The massive clash between the Michael Vick supporters and those who believe he should never be able to don another NFL jersey never happened. Yes, Vick was on hand to show football fans – particularly those in his new town, Philadelphia – his stuff on the field after nearly two years in a federal prison. But, for all the million-dollar hullabaloo over the 29-year-old quarterback’s return, the big night fizzled like an Alka-seltzer in the rain. As The Philadelphia Daily News’ David Gambarcorta put it, it was “about two rings short of a three-ring circus.” Yes, local NAACP President Whyatt Mondesire showed up with pro-Vick troops, but his battalion was about a third shy of his promised 30 troops. He had hoped that an ocean of supporters would show up at Lincoln Financial Field to send a strong signal about Vick’s right to earn a living in his profession of choice, since he had already paid his debt to society. “A lot of people say he shouldn’t be given a second chance,” Mondesire said, blasting what he called racist anti-Vick radio programs. “We’re tired of a one-sided dialogue.” As for the expected horde of animal-rights advocates, it was more like a mini gathering of sorts. The Pennsylvania Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals decided to stay home from the game, opting instead to use the occasion to raise money for dogs who are victims of cruelty or dogfighting. Meanwhile, Vick made a relatively quiet debut on the field, ending the night with 4-4 passing for about 19 yards. His new squad squeezed out a last-minute 33-32victory against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

By Sherri L. Smith, BlackWeb20.com

By now, most loyal Maddenites have settled down from midnight madness on August 13th into a comfortable routine with the latest edition to the revered series, Madden NFL 2010. You’ve chosen your team(s), are working to perfect your plays, calculating stats, and handing the AI or some poor sap online their asses. And hopefully, your making some highlight reel-worthy plays while you’re at it. Read the rest of this entry »

The Arizona Cardinals and Pittsburgh Steelers will meet up in Tampa in two weeks to see who’s the toughest in the land. On Sunday, the Cardinals, who have perhaps the worst championship history of any team, defeated the surging Philadelphia Eagles 25-32 to win a slot in this year’s Super Bowl; the Steelers defeated the Baltimore Ravens 23-14 for the right to represent the AFC and a chance to win a record sixth title. Pittsburgh is a 6½-point favorite. If Arizona wins on Feb. 1, it will be its first NFL championship since 1947. It has had only 10 postseason games since leaving Chicago for St. Louis and then heading to Arizona 21 years ago.

Vick Wants to Auction His Home
Former Falcons star quarterback Michael Vick wants a bankruptcy judge to let him sell his huge home near Atlanta at auction. Vick has been trying to sell the eight-bedroom mansion for more than a year. It lists at $4.1 million. Read more here.

The Eagles’ Westbrook is Gimpy
Philadelphia fans are likely trembling amid reports that Eagles running back Brian Westbrook is nursing a sprained ankle. He did not practice on Wednesday, which could mean that he is questionable for Sunday’s game against the New York Giants in the NFC divisional playoffs. Since Westbrook is the most lethal weapon in Philly’s arsenal, most football experts say that the star running back is crucial if the Eagles stand a chance against the defending Super Bowl champs in the frigid Giants stadium. “The good thing is that I didn’t tweak anything against the Vikings,” a hopeful Westbrook told ESPN.com. “I took a pounding on the turf but I didn’t re-injure anything so I’m not starting from in a hole this week.” Westbrook will reportedly take some anti-inflammatory medication on Saturday night and Sunday morning to prepare for the game. In the Eagles’ 26-14 victory against Minnesota last week, Westbrook finished with three receptions for 83 yards and a touchdown and 38 rushing yards on 20 carries. During the regular season, Westbrook rushed for 936 yards and had an additional 402 receiving in 14 games. He also scored 14 total touchdowns.

Shawn Andrews: Health is “more important.”

The Philadelphia Eagles star guard has come out publicly to explain that his absence from training camp has been due to a mental health struggle. “I’m willing to admit that I’ve been going through a very bad time with depression,” Andrews (No. 73) tells The Philadelphia Daily News. “I’ve finally decided to get professional help. It’s not something that blossomed up overnight. I’m on medication, trying to get better.” Though the player has been fined $15,000 for each unexcused absence from practices, he accepts the penalty. “In the state that I’m in, I would be at training camp physically, but mentally, I could have gotten myself hurt or gotten one of my teammates hurt,” he was quoted as telling the newspaper. “Football is important, it’s a means to an end, but my mental health, I feel like, is a lot more important.” The Daily News didn’t detail the source of Andrews’ depression. The Eagles haven’t commented on the player’s revelation.