Vick wants his next team to be Panthers

According to some earlier reports, the Philadelphia Eagles will pay quarterback Michael Vick the $1.5 million roster bonus before March 10 and then trade him to another team. However, Eagles officials recently told media that the team plans to keep the third-string quarterback for 2010 season, and now it’s the quarterback himself who wants to leave.

"If I could play for any team in the league, it would probably be two teams, but if I had to pick one, it would probably be the Carolina Panthers," Vick told WWHT-FM on Tuesday. Well, you know, it’s close to home. I like the uniforms. You get to play against Atlanta twice a year. Ain’t nothing better than playing against your former team, right? So, yeah, that would be a good look, it would be a good look."

Vick has made it clear that he wants to be a starter for another team rather than a backup in Eagles jersey to Donovan McNabb or Kevin Kolb. However, by so far the Eagles have only received trade offers of late-round picks instead of the higher picks they have been expecting.

Panthers LB Davis hopes for early return from injury

As it has been scheduled, the Carolina Panthers linebacker Thomas Davis will run on grass Monday for the first time since he was injured in early last November. Although he is hoping for an early return, his torn ACL could not allow him to go anyway ahead of schedule.

“This sounds crazy, but I feel like I can come back faster,” Davis said. “I know it won’t slow me down one bit. When you have this kind of injury, you’re focusing so much on the muscles, making sure everything’s strong so you can come back.”

Davis has set a goal to participate somewhat in the OTA workouts by spring. But considering the improvements he has made by so far, it would be optimistic enough if he could be ready for training camp. Whatsoever, he could remain hopeful to wear back his Panthers jersey as soon as possible. Being optimistic is anyway better than being hopeless.

Several Panthers key players missed practice Wednesday

The Carolina Panthers practiced Wednesday with quite a few key players sidelined because of injuries, including running backs DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart and fullback Brad Hoover. Some other injured players were limited in practice.

Williams missed the practice because of a sore knee. According to Coach John Fox, the running back tweaked it while playing in his Panthers jersey during Sunday’s loss to the New Orleans Saints, although he managed to rush for 149 yards and two touchdowns in the game. Steward’s absence from Wednesday workouts has been a routine since he had a sore Achilles’ tendon. Hoover was sidelined with a sprained ankle.

Defensive end Julius Peppers had a messed up right hand and took limited part in Wednesday’s practice, so did tight end Dante Rosario, who had knee injuries. Players returning to practice from injuries included backup fullback Tony Fiammetta and receiver Muhsin Muhammad.

Panthers DB Wesley is not allowed to play Sunday against Bills

A one-game suspension will keep the Carolina Panthers special team player Dante Wesley from playing against the Buffalo Bills this Sunday. He was suspended for launching himself into defenseless returner Clifton Smith in Tampa Bay Buccaneers jersey.

The incident happened late in the second quarter on Sunday’s game. Wesley left his feet and hit Smith in the neck and head with his forearm and shoulder as Smith waited to field a punt without signaling for a fair catch. As Smith was confirmed to have sustained a concussion and both benches emptied onto the field, Wesley was immediately ejected from the game and the Panthers were penalized 15 yards

Wesley said he mistimed hitting Smith and was not intentional to hurt opponent player, but NFL executive vice president of football operations Ray Anderson called the act a flagrant violation of player safety rules. The suspension will cause Wesley to lose more than $36,000 in salary.