Eagles searching for a prudent, and productive, way to use Vick

PHILADELPHIA -- The Michael Vick experiment lasted six plays before Donovan McNabb walked over to offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg on the sideline and yelled "Cut!"

Like a movie director who's seen enough, McNabb wanted the offense to do another take. This time, without Vick.

In his first preseason action with the Philadelphia Eagles on Thursday, Vick did a little bit of everything -- except help the offense score a touchdown. Playing his first NFL game since his release from prison, Vick lined up at quarterback, wide receiver and ran the wildcat formation. He completed four passes for 19 yards and ran once for a yard in his first action in 32 months.

"Regardless of what we are doing, if I am out there, I just want to be productive," Vick said.

Maybe next time.

The Eagles signed the three-time Pro Bowl quarterback to add a new dimension to their offense -- a unit that scored a franchise-record 416 points last season without Vick. It's obvious the Eagles coaching staff still has to figure out the best way to use Vick's skills.

Vick's presence is intended to confuse defenses and make Philadelphia's offense unpredictable. Instead, the Eagles looked out of sync when he was on the field with McNabb.

Vick's six plays in four series netted three points. That's why McNabb decided it was time to tell the coaches to abandon the trickery and stick with what works. The Eagles won the preseason game 33-32 on David Akers' field goal in the final minute.

"When you're trying something new, it's important that you get into a rhythm first and then try to work it in there in the offense," McNabb said. "At some point, you have to get into a rhythm and get things going down the field and move the chains. Then you kind of show them something, but this was the first time. That's what preseason is for, trying some different things and seeing if you want to run them during the year or eliminate them in the offense. We got that out of the way and now we can move on."

With Vick and McNabb on the field together, the Eagles should have more options.

But against Jacksonville on Thursday night, the wildcat offense they ran looked more like the wildkitten.

"Last year, the wildcat was new and exciting," Jaguars defensive end Reggie Hayward said. "But we were prepared for it. You're not gonna get the 'ooohs' and 'aaahs' from us."

Vick said he wants eventually to return to his former role as a fulltime quarterback. But he acknowledged that he's not in tiptop shape after spending 18 months in prison for his involvement in a dogfighting ring. He said he still has work to do.

"That is why I go home and study every night, that's why I prepare myself and that's why I am spending that extra time after practice trying to get my body back to playing shape," he said. "I am almost there, about 70 percent there. Once I get myself into top shape, the sky is the limit."

Vick is not eligible to play in the regular season yet. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said he would consider Vick for full reinstatement by no later than Week 6 (Oct. 18-19).