This Sunday, quarterback Michael Vick leads the Eagles back to MetLife Stadium. In the final game for the Eagles in 2012, Vick returns as the starting quarterback after the Eagles placed Nick Foles on Injured Reserve on Wednesday due to the fractured hand he incurred last Sunday against Washington. It will be Vick's first start since the Week 10 game against Dallas. In that game, Vick suffered a concussion and eventually lost the starting job to Foles altogether.
Vick explained on Wednesday how he is glad to be back in control at the quarterback position. His teammates are just as excited to see what Vick will do with another opportunity to showcase his talent.
"You gotta love it," defensive tackle Cullen Jenkins said. "With Mike, he has played for a while in his career, he's made a lot of money, and he could very easily just be like he doesn't want to play anymore and just look forward to next season. The fact that he wants to get back out there, he still wants to play, and wants to play for this team definitely inspires you and should inspire everybody on the team."
Wide receiver Jason Avant recalled giving Vick the same advice that he gave to Kevin Kolb back in 2010. Coincidentally, Kolb suffered a concussion and lost the starting job to Vick much in the same fashion Vick lost it to Foles. Avant told Vick to be a good teammate and things would eventually work themselves out. Avant has been proud of how Vick has handled the situation.
"He's had a great attitude throughout the process. He's been upfront and he's also been encouraging to Nick," Avant said. "When you're not in there for a while and you want to be playing and you don't have an opportunity, I'm pretty sure he's going to be hungry for it. We're going to go out and play as well as we can with him and try to do everything we can to make the game easier for him."
Even though the Eagles are not in playoff contention, they will impact the postseason race. The Giants are still eligible for a Wild Card berth with a win over the Eagles and some help from other teams. Sunday's game won't give the Eagles the same lift as the "Miracle at the New Meadowlands" did in 2010, but it could still be a statement game for Vick. Looking to bounce back after struggling in 2011, Vick helped the Eagles get off to a great start in 2012. Vick engineered three come-from-behind wins in the first four weeks of the season. In fact, the Week 4 win over the Giants was the last of the trilogy, but it was also his last win as the team's starting quarterback.
"This is something he can take advantage of and prove to everybody in this league that he can still play football at a high level," wide receiver Jeremy Maclin said. "It'll be good for him."
There may not be a "miracle" ending in the works, but Vick's return could help allow the Eagles to close out 2012 on a positive note.
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