Tribune News ServicesATLANTA -- When Michael Vick finally made it back to the end zone, a place he hadn't been in more than three years, he was torn about what to do. A Lambeau Leap? Nah, that would've taken too much effort.
Instead, he wanted to reward one of those fans who cheered his return to Atlanta. Only one problem -- when he flipped the ball toward the stands, it got caught up in the net going up for the extra point.
Not to worry. Everything else went right for Vick and the Philadelphia Eagles today.
Photo: The Eagles' Michael Vick ran for one touchdown and passes for another in his return to Atlanta. (Dave Martin/AP)
Back in the city he once ruled, Vick put up a pair of touchdowns -- one
running, the other passing, both of them his first since 2006 -- and
basked in the cheers of the Georgia Dome crowd as the Eagles dominated
the short-handed Falcons 34-7.
"It was as loud as it gets in the Dome," said Vick, who teared up on the bus ride over to the stadium. "I heard the chants all through the stadium and it sent chills down my spine. They were just letting me know that people still appreciate what I've done."
He was a three-time Pro Bowler with the Falcons and one of the most dynamic players in the NFL before his stunning downfall for dogfighting. After serving prison time and losing two seasons in the prime of his career, he's trying to rebuild it all as a backup in Philadelphia.
Vick ran for a 5-yard touchdown in the third quarter, his first since Oct. 15, 2006. With the game out of hand, he slipped a 5-yard scoring pass to Brent Celek early in the fourth, his first TD throw since that final season with the Falcons.
"It couldn't have happened at a better time," Vick said. "I want to become one of the top quarterbacks in this league again."
Vick was showered with boos when he came in for a couple of snaps on Philadelphia's opening possession. By the fourth quarter, the fans -- many of them wearing No. 7 jerseys -- were chanting "We want Vick! We want Vick!"
"You were seeing a guy in his element," said Eagles starting QB Donovan McNabb, who gave Vick a long hug after the TD pass to Celek. "I think he was just relishing the moment."
"It was as loud as it gets in the Dome," said Vick, who teared up on the bus ride over to the stadium. "I heard the chants all through the stadium and it sent chills down my spine. They were just letting me know that people still appreciate what I've done."
He was a three-time Pro Bowler with the Falcons and one of the most dynamic players in the NFL before his stunning downfall for dogfighting. After serving prison time and losing two seasons in the prime of his career, he's trying to rebuild it all as a backup in Philadelphia.
Vick ran for a 5-yard touchdown in the third quarter, his first since Oct. 15, 2006. With the game out of hand, he slipped a 5-yard scoring pass to Brent Celek early in the fourth, his first TD throw since that final season with the Falcons.
"It couldn't have happened at a better time," Vick said. "I want to become one of the top quarterbacks in this league again."
Vick was showered with boos when he came in for a couple of snaps on Philadelphia's opening possession. By the fourth quarter, the fans -- many of them wearing No. 7 jerseys -- were chanting "We want Vick! We want Vick!"
"You were seeing a guy in his element," said Eagles starting QB Donovan McNabb, who gave Vick a long hug after the TD pass to Celek. "I think he was just relishing the moment."
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