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There may be a quarterback controversy brewing in - of all places - Philadelphia. The Eagles odds of winning the 2010 Super Bowl remain third highest after the New England Patriots and Pittsburgh Steelers at 10/1 (+1000) nevertheless.
Calls of "We want Vick" echoed through Lincoln Financial Field last Thursday as Michael Vick made his debut for the Eagles. That's at best a distraction for incumbent quarterback Donovan McNabb, writes Sean Leahy of USA Today.
Vick is not eligible to play in the regular season until Week 6. Depending on what transpires up until that time could determine who the quarterback is during the second half of the season.
Phil Sheridan of the Philadelphia Inquirer writes that it could brew a storm of negativity that could be dangerous to Eagles coach Andy Reid:
"The 'We want Vick' chant that went up during the third quarter could not have helped. In my worst-case vision of how this might play out, this sort of thing would have happened in October or November, if McNabb found himself mired in one of his characteristic slumps. That it happened after a single preseason interception is breathtaking."
The Eagles have what it takes to make it deep into the Playoffs. They are now tied with the New York Giants as the team to win the NFC East at +175 odds (paying $175 for every $100 bet).
Overall upgrades could make the Eagles a better team than the Giants. Only 5 players remain on their roster from the 2004 Super Bowl team (McNabb being one of them). The Eagles will be solid at defense despite losing Brian Dawkins to the Broncos. Their defense ranks around an A-. They did lose Defensive Coordinator Jim Johnson to cancer over the summer as well.
Added weapons on offense include the likes of receiver Jeremy Maclin and running back LeSean McCoy.
The Eagles remain weak at the running back and receiver positions while having no proven full back. Getting to the Super Bowl will be hard since Philadelphia plays in the league's toughest division.
Whether their battle-tested defense can get the job done remains to be seen.
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Don Shapiro, Gambling911.com
