As we wake up after the shock that hit us 60 hours ago, I see the Eagles have pulled a fast one off on all of us and the National Football League.
They've put the reputation of their football team on the line to rehabilitate the person and the image of Michael Vick. For it they've gotten a 30-year old seasoned quarterback with a rocket arm and great speed.
There were a few protestors at the Nova Care complex yesterday but it was nothing to write home about.
You can only write and talk about this but for so long. If you haven't noticed, Americans get bored quickly.
This controversy is going to go away and the Eagles are going to have acquired this first-round talent for the controversy they will have endured for a few weeks.
I watched head coach Andy Reid, offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg, quarterback coach James Urban and starting quarterback Donovan McNabb begin the process of teaching the quarterback position in the west coast offense to Vick.
Much of it he knows but they started on the basics of footwork and delivery. Before that they have been in the classroom going over the routes and the plays.
They're going to drill him on going from option 1, to option 2, to option 3 to take off and use that 4.5 or below speed. It's like he's getting his master's and doctorate on playing the quarterback position in the west coast offense.
By the way, the guy's arm is second to none in the league. If you were to take away the controversy and he were in this year's draft, where would he have gone? Remember this guy has taken a team to the NFC Championship game.
How many available quarterbacks can say that? Do you think the Minnesota Vikings would rather have Vick or those imposters they have playing quarterback? Do you think Brad Childress will be interested?
Remember this guy will be ready to take the helm of a team next year.
By the end of the season, the Eagles are going to have a talented and seasoned starting quarterback available for the highest bidder.
If by some chance something were to happen to Donovan McNabb, Vick would be ready to step in some capacity as either McNabb's backup or as the backup to Kevin Kolb. Either way the Eagles acquired him without giving up anything in the way of draft picks.
You can believe with the few seasoned and quality quarterbacks in the National Football League, Vick will be a valued commodity in a year or two.
His name will no longer be radioactive, thanks to the Eagles and former Bucs and Colts head coach Tony Dungy. You know how the 24-hours news cycle will be chewing on something else when the Eagles are given a first-round draft pick for the rights to Vick.
Another NFL player will be embroiled in some other incident or scandal and Vick's crime of dog abuse will be dull in people's memory, especially the city where he's being traded.
Yes, the Eagles have absorbed a hit from a public relations standpoint but you and I know we don't remember things that long in this 2009-2010 world of ours.
