It Looks Like Philly Has Made A Decision: We Embrace Vick

When Vick was signed by the Eagles, there was a complete firestorm of media controversy surrounding the signing in Philadelphia. Some, like me, liked the idea. Others, like my blogging buddy, JamesCraven, completely loathed the sheer thought that Vick was an Eagle. But now it's 6 weeks later and while at the time you would not believe it, it seems that the majority of fans have cooled their anger and are in support of Mike Vick. Via Fox Sports.com

Move over, Donovan McNabb and Brian Westbrook. Black Philadelphia Eagles jerseys bearing Vick's name and his trademark No. 7 are the showcase items for two sports clothing stores inside Concourse C [at the Philadelphia International Airport]

"For real? That's awesome, man," Vick said Friday when told of the displays in front of both shops. "From what I hear, they're going like hotcakes."

Six weeks ago, the thought of Vick jerseys being burned in effigy wasn't far-fetched.

Vick arrived in Philadelphia last month amid a maelstrom of controversy because of his dog-fighting past. Protestors gathered outside team headquarters with graphic posters decrying his signing. Bigger demonstrations from animal-rights activists were expected outside Eagles home games. If Vick made one misstep, his signing would have heaped even more negative attention on a franchise already under enough pressure to win its first Super Bowl title.

"The locker room could have been turned upside-down," Eagles center Jamaal Jackson said.

But Vick's NFL return couldn't have gone more smoothly. The only crowd outside NovaCare Complex on Friday was autograph seekers. The mass protests never happened and aren't expected Sunday when Vick plays in a regular-season game against visiting Kansas City for the first time since December 2006.

Say what you will about Reid's penchant for pass-heavy offensive game plans. He couldn't have scripted Vick's return any better.

Eagles brass did a masterful job on two fronts: helping Vick become re-acclimated to football while providing off-field assistance as he put his personal affairs in order following bankruptcy and 18-month prison term. Vick also was welcomed by his new teammates without a hint of dissent.

"The key was me being willing to come into this type of team atmosphere and wanting to make it about the team and not about myself," Vick told FOXSports.com. "That made the transition a lot easier."

Vick's willingness to accept blame for animal cruelty and promise repentance swayed Eagles fans hesitant to grant a second chance. Everything went so well that NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell shortened Vick's regular-season suspension by three games in early September.

"It's a team effort on that," Reid said. "Obviously, it starts with Michael first. When he came out of being incarcerated, he handled things the right way. He's been getting great guidance and support. And he's got the will to do things right. With that, everything else is possible as long as it's a day-by-day process."

Vick is keeping that in mind. Although he has taken major strides and played in the preseason, Vick's comeback is far from complete.

First, he still has community obligations to fulfill. Vick has made several local appearances decrying his involvement in staging fights by pit bulls. His talks are aimed largely at children, many of whom could be at risk of being drawn into that same inhumane activity as Vick was in his youth.

"I'm just reaching out and trying to connect with them," Vick said. "It's something I never did before, but I'm starting to enjoy it and I like doing it."

Vick plans to continue his outreach even after no longer being obliged by the Eagles and NFL.

"All the publicity will fade away," he said. "Then I'll be able to do this without such a big media circus. But that doesn't bother me at all. I just focus on the task at hand, which is getting my message across."

It really was only a matter of time for the majority of fans to come around on this one. And the crowd will surely be full of Vick supporters tomorrow as Vick makes his official debut of the Philadelphia Eagles. I can't wait to see it and I, for one, really hopes that he makes some big plays and really gets the crowd excited about him. You'll see, once he starts making plans, those that initially started hating but have gone to a begrudging acceptance, will then be going nuts for him as well.

A.J. Daulerio at Deadspin put it best at the first announcement of the Vick signing, and while it is a completely gross exageration, makes the point about Vick in Philadelphia better than anyone has yet when he said: "if Michael Vick brings Philadelphia to the playoffs or, gasp, WINS a Super Bowl, well he could set a dozen baby poodles on fire in the middle of Broad Street and he'll still be a hero for life."

Like I said, it's a gross exageration, but if Vick can make the plays that lead the Eagles to the Super Bowl, he'll be as beloved as some of the all time Philly sports greats.