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Michael Vick Named Eagles Starting QB

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – Eagles head coach Chip Kelly said Michael Vick will be the team's starter for the regular season opener against the Redskins.

"Mike Vick is the starting quarterback for the Philadelphia Eagles," Kelly said. "We had 38 opportunities for evaluation, I don't think this is a rash decision."

Kelly said he informed both Vick and Nick Foles of his decision this morning.

"I met with all the quarterbacks this morning. They all understand the plan and know where we are moving forward," Kelly said. "Nick was great. Nick's a professional. Nick's outstanding. I think Nick and Mike have a great relationship together. They're both pulling for each other and that's part of it. For us to have a good football team, two key ingredients are chemistry and attitude and when you see two guys like that approach this situation in that manner, I think it reflects great on the entire team. You have two class guys in Mike and Nick and I think they're both rooting for each other."

Both Foles and Vick have played well during the preseason, but Vick has been near perfect, completing 13 of 15 passes for 199 yards. One of the two incompletions was a hail mary interception that ended the first half against the Panthers. Foles completed 11 of 14 passes for 96 yards.

"I think Mike is ahead right now and I think Nick  made it very difficult though," Kelly said. "It wasn't where one guy went North and the other guy went South. I think both of them upped their game but at this point in time, Mike's ahead and we want to move forward. This is a one quarterback operation. This isn't going to be someone's going to look over their shoulder or we're going to alternate by series. I think Mike is ahead right now. Obviously you always wanted to get a guy in place. We didn't want to let this linger, but I think it also expressed itself on the field."

Kelly said Vick will play the entire first half during Saturday's preseason game against Jacksonville.

"What impresses me about Michael though, is that he really has fun," Kelly said. "He enjoys playing this game, and it's great to be around guys that love playing football. He has a passion for this game, and not that Nick doesn't, I think Nick has a passion for this game too. I think it's really important that we have a bunch of guys like that, but that's great for us as a staff to be around a bunch of guys that love the game like that."

Bovada lists Michael Vick as the 13th most likely player to win the MVP award at 33/1 odds. Vick is 66/1 to lead the NFL in passing yards.

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