Vick? Seriously?

Well, I was pretty shocked last night watching the Eagles preseason game against the Patriots to hear that the Eagles signed Michael Vick. This is a team that booted a rookie for smoking marijuana and giving pretty hefty punishments for other players caught doing acts of which the management didn't approve. Heck, they made TO persona non gratta because he criticized the coaching staff and the lead quarterback (yeah, I think he was a jerk that deserved it too).

So it was pretty surprising that they'd sign someone with not just a criminal record, but a felony that involved killing animals. I hear the statements that Vick served his time, he's remorseful, he should be forgiven and allowed to make a living. But that doesn't mean I have to like him being on my team. Frankly, I expected him to go to the Raiders, where pretty much all other NFL criminals go. I would have been real money that the Eagles would never sign such a player. I understand the concept of forgiveness, but its hard to show that to someone that willingly took another creature's life (ok, bugs and mice are excepted).

Then there's the whole question of what the Eagles plan to do with Vick. Besides the fact that he can't play in a game until at least mid-October, the Eagles don't really need a quarterback. They have AJ Feeley and Kevin Kolb (who has a minor injury, but is supposed to be back), unless the Eagles really don't feel Kolb is McNabb's eventual replacement (in which case, there went a waste of a good first/second round draft pick).

They don't really need a running back or a wide receiver either. They have plenty of players at those positions already (and more than enough at wide receiver). Yeah Brian Westbrook has some questions of age and his knee, but he'll probably be good for this season, and his new second, McCoy looks great. I suppose Vick could be another backup in that position, or maybe tight end, where the Eagles are somewhat thin. Still, gotta wonder what player is going to lose out because of Vick being on the roster.

I want the Eagles to get to the Superbowl and win as much as the next Philadelphian, but (especially after the TO experiment) I'm really not sure the ends justifies the means.