will "bring one complex and emotionally charged story line to a city that welcomes controversy, a head coach who has total disdain for even the most benign distraction from routine, and a quarterback [McNabb] who usually through no fault of his own continually winds up in football's juiciest dramas." The Eagles have been to the NFC Championship Game five times during the Reid-McNabb era, and Lurie "surely is tired of coming close and not winning the Super Bowl" ( WASHINGTON POST, 8/14 ). ESPN.com's Matt Mosley wrote, "What I'd be worried about is the message it sends to the team. The Eagles already play in a community that can be ruthless. Now they've in effect welcomed one more distraction" ( ESPN.com, 8/13 ). NBCSPORTS.com's Tom Curran writes, "Every other team in the league should be thanking the Eagles. The distraction that is Vick is gone for them. The Eagles have brought him into their very stable fold and will help his transition back into the NFL. At their own peril, they've done this" ( NBCSPORTS.com, 8/14 ). ATYPICAL MOVE FOR EAGLES : In Philadelphia, Bob Cooney notes many fans at last night's Patriots-Eagles game indicated that signing a player like Vick with a "tainted background seems to go against what the Eagles have been about during the Reid regime" ( PHILADELPHIA DAILY NEWS, 8/14 ). CBSSPORTS.com's Pete Prisco wrote, "Why would the Eagles, a team that builds so well through the draft and makes good football decisions, bring in Vick?" ( CBSSPORTS.com, 8/13 ). KYW-CBS's Merrill Reese said, "This is going to be the most controversial personnel move in Andy's tenure. T.O. raised a lot of eyebrows, but I think that this is the biggest. This is going to be the most controversial. It's got a lot of repercussions that can occur and a lot of questions yet to be answered" ( CBS3.com, 8/13 ). NICE LANDING SPOT : But on Long Island, Bob Glauber writes Vick "couldn't have asked for a better landing spot than the Eagles," as Lurie, Banner and Reid are the "perfect team to handle this highly complicated transaction" ( NEWSDAY, 8/14 ). ESPN's Chris Mortensen said Vick "needed to go to an organization that was strong at every level: strong ownership, strong infrastructure with the head coach and an established starting quarterback and a passionate fan base" ( ESPNews, 8/14 ). In N.Y., Judy Battista writes the Eagles "provide Vick with a stable organization to insulate him during what is sure to be a tumultuous return" ( N.Y. TIMES, 8/14 ). NFL Network's Paul Burmeister: "It's not just any team signing Michael Vick. It's one of the most highly respected organizations saying, 'Yes, we want this person to be in our organization'" ( "NFL Total Access," NFL Network, 8/13 ). SI’s Peter King : “A fantastic move for Vick. Believe me when I tell you he wanted stability as much as anything, and Reid/Heckert/Banner define stable.” Jets WR Chansi Stuckey : “Glad he's with a quality organization and a team that will make him accountable.” Atlanta-Constitution’s Jeff Schultz : “Michael Vick just landed in a dream. Philly will show him the way” ( TWITTER.com, 8/13 ). RETURNING TO ATLANTA : The Eagles play the Falcons on December 6 in a game currently scheduled for 1:00pm ET, but PRO FOOTBALL TALK's Mike Florio reported the league "might move it to 4:15 p.m. ET, since Week Thirteen is a FOX doubleheader weekend." Florio: "Our first thought was that NBC would flex the game to prime time. However, FOX has the ability to protect a certain number of games from being moved to 8:20 p.m. ET, and FOX undoubtedly will keep Eagles-Falcons" ( PROFOOTBALLTALK.com, 8/13 ).
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