Mike Vick’s debut with Eagles went smoothly.

The talk in the press room prior to start of the Eagles-Jacksonville Jaguars preseason game at Lincoln Financial Field; was how the home crowd would react when convicted dog-killer Michael Vick entered the field for the first time?

Rumor had it Vick might be included in the first or second play of the game as a wide receiver or another spot to execute what is known as the “Wildcat” offense.

The report was true. The fans did not have to wait long as Vick entered the game’s second play and lined up in the shotgun as the quarterback, Donovan McNabb spread out wide right.

Vick took the snap and shoveled the ball to LeSean McCoy for four yards.

The play was hardly a surprise, but what was a surprise was the reception Vick received…it was downright, well…warm.

Many in the announced crowd of 69,144 actually gave the 29-year old a standing ovation.

His welcome by Eagles fans was certainly a blow to the efforts of animal rights groups that condemned the signing of Vick a few weeks ago. 

Vick spent 18 months in prison as punishment for his role in a dog fighting business held at a house he owned in Virginia.

But you would never know he ever did anything worse than jaywalking by the response Vick was showered with.
The three-time Pro Bowler was 4-for-4 for 19 yards in his appearance in the first half.

Three of his passes were just short shovel passes out of the “Wildcat” formation, but his 13-yard completion to Hank Baskett showed he could still put a lot of zip on the ball.

Head coach Andy Reid said the fans exceeded his expectations by the way they welcomed Vick to the team.  

“I thought everybody reacted well,” said Reid, whose backups scored 27 second-half points to pull out a 33-32 victory. “They gave him a nice welcome and I thought that was important. I’m kind of proud of the way everybody just welcomed him in. It was good to see.”

DeSean Jackson, who caught four passes for 47 yards, said he did not expect the Philadelphia crowd to be so friendly toward Vick.

“Everybody was lovin’ him,” Jackson said. “They was cheering for him…I even heard the chant, ‘we want Vick’…it was surprising to me but it shows the support of the fans that we have here and I am glad he has the support to make him feel good.”

The game itself was a turnover festival led by the Eagles. The Eagles (1-2) and Jaguars combined for four fumbles, three interceptions and a safety.

Jacksonville’s Terry Holt and linebacker Brian Iwuh scored the Jaguars’ first two touchdowns after recovering fumbles. Iwuh scored on a 92-yard jaunt while the Jaguars offense got lucky.

The Eagles? The ones struggled on both sides of the ball.     

Even when they caused a clutch fumble against the Jaguars, it blew up in their face.
Jags quarterback David Garrard led his team on an eight-play drive to open the second quarter.

On a third and four from the Eagles four-yard line, Garrard hit Nate Hughes with a short pass.

As he attempted to cross the goal line when cornerback Asante Samuel hit Hughes at the one and forced a fumble. For an entire second or so, the ball just laid there in the field inside the one as Hughes was shaken up on the play.

Veteran receiver Terry Holt realizing that play had not stopped, scooped up the ball, stepped over Hughes and was awarded a touchdown.

Vick said the crowd’s rousing welcome was almost overwhelming.

“I can’t explain the feeling,” Vick said. “It was unbelievable the way I was embraced and the warm welcome I received. It actually made me screw up one of my reads. I wanted to please the crowd and I actually made a bad play. I came back from it, but it was awesome.”