Vick slated to start on Sunday for Falcons

Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2003 | 10:04 a.m.

SUN WIRE REPORTS

Barring any setbacks -- and remember, these are the Atlanta Falcons -- Michael Vick likely will make his first start of the season Sunday night against the Carolina Panthers.

"The leg feels great, and I'm just looking forward to getting back out there," Vick said Monday, a day after he played for the first time during Atlanta's 17-13 loss to the Houston Texans.

"It's the same old, same old. Just going out there and playing football."

Vick's right leg was broken in a preseason game against the Baltimore Ravens on Aug. 16, and what was supposed to be an eight-week recovery took 3 1/2 months. Without their star quarterback, the Falcons foundered badly, losing 10 of 11 since a season-opening victory over the Dallas Cowboys.

They also continued an uncanny streak: in their 37-year history, they've never had back-to-back winning seasons.

"We're just trying to get a win," Vick said. "The next win is the most important one."

"We're going to sit down over the next few days and talk about it," Schottenheimer said when asked whether Doug Flutie or Drew Brees would get the start. "I might say that we won't make a decision until later in the week because I'd like my brother to have to work and prepare for both of them."

Rookie Dave Ragone, a left-hander who has not yet played a game, slides into the No. 2 slot. Veteran backup Mike Quinn, who is 2-of-3 in his six-year career and has not thrown an NFL pass since 1998, was activated from the practice squad to become the third quarterback.