I have just two words to describe what is going on with your Philadelphia Eagles: All in.

If the message did not register with the signing of Michael Vick, Andy Reid added an exclamation point yesterday when he decided to bring back Jeff Garcia as a backup quarterback.

The words may not be coming directly from Reid’s mouth, but make no mistake, this is the message, borrowed from Oakland Raiders legend Al
Davis: Just win, baby!

Reid and the Eagles for years portrayed themselves as team first and always looking for character guys.

That went out the window with the signing of convicted dog ring operator Vick, who admitted to killing several dogs in the most gruesome of ways.

I’m not buying the whole “everyone needs a second chance” story. Don’t get me wrong. I think it’s nice. But I also think Reid – maybe for the first time – is feeling the pressure to win. Now.

Now the Eagles have added another tent to the Big Top in what has become something of a circus surrounding their quarterback position.

Officially, Donovan McNabb has not been ruled out for Sunday’s home opener against the Saints after suffering a cracked rib in the blowout win over the Panthers. Common sense seems to indicate, however, that Donovan will sit this one out. In fact, the Birds might be looking at the idea of somehow allowing McNabb to heal the next two weeks, then getting the added bonus of the bye week Oct. 4 and bringing McNabb back to face Tampa Bay on Oct. 11.

For this week, that makes Kevin Kolb your starter. But with Vick still ineligible to play while he serves a two-game suspension from the NFL because of his dog-fighting conviction, the Eagles were still a backup quarterback short.

Enter Garcia, last seen here ripping the front office after they could not agree on a new contract back in 2006 after he filled in for an injured McNabb and went 6-2 and led the team into the playoffs. Does anyone else forget that Garcia made it pretty clear that he didn’t think Donovan could handle the idea of Garcia’s success and was not all that unhappy that he was not resigned by the club?

For now let’s take Donovan out of the equation. The Garcia signing immediately turns up the heat on Kolb. To borrow a phrase from Vick, Kolb is already on a very short leash. Garcia is familiar with the Eagles offense. If Kolb struggles in the first half Sunday against the Saints, how long do you think it will take Reid to pull the trigger and go to Garcia. After all, he did the same thing last year when he fed Kolb to the Ravens when he sent him in for a struggling McNabb in the second half in Baltimore.

If Garcia should come into the game and rally the Birds to a win, how difficult would it be to dislodge him if he continues to play well. Will Donovan privately be stewing in the background?

And regardless of what happens Sunday, the whole circus atmosphere will only be heightened Monday morning when Vick enters the picture.

Andy Reid is rolling the dice. First with Vick. Now with Garcia. The message is clear. Win now.

This has already been an Eagles season like no other in Reid’s tenure, and we’re only one game into the season.

It’s the football version of Barnum & Bailey. Welcome to the Big Top, the greatest show on Earth.

Now if it was only the greatest show on turf.