Saturday siesta

Neither Vick, Favre to play much in preseason duel

Michael Vick is expected to play less than a half against Green Bay. AP

ATLANTA (AP) -- Seven months ago, Michael Vick led the Atlanta Falcons to an improbable playoff victory at Lambeau Field. He'll get another crack at the Green Bay Packers on Saturday night, but this one won't last very long.

Vick will play the first quarter and a bit of the second before taking a seat in the Falcons' preseason opener.

"I don't have to go out and prove anything," he said. "We'll just go out, and I'll continue to polish up my skills. I might get some different looks, but it's not a whole game, so you really can't get into it, into the flow of the game like I want to. But it's enough to get going."

For Brett Favre, it will take even less to get going. The Green Bay quarterback is expected to play only a couple of series, just as he did Monday in the Packers' preseason debut.

"From my standpoint ... it really wasn't much of anything, except getting drilled one time," said Favre, who survived a clear shot by former teammate Vonnie Holliday only two plays into the game.

The Pack got off to a slow start, losing to Kansas City 9-0 in the Hall of Fame game at Canton. When the game was called off late in the third quarter because of lightning, Green Bay had totaled just 125 yards on offense and committed three turnovers, all in the first half.

"We have to do a better job of moving the chains, and we need to get the ball in the end zone," coach Mike Sherman said. "We cannot turn the ball over three times in a half like we did and expect to win a football game."

Vick was voted to the Pro Bowl in his first year as the Falcons' starter, establishing himself as perhaps the most exciting player in the NFL.

It certainly didn't hurt when he led Atlanta to a first-round playoff victory over Green Bay, the first time a visiting team had ever won in the postseason on the famed tundra of upper Wisconsin.

But hardly anyone was talking about that game as Saturday approached. It's only the preseason, not a time to gloat or seek revenge.

Once Vick comes out, backup quarterback Doug Johnson will take the bulk of the snaps for the Falcons. Third-stringer Kurt Kittner will get the fourth-quarter leftovers, and fourth QB David Rivers won't play at all.

"I know what it takes to play this game," Vick said. "When it's time to strap it up and play four quarters, then it's time to get excited. Right now, I'm still kind of going through the motions. There's no reason for me to play more than I will. No reason."

Favre will be followed by backup Doug Pederson, but only for one series. Craig Nall and Akili Smith will play the final three quarters as the Packers attempt to sort out who's going to be their No. 3 quarterback.

Sherman wants to give Smith plenty of snaps because he didn't get to play in Monday's aborted game.

Because of injuries, the Packers won't have receiver Donald Driver, sitting out his second straight game with a strained hamstring, and offensive tackles Chad Clifton and Mark Tauscher. Safety Darren Sharper is questionable.

Receiver Robert Ferguson, who sustained a bruised tailbone in practice July 24, may be able to play after missing the opener. He returned to full-squad workouts late in the week.

"It seemed like he was OK," Sherman said. "A guy practices one day, and you have to see how he feels the next day. But things are fairly encouraging in that regard."

The Falcons are short-handed in the backfield. They have three healthy tailbacks and only one fullback, George Layne, who will play.

But receiver Peerless Price, the team's most prominent offseason acquisition, said his sore right hamstring was feeling better after a walkthrough Friday.

"It was a little tight," he said. "I feel better today, and I'll be ready to go."

Vick looks forward to hooking up with his newest weapon, though he won't have much of a chance Saturday.

"I'm really excited about what we've done," Vick said. "I think Peerless is going to make great strides for our team. He's a team player and he wants to do everything he can to help our football team win games."

 

Related information

Stories

SI.com's Preview: Atlanta Falcons SI.com Preview: Green Bay Packers Price the missing piece for Vick, Falcons Favre acting as pitchman for alma mater So. Miss What will cultural icon Vick do this season for an encore? Johnson oversees next phase of Vick's development Michael Silver: Even in practice, Vick makes jaws drop

Multimedia

Visit Video Plus for the latest audio and video