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Vick back for week 3
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell has announced that Michael Vick will be allowed to play in week three of the new season.

The quarterback was released from jail in July having served 18 months in prison for bankrolling a dogfighting ring.

The Philadelphia Eagles then signed the 29-year-old and he made his first appearance for the franchise in week three of the pre-season.

Having met with Vick for around 45 minutes, Goodell has now given permission for the player to feature when the Eagles host the Kansas City Chiefs on September 27.

“Ultimately, it was my decision,” said Goodell. “He’s very realistic about the challenges ahead.”

Selected with the first overall pick in the 2001 draft, Vick was a three-time All Pro during his time with the Atlanta Falcons.

He signed a two-year deal with Philadelphia and played six snaps against the Jacksonville Jaguars last week.

Vick showed flashes of the old magic in his new team’s final pre-season fixture, a 38-27 defeat to the New York Jets on Thursday.

He completed seven of 11 passes for 26 yards and rushed for 35 yards, including a touchdown, but was also sacked four times and lost a fumble.

Injury Scare for Jacksonville
Jacksonville Jaguars running back Maurice Jones-Drew suffered bruising to his lower right leg in his side’s final pre-season fixture on Thursday.

Jones-Drew was hurt during the opening series of the Jaguars’ 24-17 victory over the Washington Redskins in a tackle by Fred Smoot.

He underwent X-rays, which came back negative, and will undergo an MRI scan on Friday to determine the extent of the tissue damage.

“He had a ‘UFC shot’ to the shin or lower leg, and it’s bruised,” Jacksonville coach Jack Del Rio said.

“Maurice was a little frustrated by the hit and he wanted to get his hands on the guy, I can tell you that.”

The injury, however, is unlikely to prevent Jones-Drew from starting in the Jaguars’ opening regular season fixture at the Indianapolis Colts on September 13.

The 24-year-old signed a five-year, $31 million contract in April and is expected to be the cornerstone of the Jaguars offence this season.

Manning Pens New Jets Deal
Eli Manning has put pen to paper on his six-year contract extension with the New York Giants which makes him the highest-paid player in the NFL.

The quarterback agreed the new contract, worth a reported US$97million over the next six years, an average of US$15.3million, earlier this month.

Manning, 27, led the Giants to a Super Bowl victory and four consecutive post-season berths.

“All of us – Eli and this organisation – are pleased to have this officially done,” general manager Jerry Reese said on the Giants’ official website.

“Our total focus is on our performance on the field and being the best team we can be in 2009.”

Reese does not believe the size of the deal will increase the pressure on Manning.

“He’s used to that,” Reese said. “You don’t get more pressure than he already has in this market. He knows how to handle pressure and he’s done it before.

“I don’t expect to see anything different in his attitude and work ethic. He works hard. He expects a lot from himself. He knows what his role is here with us. We expect him to continue to do that for a long time.”

Will Favre Start for Vikings?

Brett Favre admitted his will to win another Super Bowl prompted his decision to come out of retirement and join the Minnesota Vikings.

The 39-year-old quarterback signed a two-year-deal with the Vikings on Tuesday to mark the second consecutive season the future Hall of Famer has come out of retirement.

Favre originally announced his retirement last summer following 16 seasons with the Green Bay Packers, but a change of mind saw him suit up with the New York Jets last season.

While the quarterback was unable to rekindle the success that saw him lead the Packers to the XXXI Super Bowl title and also earn three league MVP crowns, he believes he can help a Vikings team that won the NFC North last season to the NFL’s showpiece event.

“All I want to do is win,” Favre said at a press conference to unveil him as a Vikings player.

“That’s all I came back for is to win. There’s nothing like it.

“For guys who have played this game, and sports in general, former players, guys in the latter part of their careers, they’ll tell you it’s tough. There’s no substitute for playing on Sundays.

“You can’t find that. That’s what I’m here for.”

Speculation that Favre was set to make a return has been rife during the off-season, but the 10-time Pro Bowl selection admitted it was not until he fielded a call from Vikings coach Brad Childress on Monday that he decided to make a comeback.

Favre, who turns 40 in October, struggled with a rotator cuff injury in the latter part of last season when his, and the Jets’, form dropped away alarmingly.

He underwent surgery after the season and spurned Childress’ initial advances three weeks ago when he was informed he still had a tear in his bicep.

When asked what had changed his mind, he said: “Three weeks ago I found out that after the surgery that I still had a tear in my rotator cuff.

“That scared me, being a quarterback, 39, I was reluctant because I didn’t want to go through what I went through last year.

“When Brad called yesterday (Monday) we hadn’t talked in three weeks. He said, ‘Just giving it another shot, seeing if you want to take another chance’.

“Between three weeks ago when I said no and yesterday I had talked to Dr [James] Andrews and was reassured that [the rotator cuff] wouldn’t be an issue. I felt like if [the Vikings] were willing to take that chance then I was too.”

Favre joined in his first practice with his new team-mates yesterday and after describing his arrival as “the perfect fit” he believes he can inspire the Vikings to success.

He added: “Everybody I talked to – coaches, players – said if you were to go back, this is the perfect fit. And I hope from my standpoint, I can offer some experience and leadership.

“And I have to admit, after I said no three weeks ago, at times I was okay with it, and other times I was like, ‘I can help this time’.

“I truly feel like I can [make a difference]. I didn’t want to say ‘what if’.”