Always played hurt.

Friday morning protocol for the Eagles is trainer Rick Burkholder and Andy Reid speaking about the health of players who must be listed on the injury report.

What they decide to do with quarterback Mike Vick will tell you how badly they want to beat the Giants this Sunday night.

Vick was kept out of practice this week due to two cracked ribs on his lower left side.

Unless he's failed to make any real progress in his rehab the Eagles won't rule him "out" of their critical game at the Meadowlands.

If Vick can play at all, it would be an inspiration for coaches and teammates still so new to each other  they've found it impossible to rally around anything for a full 60 minutes.

Listing Vick out would be kind of like waving the white flag on the season.

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