Vick back on stage tonight

PHILADELPHIA -- Michael Vick will start his day in bankruptcy court and end it on a football field.

All day, all eyes will be on No. 7.

Vick, a former Virginia Tech star, is scheduled to play his first NFL game since his release from prison when the Philadelphia Eagles host the Jacksonville Jaguars in a preseason matchup tonight.

It'll be Vick's first official appearance in a game since Dec. 31, 2006, with the Atlanta Falcons. He also played that one at Lincoln Financial Field against the Eagles.

This time, there likely will be protesters outside the stadium. Inside, there probably will be plenty of boos.

Donovan McNabb, Brian Westbrook, the rest of the Eagles and all the Jaguars are merely a subplot in an otherwise meaningless game. Vick's much-anticipated return is the talk of the town.

Vick has dominated headlines since the Eagles signed the three-time Pro Bowl quarterback two weeks ago, giving him a one-year, $1.6 million contract with a team option for $5.2 million in 2010.

Just last month, Vick's future was uncertain. He was released from federal custody July 20 after serving 18 months of a 23-month sentence for his role in financing and participating in a major dogfighting operation.

Many NFL teams said they weren't interested in Vick, and it appeared he might have to settle for playing in the fledgling United Football League.

But the Eagles, with McNabb's blessing, gave Vick a chance, hoping he can be the final piece to help them win that elusive first Super Bowl. Exactly what Vick's role will be is the biggest question, however.

McNabb is the clear-cut starter, but the Eagles didn't bring in Vick to carry a clipboard. His skills are perfectly suited to run the wildcat offense, and it's likely he'll fill that role.

Coach Andy Reid has kept his plans secret but said he won't be reluctant to use Vick in a wildcat formation against the Jaguars. After all, he's got to see how Vick handles it, plus it would give opposing defenses more to worry about once they see the formation on film.

McNabb and the first-team offense are slated to play three quarters against the Jags, and backup QB Kevin Kolb is penciled in for the fourth quarter. So Vick could share reps with McNabb and the two may even be on the field together in certain situations.

"I've just got to see how it works out," Reid said. "I think he's worked himself into good enough shape to where he can function in there and do OK. And then I've just got to see."

Vick took most of his practice snaps under center in a traditional offense. His familiarity with Philadelphia's version of the West Coast offense -- Atlanta ran a similar one -- has helped speed up his learning process.

It's clear the two-year layoff hasn't affected Vick's arm strength. But speed made Vick successful, so it'll be interesting to see whether he's lost even the slightest step.

Vick was once the NFL's highest-paid player, agreeing to a $130 million, 10-year deal with the Falcons in December 2004. But he lost most of his money and filed for bankruptcy protection in 2008, saying he owes between $10 million and $50 million to creditors.

Vick is due to appear at a bankruptcy court hearing in Newport News this morning and will fly back to Philadelphia to make his Eagles debut.