Philadelphia does not deserve a class act like McNabb

(Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

The Philadelphia Eagles signed banished quarterback and convicted canine killer Michael Vick last week to a one-year contract worth $1.6 million.

Vick, 29, is permitted to participate in all team practices and meetings, as well as the Eagles’ last two preseason games.

Vick, whose alias is Ron Mexico, will be eligible for full reinstatement by week six at the absolute latest.

Longstanding Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb reportedly sent his coach Andy Reid a text message that read “sign him” shortly after NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell ruled that Vick would be allowed to play at some point in the 2009 season.

McNabb, 32, a five-time Pro Bowl selection and the winner of the 2004 NFC Offensive Player of the Year award, is the Eagles’ all-time leader in career wins, pass attempts, pass completions, passing yards, and passing touchdowns.

Nevertheless, despite McNabb’s remarkable success in “The City of Brotherly Love,” many repugnant Eagles supporters have booed their famed signal-caller from the very instant he was selected with the second overall pick in the 1999 draft.

Denver Broncos safety Brian Dawkins said he was surprised that his former team signed the much-maligned Vick.

However, Dawkins was not at all shocked that McNabb would endorse Vick.

“Signing him surprised me,” said Dawkins, 35, a seven-time Pro Bowl selection. “But Donovan being behind it...no. No surprise at all.”

Dawkins, a five-time All-Pro selection and member of the Eagles 75th Anniversary Team, continued.

“I remember many times when Donovan would be talking to Michael on the phone, either in the locker room or out somewhere. Donovan took his relationship with Michael very seriously. He’s always been the kind of guy to reach out to young quarterbacks, particularly young African-American quarterbacks, because he felt if he could help them early in their career, he wanted to do that. He’d tell Michael, and some of the other guys, ‘Come to Arizona and train with me.’ He just felt it was part of his job as a guy who’d been there before.”

Despite McNabb’s enormous heart and vast football pedigree, he has often been plagued by injuries that have shortened a number of his seasons on the gridiron.

Additionally, like most professional athletes, McNabb has periodically struggled at his craft.

If McNabb at all toils this autumn, there is no question that the disloyal Philly faithful will turn on the Eagles leader and demand that Vick is granted time over behind center.

“I’ll just say that if there’s anyone who’s been through the fire as a quarterback, it’s Donovan,” said Dawkins. “The crowd in Philadelphia has chanted for A.J. Feeley, for Koy Detmer, for Kevin Kolb. Donovan stood strong. This is no different.”

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