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| Friday, November 3 Meyer will start, but Vick might play Associated Press | |||
| MIAMI -- Virginia Tech quarterback Michael Vick practiced
Friday for the first time this week, running lightly and throwing
during the team's workout at the Orange Bowl.
It's still unknown, though, whether the Heisman Trophy contender
will be able to play Saturday against No. 3 Miami.
"I feel a whole lot better today, but I'm still scared to put
all of my weight on the ankle," Vick said after the one-hour
workout.
Coach Frank
Beamer said Vick will not start, leaving fifth-year senior Dave
Meyer to make his third career start for the No. 2 Hokies.
"Dave will be our starter," Beamer said. "The question
becomes whether Michael can play at all. We're not going to play
Michael unless he feels really good and the doctors feel really
good. We're not going to do anything that's not in his best
interest."
Vick said he has no problem with Beamer's decision.
"My feeling
is if Dave's doing well, leave him in. He's practiced all week and
he's earned it. I don't want to play unless they need me to," Vick
said. "Today was the first day I did anything at all, so I'm still
questionable. I'm ready, mentally, but I haven't had any work on
the field all week."
Wearing a custom-built brace that had been slightly modified
with ski clasps to firmly tighten it around his sprained right
ankle, Vick jogged with teammates and worked with the second team
during skeleton passing drills.
"What makes me feel really good is he feels better about it,"
Beamer said.
Team trainer Mike Goforth said he got advice from several NFL
trainers on how to modify the brace to make Vick more mobile and
comfortable. The brace was built from a molding of Vick's foot.
"This is the first time all week he's done anything," Goforth
said. "We didn't want to try anything because all it takes is one
cut while we're trying to test him to set us back two or three
days.
"We didn't want to get too cocky or too impatient. We just
wanted to stay the course and see what becomes of it."
Also, receiver Andre Davis -- the leading punt returner in the
nation -- might not play. Davis has bursitis in his left foot and
practiced sparingly Friday. His mobility was clearly limited when
he tried to field punts during the walkthrough.
"I don't know about Andre," Beamer said. "I worry about him.
Andre's a little ways from playing, but we'll see (Saturday)." | |||
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Frank Beamer talks about Michael Vick's condition.