NFL: Brady's return overshadowed by Vick signing

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PHILADELPHIA — Tom Brady was making his comeback against the Philadelphia Eagles while Michael Vick was getting ready to join them.

Brady threw two touchdown passes in his first game since tearing ligaments in his left knee in Week 1 last year, leading the New England Patriots to a 27-25 victory over the Eagles in the preseason opener Thursday night.

Brady's return was overshadowed by the news that the Eagles signed Vick to a one-year deal with an option for a second year.

Brady ran well in the pocket and showed no lingering effects of his surgically repaired left knee. He threw two touchdown passes to tight end Chris Baker, one in the first quarter and another in the second. Brady was 10-of-15 for 100 yards with one interception.

Vick was convicted in August 2007 of conspiracy and running a dogfighting operation, and served 18 of a 23-month sentence in federal prison. The former Atlanta Falcons quarterback also was suspended indefinitely by the NFL. He played his last NFL game on Dec. 31, 2006, against the Eagles.

"We don't need another quarterback, especially him," longtime Eagles fan Donald Crispin said while watching Thursday night's game.

The 29-year-old Vick, once the NFL's highest-paid player, has been out of action since 2006.

The Eagles reached the NFC championship game last season under quarterback Donovan McNabb, and are still looking for their elusive first Super Bowl win.

The team is a surprise landing point for Vick. It was among 26 clubs that said there was no interest in him, but that may have changed when backup Kevin Kolb strained a knee ligament earlier this week. Kolb's injury isn't serious and he's expected to return next week. The Eagles also have veteran A.J. Feeley.

When news of Vick's signing circulated in the press box during the first half of the Eagles' preseason opener against New England, even the team's public relations staff seemed surprised.

The crowd quickly caught on at Lincoln Financial Field. Fans standing on the concourse were in disbelief. One guy wondered how quickly he'd be able to buy a Vick jersey. Another asked if this was a joke.

"It doesn't make any sense," said Michelle Harlan, a mother attending her first NFL game with a young son.

In a "60 Minutes" interview set to air Sunday, Vick accepted blame for not stopping the illegal dogfighting operation he bankrolled.

Vick said he feels "some tremendous hurt behind what happened."

He said he should have taken "the initiative to stop it all ... I didn't."

Asked if he was more concerned about his playing career or the dogs he hurt, Vick replied, "Football don't even matter."

The animal rights group, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, wasted no time reminding people exactly what Vick had done.

"PETA and millions of decent football fans around the world are disappointed that the Eagles decided to sign a guy who hung dogs from trees. He electrocuted them with jumper cables and held them under water," PETA spokesman Dan Shannon told The Associated Press.

• RAVENS 23, REDSKINS 0, at Baltimore — Joe Flacco led the Ravens to field goals on his only two series, Troy Smith threw a touchdown pass, and Baltimore shut out Washington.

During the off-season, the Ravens feared their lack of depth at wide receiver might be an issue. But 15 players caught passes for Baltimore, eight of them wideouts. Justin Harper led the charge with four catches for 57 yards and a touchdown.

• STEELERS 20, CARDINALS 10, at Pittsburgh — Isaac Redman, an undrafted rookie from Bowie State playing long after the starters for both Super Bowl teams left the field, scored twice in the fourth quarter and defending champion Pittsburgh beat Arizona.

Neither team scored a touchdown until rookie Joe Burnett intercepted a pass by third-teamer Brian St. Pierre, a former Steelers backup, and returned it to the Arizona 3 to end the third quarter. Redman scored on the next play, and scored on a 5-yard run about 7 minutes later to end an 80-yard drive led by No. 3 quarterback Dennis Dixon.

• STALLWORTH SUSPENDED FOR SEASON — NFL commissioner Roger Goodell decided Donte' Stallworth's football punishment should last much longer than his 24 days in jail.

The Cleveland Browns receiver, who pleaded guilty to killing a pedestrian while driving drunk, was suspended without pay Thursday for the entire season. He is barred from team activities until he is reinstated after the Super Bowl.

"Your conduct endangered yourself and others, leading to the death of an innocent man," Goodell wrote in a letter to Stallworth released by the league. "The NFL and NFL players must live with the stain that you have placed on their reputations."