Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb faced the media on Monday for the first time since venting after Thursday night’s preseason game regarding the inability of the offense to establish a rhythm, due to the periodic use of quarterback Mike Vick.

McNabb, in response to questions from WIP Howard Eskin, tried to downplay the in-game discussion with offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg, during which quarterback told coach how to do his job.

Asked whether McNabb would be more comfortable with Vick taking consecutive snaps or engineering an entire series, McNabb had this to say, via the Philadelphia Inquirer: “Before you can come up with gimmicks, before you can come up with something else, you got to get your base offense going.”

It’s the same notion McNabb mentioned on Thursday night, and we still don’t know what it means.

At what point has the team gotten the “base offense going”? When leading by 10 or more points? After gaining 250 yards?

And if “coming up with gimmicks” (a phrase that, in our view, inherently demeans Vick’s role in the offense) disrupts the ability of the offense to get up to full speed, doesn’t using Vick constitute tapping the breaks if/when the offense otherwise is humming along?

Bottom line? It’s great that the Eagles have given Mike Vick a second chance. But his second chance ultimately could screw up the team’s best chance to win a Super Bowl.