We Have A Ruling On Michael Vick

I mentioned earlier today how it was likely today that we would get a ruling on how long Vick would be suspended for the start of the season. And the answer is 2 games. Vick will sit out Week 1 @ Carolina and Week 2 vs. New Orleans before returning Week 3 in Philadelphia vs. Kansas City. And yes, that's a "vs." That game is in Philadelphia. Here's the report from NFL.com

Goodell met with Vick earlier today, a meeting that also included Eagles coach Andy Reid. Goodell said he also spoke at length with former NFL coach Tony Dungy, who has served as a mentor to Vick in recent months.

“Ultimately, it was my decision,” Goodell told members of the national media.

Asked by reporters Thursday why he decided on the third week of the regular season versus regular-season opener, Goodell responded: “I do not want him to be put in a position where he’s overwhlemed.”

I guess that seems fair. Both sides met and Vick apparently is understanding of Goddell's decision so all is fine on that front. The positives of this ruling is that it will allow McNabb sometime to get into a rhythm with the offense, the bad thing is is that this will be 2 weeks where the Eagles can't run the exact offense they originally had in mind when they got Vick. But they knew of these conditions and were probably expecting worse. I know I originally thought that we would wait until after the Eagles bye week and he would see his 1st action Week 5 versus Tampa Bay.

Right now, Kevin Harlan and Solomon Wilcots are feeling like the luckiest men in the NFL while the execs at CBS are probably cursing the fact that they release their announcer assignments for the 1st 3 weeks so early in advance. If CBS knew ahead of time that they would get the Vick game, surely they would have sent Nantz/Simms or Gumbel/Dierdorf there, wouldn't they?

Michael Vick's Fate Will Soon Be Learned; Possible No Suspension At All

With all of the surprises that have gone around the Eagles, it seems as if the most surprising story is heading to a rather un-surprising conclusion. It's more than safe to say that Michael Vick will play before Week 6. Heck, there's a chance that Vick could play Week 1, which assuming that Vick has not broken any clauses that we were not made aware of, also would not be surprising. Via NFL.com

Michael Vick met with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell today, according to a source, and a decision on when Vick could be reinstated will likely come by the weekend.

That decision could also come as soon as today, depending on the tenor of the meeting. If the meeting proceed as expected — Vick has abided by all statutes of his probation and league reinstatement — a decision could be expedited.

After talking to some long-term execs with some clubs, there is a sense that a resolution might come with Vick reinstated at the midpoint of the possible timeframe — around Week 3. The Eagles have a tough game in Week 2, and would surely want him back by then.

The Eagles have a bye Week 4, and without a doubt the worst possible scenario would in this as far a Vick's playing time is concerned, is that he comes back Week 5. And that in itself has to be considered a longshot at best at this point in time. But wait, there's a great possibility that through all of this, Michael Vick might not be suspended at all. Which all things considered and the fact that as far as we know he's done everything asked of him, would not be at all surprising. From Fanhouse.

A final resolution to the Michael Vick issue could come as soon as this weekend, and two sources close to the situation told FanHouse that they expect NFL commissioner Roger Goodell to reinstate Vick immediately, making him eligible to play in the Eagles' first regular-season game on Sept. 13 in Charlotte against the Carolina Panthers.

ESPN.com reported earlier Wednesday that Goodell is expected to make a decision about further discipline on Vick by Saturday so that the Eagles could take it into account when setting their final 53-man roster. One of the sources confirmed that report, and both said they believe the decision will be a full reinstatement that suspended Vick for no regular season games.

"I think it's a no-brainer," one of the sources said. "The main reason Roger set up the suspension the way he did was to gauge public backlash, and the public backlash has been minimal."

Granted that Fanhouse report was typed last night whereas the NFL.com article was from this morning, but really not much could have changed between now and then.

I've said it before and I'll say it again, Brett Favre signing with the Vikings was the best thing that happened to Michael Vick for it took the attention away from him and it put it squarely on the shoulders of Favre. Once Vick's name was out of the media everyday, the public cooled down about it and the backlash from it all was greatly reduced from it. After all, the Vick headlines went away right after Favre signed in Minny. So if it turns out there is no suspension at all and if a Vick play is a key factor in an Eagles win at Carolina, then all I'll have to say is Thank Goodness for Brett Favre!