So, the word is out.  The Philadelphia Eagles were the ones to bite the bullet and nab Michael Vick.  They signed him to a 2-year deal which could be worth up to $6.8 million.  Now, I’m questioning whether I need to break some laws because - well, hey, everybody wants to be a millionaire.

Of course, we’ve seen and heard the clips of the Virginia Tech alum getting courted by a few other organizations including the Packers and the Patriots.  And it has even come to light that the Bengals had offered Vick another 2-year deal worth $2.3 million. 

McNabb will keep doing his thing in 2009.

But it figures that the city of brotherly love was cool with showing Vick some love.  The Eagles are not strangers to controversy – most of which was brought into the organization courtesy of one man (688,000 Google hits for “terrell owens eagles controversy“).  But regardless of how much of a baffoon T.O. was, with the Vick episode comes an imagery which has eclipsed the boundaries of what is traditionally seen in sports.  Sure, there have been some athletes that have been in the news for dogfighting (LeShon Johnson and Qyntel Woods come to mind), but Vick’s activities surpassed them by a country mile.

The Eagles played their negotiations intelligently.  They gave Vick a one year deal with an option for the second year.  The first year’s salary is estimated at $1.6 million, but the second year can be up to $5.2 million.  This gives the club the security that they need to confirm that Vick is going to do what he should in order to benefit the team, as well as himself.

Most importantly, Vick needed a team that is going to turn their back on the past and press toward the future.  And the Eagles are just what he needed.

Now we can look past that and focus on what the Eagles have assembled.  About 5 years ago, I don’t think anyone would have imagined that Donovan McNabb, Brian Westbrook and Vick could co-exist on a single squad.  Only in video games could such a dream team comes about.  Well, in 2009, that is reality for the city of Philadelphia.  And if you throw Desean Jackson into the mix…that’s just plain ridiculous.

Brian Westbrook has terrorized NFL defenses for years.

People say that it can be a challenge to make this work.  And I say “How?”  How can that be a challenge?  Most pro football sets that I have seen have two wide-receivers and two running backs.  Or maybe three wide receivers and one running back.  Either way, I am counting (at least) four skill positions (outside of the quarterback spot).

The important thing is that Vick, Westbrook and Jackson give you three players who are versatile and are not tied down to playing one position.  They are all super-athletic, super-fast and create some serious matchup problems.  The key is that the Eagles coaching staff has to exploit that consistently.  And they have to work extra hard at ensuring that the team develops a sustained chemistry.  Success breeds happiness and, at the very least, complacency.  Players are always complaining about not getting enough touches when they are losing.

Just like Michael Vick, the Eagles have a chance at something special here.  Here’s hoping that they make the most of what they have, and take flight in 2009.