By halftime, the Linc was buzzing: Michael Vick was an Eagle.

Suddenly, no one seemed to care much about the preseason game against the New England Patriots last night. All that mattered to most fans was that the disgraced quarterback had joined their team.

Even though five-time Pro Bowl quarterback Donovan McNabb is the man on the Philadelphia Eagles, the team gave Vick a one-year deal with an option for a second year.

"We don't need another quarterback, especially him," longtime fan Donald Crispin said.

The 29-year-old Vick, once the NFL's highest-paid player, has been out of action since 2006. The former Atlanta Falcons star was convicted in August 2007 of conspiracy and running a dogfighting ring, and served 18 of a 23-month sentence in federal prison. He also was suspended indefinitely by the NFL.

"I'm a believer that as long as people go through the right process, they deserve a second chance," Eagles coach Andy Reid said. "He's got great people on his side; there isn't a finer person than Tony Dungy. He's proven he's on the right track."

Commissioner Roger Goodell conditionally lifted Vick's suspension July 27, allowing him to sign with a team, practice and play in the last two preseason games. Once the season begins, Vick can participate in all team activities except games, and Goodell said he would consider Vick for full reinstatement by Week 6 (Oct. 18-19) at the latest.

McNabb has led the Eagles to five NFC title games and one Super Bowl appearance in the past eight years, and was rewarded with a $5.3 million raise in the offseason. The Eagles tore up his old contract with two years remaining, and gave him a new deal worth $24.5 million over the next two seasons.

The team is a surprise landing point for Vick. It was among 26 clubs that said there was no interest in him, but that may have changed when backup Kevin Kolb strained a knee ligament earlier this week. Kolb's injury isn't serious and he's expected to return next week. The Eagles also have veteran A.J. Feeley.

"There won't be a quarterback controversy," Reid said. "We have to make sure he gets back in football shape. He comes into a good, stable unit here. Donovan and Michael are very close."

Vick could be used in a variation of the Wildcat offense that the Miami Dolphins made popular last season.

BROWNS

COMMISSIONER SUSPENDS STALLWORTH FOR SEASON

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell decided Donte' Stallworth's football punishment should last much longer than his 24 days in jail.

The Cleveland Browns receiver, who pleaded guilty to killing a pedestrian while driving drunk, was suspended without pay yesterday for the entire season. He is barred from team activities until he is reinstated after the Super Bowl.

"Your conduct endangered yourself and others, leading to the death of an innocent man," Goodell wrote in a letter to Stallworth released by the league. "The NFL and NFL players must live with the stain that you have placed on their reputations."

Stallworth struck 59-year-old crane operator Mario Reyes the morning of March 14 in Miami. He pleaded guilty June 16 to DUI manslaughter, a second-degree felony, and was suspended indefinitely by Goodell two days later.

"Regardless of the length of my suspension, I will carry the burden of Mr. Reyes' death for the rest of my life," Stallworth said in a statement.

Stallworth drew a 30-day jail sentence and reached an undisclosed financial settlement with the family of Reyes, who was leaving his job when killed.

Stallworth signed a seven-year, $35 million contract in 2008 and received a $4.5 million roster-signing bonus the night before the crash.

ELSEWHERE

McNair case: A convicted felon accused of selling the gun used to kill ex-NFL quarterback Steve McNair has been indicted on a firearm charge.

A federal grand jury in Nashville, Tenn., on Wednesday charged Adrian J. Gilliam Jr. with one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm.

Gilliam, of La Vergne, is accused of selling a loaded 9 mm pistol to McNair's mistress, Sahel Kazemi, for $100 two days before McNair was shot.

Police said Kazemi shot McNair at his downtown condo July 4 before turning the gun on herself.

Packers: Green Bay coach Mike McCarthy says the team is close to signing first-round draft pick B.J. Raji. Raji has held out nearly two weeks of training camp.

The former Boston College defensive tackle was drafted ninth overall.

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported on its Web site that the two sides had reached an agreement in principle on contract terms.

49ers: Shaun Hill will start at quarterback in San Francisco's exhibition opener tonight against the Denver Broncos. Coach Mike Singletary insists this is no hint who will be under center come the regular season.

Singletary says the flow of the game will dictate when he turns the offense over to Alex Smith and the other quarterbacks.

Bills: Terrell Owens will miss Buffalo's preseason game against Chicago this weekend because of a sprained toe that has prevented him from practicing all week.

Coach Dick Jauron didn't have a timetable for when Owens could resume practicing.