Chip Kelly Officially Names Michael Vick Eagles Starting Quarterback

According to an announcement from Eagles head coach Chip Kelly on Twitter this morning, Michael Vick has officially been named the Week 1 starter against the Washington Redskins.

While this move does not come as a shock by any means, it seemed to many observers that Kelly would wait until the third preseason game against Jacksonville to give Nick Foles one more shot. But Kelly clearly believes he's seen enough from both candidates to decide that Vick is the superior quarterback.

This, of course, does not guarantee in any way that Vick will remain the starter for the entire season. If turnover problems re-emerge and if he is unable to remain healthy, Kelly will certainly not hesitate to pull him for Foles, who has overall had a solid preseason and training camp.

Some may argue that Nick Foles is a better long-term option, being nearly 10 years younger and still having room for growth, but there is no doubt that Vick gives the Eagles the best chance to win now based on his performances in training camp and in the preseason. Vick has thrown the ball more accurately, with more velocity and has made fewer mistakes. He also runs Kelly's fast-paced offense better than Foles does and is far more mobile.

Ultimately, naming a starting quarterback now was a good decision by Kelly. Previous interviews indicated that Kelly seemed willing to wait as long as a week before the start of the regular season to name a starter, which may have been a mistake. With a starter now officially determined, Kelly can now focus on game-planning and building chemistry around Vick.

The question now remains whether or not Vick can maintain this strong level of play. Will we get the 2010 Vick or the 2012 Vick in 2013? My guess is somewhere in-between.

Follow Yueh Ho on Twitter @YuehHo