Chip Kelly's arrival might give Michael Vick new life with Eagles

Memo to Michael Vick: Please stand by.

The Eagles quarterback has said he wants to stay in Philadelphia, even though his erratic play of last season and his contract for next year virtually preclude it. But now he just might have that chance.

That's because the Eagles hired Chip Kelly, and Kelly's fast-paced, spread offense would seem to fit Vick -- even though his abilities aren't what they once were and his age (he turns 33 in June) works against him.

Nevertheless, where once I was convinced Vick wouldn't be back with Philadelphia, now I'm not so sure.

"I think there's a chance," said a source close to the Eagles. "Now, he didn't run that offense in college, and I don't know how many more hits he can take -- especially at his age. But I think he stands a chance, given what [Kelly] does with that offense."

If Vick were to return, the first move the Eagles would have to make is to redo his contract. He's due to make $15.5 million next season, and, sorry, that's not going to happen -- especially after last year, when too many turnovers, a severe concussion and not enough big plays punctuated Vick's season.

Oh, yeah, there was also that issue of a 4-12 finish, with Vick spending all but 10 games on the sidelines.

Vick appears to be a descending player, and maybe the Eagles move on without him -- with Kelly opting for a younger quarterback. But maybe they won't, with one GM telling me that Kelly must have at least two quarterbacks ready to run his high-risk, high-reward offense.

Philadelphia has Vick, Nick Foles and Trent Edwards, and Foles last year auditioned as a future starter -- playing erratically as a rookie, with one win in his six starts. Nevertheless, there are people within the Eagles who believe he can make it as an NFL starter.

Foles is young and developing. Vick is not. Plus, he has no history of running Kelly's spread offense. But his mobility -- and the guy can still make plays on the run and dodge tacklers -- makes him an intriguing option for the new head coach ... provided, of course, that Kelly is interested.

You would think he might be, just because of Vick's skill set. But the last two seasons haven't been kind to the veteran quarterback -- with Vick throwing for 30 touchdowns and 24 interceptions, committing too many turnovers and suffering injuries that kept him sidelined nine starts.

The Eagles were 10-13 with him; they were 2-7 without.

Moreover, whereas in 2010 he was an explosive threat to flush the pocket and rip through defenses, he wasn't the past two seasons. He ran for nine touchdowns when he led the Eagles to the 2010 playoffs, but he ran for a total of two the past two seasons. He also lost five fumbles after losing one in 2010.

The biggest concern, however, is his longevity. Vick completed only one 16-game season in his 10 years of NFL service, and that was in 2006. But with Kelly introducing a wide-open offense to Philadelphia, you'd think Vick might fit -- especially with speed and productivity around him at wide receiver in Jeremy Maclin and DeSean Jackson and at running back in LeSean McCoy and Bryce Brown.

All I know is that when Vick's future was kicked around last month, sources close to the quarterback said he wouldn't rule out Philadelphia because he wanted to see if the club would hire Chip Kelly. Well, it just did, which means we might not have seen the end of Michael Vick in Philadelphia.