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Wow. What an offseason.

Michael Vick signing with the Eagles clearly is the biggest news to date (all apologies to Brett Favre Watch), and it looks like a win-win to me. Several teams were interested in Vick, but he made a wise choice, picking an organization that has strong leadership in coach Andy Reid and president Joe Banner, a sound structure and a winning philosophy. And for the Eagles, they add an asset that could help them both now and in the future. Reid has the heft and the gruff personality to deflect the PR aspect of this and try to handle the media circus that will ensue.

For Vick, the money is very good — $1.6 million for this season and the chance to earn more than $5 million in 2010 — given his transgressions and time away from the game. There were concerns about the infrastructure and organizational strength of some teams that were interested in Vick, but there are no such concerns with the Eagles. Vick goes to a team that already has a strong, if oddly embattled, starting quarterback in Donovan McNabb and a creative offensive mind who can cull the best out of his talent in Reid. It’s a West Coast system similar to what Vick ran for a time in Atlanta, and he obviously could do things in a Wildcat formation with players such as RB Brian Westbrook and WR DeSean Jackson also capable of being weapons in that alignment. And I’d take Vick over Kevin Kolb as my backup quarterback if given the choice.

Yes, it’s an investment for the Eagles, but for someone with this skill set and at the quarterback position, it hardly will break their bank. The team essentially “bought low” and, given how the contract is structured, could “sell high” should it choose.

The Eagles add an incredibly motivated player, someone who’s trying to salvage his career and reputation and someone who could help them win games — at least in a modified role — right away. Vick won’t have to compete to be a starter this season. He can take his time.

Sure, some things still need to be hashed out. You’ll recall that Vick struggled in the West Coast system, and I’m not sure McNabb will be totally thrilled with this scenario, given his sometime tenuous relationship with the organization and fans in his constant struggle to prove himself (I don’t understand that dynamic, given how good McNabb has been, but that’s a blog for another day).

But, as one member of the Eagles’ organization put it, they have other things besides Vick to sort out. The injury bug is a concern right now — particularly on the offensive line. How rookie defensive coordinator Sean McDermott is able to fill at least some of the void left by Jim Johnson’s passing is a huge question. But if I’m an Eagles fan, I’m excited about the addition of a singular athletic talent who comes aboard after what already was a good looking offseason.

Eagles coach Andy Reid just met with the media following the team’s preseason opener against the Patriots (I was watching on NFL Network) and addressed the signing of Mike Vick at length. It became obvious that Reid’s experiences with his children’s legal issues, as well as some of the unique wrinkles that Vick could provide in Wildcat-type formations, were at the core of the decision.

Reid said Donovan McNabb is unquestionably the Eagles’ starter — “There won’t be a quarterback controversy. That’s not how it’s going to go down here.” — and that the Eagles’ longtime QB was involved in the decision to sign Vick. “This wasn’t a secret to Donovan,” Reid said. Reid thoroughly investigated the situation and said Vick’s extensive meeting with Eagles owner Jeff Lurie was imperative. “They spent a lot of time together, and it was a positive,” Reid said. “Jeffrey came out feeling good.”

The positive vibes sent out by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and former Colts coach Tony Dungy, now Vick’s mentor, also were influential in the decision, Reid said. Reid had multiple conversations with Vick as well. “I know exactly where he’s at, and he’s in good place,” the coach said.

Reid was unequivocal about what position Vick will play.

“Michael Vick is a quarterback, that’s what he is,” Reid said. “He’s a versatile quarterback, and there are some things you can do. I haven’t put all of that together yet, but I’ve got some pretty good ideas.”

Reid said he understood if some Eagles fans can’t embrace Vick and admitted he is unsure what kind of public reaction or protests might come. Reid pointed to Vick’s work with the Humane Society of the United States at several points, however, and said representatives from that group will be present at Friday’s press conference, along with Vick and Dungy.

Reid said he followed Vick’s saga from the onset of his arrest for his actions in a dogfighting operation, as his troubles dovetailed at a time when the coach’s boys faced legal issues. Seeing the changes his children made clearly impacted Reid as he mulled this signing.

“This is America, and we do make mistakes,” Reid said, “and this situation is a chance to prove that he’s doing the right things.”

Reid said he hasn’t worked out Vick but knows the QB isn’t game-ready yet. Reid hinted that Vick could take part in the Eagles’ final two preseason games, which he is allowed to perform in per Goodell’s ruling, and you could see the coach’s mind churning with the formations and possibilities.

“We’ll get him back in the swing, and I’ll think of something,” Reid said with that sly smile of his.

Ray Anderson, the league’s executive vice president of football operations, tells us that Michael Vick could find himself suiting up in Week 1 of the regular season “if all goes well” and that commissioner Roger Goodell’s decision to conditionally reinstate the quarterback shouldn’t be viewed as a six-game suspension.

“Personally, I am glad that Michael Vick has a chance to have a real say in his opportunity,” Anderson said. “As a former agent who represented players and as a former club executive with the Falcons who knew Vick personally, I think this decision smacks of real fairness in all corners.

“This is a step-by-step process that goes up to Week 6; it is not a six-game suspension by any means. If all goes well, he could be playing anytime from Week 1 forward. Roger listened to ownership, NFL employees, friends, relatives, players, counselors, people from animal rights groups. In his typical fashion, he sought input and listened to all before acting.”

It’s still very early in camp, but some people in the San Francisco 49ers organization believe that veteran Shaun Hill’s superior intangibles might be what sets him apart from former first-round pick Alex Smith in the team’s quarterback competition.

This battle could go to the end of camp — and the first real test comes Friday in the preseason opener against the Broncos — but according to some in San Fran, privately, Hill’s command of the team could be the edge. “He’s taking to the QB role as a leader,” one team source said. “he’s more vocal.”

Hill led the 49ers to a strong finish in 2008. There’s a sense among some veterans that he looks more the part, but there are also a lot of people in that organization rooting for Smith, as the organization has invested so much in him, and he has more upside. This often isn’t a game where potential carries the day, though, and in a division that should be wide open, one would think the here and now would be foremost on Coach Mike Singletary’s mind.

Former New York Giants star Plaxico Burress was indicted by a grand jury on weapons charges for shooting himself in the thigh at a Manhattan nightclub and faces a minimum prison sentence of 3½ years if convicted, prosecutors announced Monday.

The indictment charged the 31-year-old Burress with two counts of criminal possession of a weapon and one count of reckless endangerment.

“The grand jury applied the law to the facts of this case,” Morgenthau said. He said the accidental shooting at a nightclub on Nov. 29 was treated “like any similar case against any other defendant.”

Burress’ lawyer, Benjamin Brafman, said he was disappointed but not surprised by the indictment, which came after Burress testified before the grand jury and expressed remorse.

“When you have the mayor and the district attorney both publicly demanding a maximum prison sentence, it was perhaps too much to hope for the grand jury to conduct a sympathetic review of the unique facts of this sad case,” Brafman said in a statement.

Burress’ former teammate Antonio Pierce, who was with Burress in the club and drove him to the hospital, was not indicted.

The panel also did not indict the nightclub security guard who carried the gun to Pierce’s car or the hospital staff members who failed to notify police that Burress had been shot.

Morgenthau said hospital personnel were guilty of “a screw-up rather than a cover-up” and the security guard exhibited “bad judgment in the first degree” but did not commit a crime.

Pierce, who also testified before the grand jury last week, was practicing with the Giants in Albany when he learned of the panel’s decision.

Giants president John Mara said the team was pleased that the linebacker was not indicted.

“We said last week we felt strongly that Antonio’s actions did not warrant criminal charges, and obviously the grand jury, having heard all of the testimony, felt the same way,” he said.

Pierce’s lawyer, Michael Bachner, said, “By appearing before the grand jury for almost three hours and answering the grand jury’s very direct and very considered questions, it was clear to us that they understood that Mr. Pierce acted as any citizen under extraordinary circumstances would have acted.”

Burress was at the Latin Quarter nightclub Nov. 29 when a gun tucked into his waistband slipped down his leg and fired, shooting him in the right thigh.

Prosecutors said Monday that after taking Burress to the hospital, Pierce drove the gun to his own home in New Jersey — not to Burress’ home, as was originally reported. They said he later arranged for it to be taken to Burress’ home.

Assistant District Attorney John Wolfstaetter said the bullet that hit Burress narrowly missed a nightclub security guard who was standing inches away.

The bullet lodged in the floor and was recovered by a bartender, Morgenthau said.

“He wanted it as a souvenir but we told him he had to turn it over,” he said.

The gun was not licensed in New York or in New Jersey, where Burress lived, prosecutors said. Burress’ license to carry a concealed weapon in the state of Florida had expired in May 2008.

The charges Burress was indicted on carry a mandatory minimum sentence of 3½ years in prison. He pleaded not guilty to weapons charges earlier this year and is free on $100,000 bail.

The grand jury indictment comes after plea bargain negotiations broke down, apparently because Morgenthau was insisting that Burress serve at least two years in prison under any plea agreement.

Assistant District Attorney Mark Dwyer said it is standard policy to request a two-year sentence as part of a plea bargain on such serious charges.

Burress, who caught the winning touchdown for the Giants over the New England Patriots in the final minute of the 2008 Super Bowl, also could face disciplinary action by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell. Goodell’s office announced in June that the league already had started its examination of the shooting, and NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said Monday’s indictment “will be considered as part of that review.”

The Giants released Burress in April and he has yet to sign with another team.

The real pressure point of the first round is coming in the second quarter, with picks 8 through 12 all unsigned to this point. That span includes the player who has been absent from his camp the longest thus far — DE Aaron Maybin has missed the Bills’ first week of practice. It also includes a wide receiver who many believed would go in the top five (Michael Crabtree of the 49ers) and the first running back selected in the draft (Knowshon Moreno of the Broncos).

So there’s a lot of inherent drama given the way those picks came down. And pick No. 14, Saints CB Malcolm Jenkins, is in an interesting position, too. The picks on either side of him already are signed, and the deals were done by CAA, the agency that also represents him. I’m hearing that the Broncos and DE/LB Robert Ayers (pick No. 18) have a gulf they still must bridge, and that some agents wouldn’t surprised if pick No. 19, Eagles WR Jeremy Maclin, is done at some point tonight.

With so many signing and holdouts going on this week, and Brett Favre and Michael Vick in the news, a few things slipped through the cracks. So I got caught up on a few contract details and figured I’d post them now.

Center Alex Mack’s deal with the Browns is worth a maximum of $15 million over five years, with $8.3 million guaranteed, according to sources. Agent Marv Demoff wasn’t afraid to wade in early despite his client being at pick 21, and he received a strong contract regardless. Pick No. 24, Falcons DT Peria Jerry, landed a max of $13.25 million over five years, with $7.55 million guaranteed, according to sources. Chris “Beanie” Wells, at pick No. 31, received $11.8 million max and $6.345 guaranteed over his five-year deal with the Cardinals.

Later in the week, I’ll break down some of these deals in detail — on the blog and NFL Total Access -- as to what part is comprised of inflated filler and which have some potentially rich meat tucked away in escalators and bonuses that aren’t included as guaranteed money but are easily within reach should the rookie develop.

I’ll be bopping around the camps as well, and I’m very pumped. I’m starting right down the road with the Ravens and Redskins, hitting Cleveland on Wednesday and then working the rest of the week from Canton, Ohio, where Hall of Fame festivities will take place.

HOUSTON  Running back Steve Slaton, who emerged as a surprise rookie sensation in 2008 after joining the Texans as a third-round draft pick from West Virginia, is showing every bit of the tremendous rushing and receiving skills in practice that he displayed last season.

Slaton ranked second in the AFC last season with 1,282 yards on 268 carries, and also caught 50 passes for 377 yards. He’d like to have about 20 touches a game, and would have no problem if half were pass receptions. “I warm up, the more I touch the ball,” he said.

Slaton reported to camp at about 224 pounds, 9 pounds heavier than he was last year, but figures that most of it will be gone by the end of camp.

Brett Farve told the Vikings Tuesday that he will stay retired. (Al Bello / Getty Images) 

The Vikings report to training camp Thursday night and start practicing Friday.

Brett Favre won’t be there.

After what seemed like an endless courtship, the veteran QB has decided not to end his retirement and play for the Vikings. I have to admit, I’m a bit shocked that Favre would have surgery on his injured biceps and then not come back for a 19th NFL season.

Then again, nothing about Favre should shock fans anymore.

Favre’s decision means several things in fantasy circles. First and foremost, it means Tarvaris Jackson and Sage Rosenfels will now compete for the top spot on the Vikings’ depth chart. However, neither should be seen as more than a reserve QB in most leagues.

It also means that RB Adrian Peterson won’t have the same sort of protection from a passing game that would have been more feared with Favre under center. Still, Peterson remains the consensus No. 1 overall pick in fantasy drafts.

Finally, there won’t be any increase in the value of WR Bernard Berrian, WR Sidney Rice or TE Visanthe Shiancoe. Berrian should be seen as a borderline No. 2 or 3 fantasy wideout, and Rice and Shiancoe are worth no more than late-round selections.

Benjamin Brafman, the attorney for former Giants wide receiver Plaxico Burress, said his client is still undecided about whether or not to testify before a grand jury, but that a final decision on that matter will come this afternoon. If Burress does testify, he would do so Wednesday, Brafman said this morning.

Burress could face a mandatory minimum sentence stemming from an illegal weapons possession charge dating to last November, when he was hospitalized after accidentally shooting himself in the leg at a New York nightclub. According to a New York Post report, a verdict from the grand jury could come in the next four weeks. The Manhattan District Attorney’s office is not commenting on the case at this time and will not confirm any details of the Post report, according to a spokesperson.

  Interesting news in the NFL today. Think its about Brett Farve dn’t you. Not today and thank God.  Ray Anderson, the league’s executive vice president of football operations, tells us that Michael Vick could find himself suiting up in Week 1 of the regular season “if all goes well” and that commissioner Roger Goodell’s decision to conditionally reinstate the quarterback shouldn’t be viewed as a six-game suspension.

     ” Personally I feel like he is a good Nfl talent that should be used to it’s fullest.” He was once considered to beon of the best athletes ever. Let man get ready for the up coming season without any further consciencous. The comissioner has said that by week 6 of the Nfl season there should be a decision on Michael Vicks full reistatement.

     “This is a step-by-step process that goes up to Week 6; it is not a six-game suspension by any means. If all goes well, he could be playing anytime from Week 1 forward. Roger listened to ownership, NFL employees, friends, relatives, players, counselors, people from animal rights groups. In his typical fashion, he sought input and listened to all before acting.” This is going to be a story that I will keep you posted on.