PHILADELPHIA - Michael Vick is coming back to Philadelphia wearing a different shade of green and a new uniform number. Rod Gilbert Jersey . The four-time Pro Bowl quarterback is expected to start for the New York Jets (2-1) against the Eagles (1-2) in Thursday nights preseason finale. He probably wont see much action before giving way to Matt Simms. Jets starter Geno Smith and most of the No. 1s for both teams arent playing. Vick resurrected his career in Philadelphia after missing two seasons because of his imprisonment on dogfighting charges. He began his five-year stint with the Eagles as a third-string quarterback behind Donovan McNabb and Kevin Kolb in 2009 and finished as the backup to Nick Foles. In between, Vick had the best all-around season of his career in 2010 when he was The Associated Press Comeback Player of the Year, the NFC Pro Bowl starter and led the Eagles to an NFC East title. "I had a great run there with a lot of great memories and accomplished some things that can never be taken away from me," Vick said. "Im ecstatic about that, thankful and very grateful." Vick should receive a loud ovation from Eagles fans. Though he arrived to protests and boos, he quickly won over the city with excellent performances on the field and model behaviour off it. Vick was active in the community and was a team leader, mentoring young players and serving as a liaison to the coaching staff. "The chemistry that I had with the organization was uncanny," he said. "The relationships that I developed with the people in the front office were awesome. All my teammates, I had a great deal of appreciation for and I think I could say thats vice versa. We had a great time. We won a lot of games. We lost some games. Through all the good and the bad, we always stayed tight and I think thats what was most important." Vick battled injuries in Philadelphia and eventually lost his starting job last year to Foles, who had one of the best statistical seasons of any quarterback in league history. When he left for New York, owner Jeffrey Lurie issued a statement praising him for his time in Philadelphia. Its not often an owner says anything when a free agent backup leaves town. But Vick was no ordinary player. Vicks appearance will be the highlight of a game that will feature mostly third-string players, guys fighting for roster spots and some hoping to save their NFL careers. Matt Barkley will start at quarterback for the Eagles while Foles and backup Mark Sanchez watch safely from the sideline. Sanchez, who led the Jets to AFC titles games his first two seasons in the league, had an outstanding preseason after trading places with Vick. "We need to see Matt play a lot," Eagles coach Chip Kelly said. "I think we feel comfortable in what Mark Sanchez has done in the first three games. We want to see Matt play for an extended period of time." Both coaching staffs face tough decisions before Saturdays roster deadline. The Eagles have strong competition at running back, wide receiver and linebacker. Theyre also unsettled at kicker. Incumbent Alex Henery is battling new acquisition Cody Parkey for that job. The Jets will be looking carefully at their cornerbacks following Dimitri Pattersons suspension. Patterson is expected to return Monday, but Dee Milliner is still recovering from a high ankle sprain. It could be a last chance for wide receiver Stephen Hill to stick with the Jets. Injuries and inconsistency have made him a second-round disappointment. "A lot of jobs still up and opportunities for guys to show what they got one last time," Jets coach Rex Ryan said. ___ AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP_NFL ___ Follow Rob Maaddi on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AP_RobMaaddi Jesper Fast Rangers Jersey . The first baseman hit a two-run homer in the top of the ninth inning to lead the Mets to a thrilling come-from-behind 3-2 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers. Phil Esposito Rangers Jersey . Felix Pie had an RBI double earlier in the inning, as Baltimore rallied for three runs to overcome a 3-2 deficit. J.J. Hardy had two hits and Matt Wieters chipped in with an RBI double for the Orioles, who pushed their winning streak to three games. http://www.rangershockeyonlineshop.com/phil-esposito-hockey-jersey/ . On a hot, sweaty day, the Hall of Famer looked cool and comfortable.CHICAGO -- The first two happened in a single game in Colorado. There was a fly ball that barely cleared the wall, and then a screaming drive to right-centre. Jose Abreu quickly hit two more home runs against Cleveland. He beat Tampa Bay with a game-ending grand slam, an absolute laser for his second shot of the game. Some 6,000 feet of homers in just six weeks, another successful mile in a well-travelled bridge from Abreus native Cuba to the Chicago White Sox. The big first baseman is punishing major league pitching while making a difficult transition to the United States look almost routine. "I come from a place where there is very good baseball, but theres nowhere you can compare that baseball to this one," Abreu said through a translator. "This is the best baseball in the world. But the only way to achieve this, to come here and be successful, is to be disciplined, to have a lot of discipline, thats the way you improve." Abreu looks right at home. The 6-foot-3, 255-pound slugger connected in Oakland on Wednesday to become the fourth player in major league history to hit 15 homers in his first 42 games, joining Wally Berger, Kevin Maas and Wally Joyner. He is batting .271 with 41 RBIs heading into a weekend series at Houston. Abreu, who defected in 2012 and finalized a $68 million, six-year deal with the White Sox in October, is among the major league leaders in several offensive categories. Playing at hitter-friendly U.S. Cellular Field, he is a legitimate threat to become baseballs first rookie home run king since Mark McGwire for the Athletics in 1987. "Its just his strength, his power," White Sox second baseman Gordon Beckham said. "I mean hes just strong. You can do what he does with how strong he is, because he doesnt do a lot with his swing, his body to get ready to hit. He just drops the head of the bat on it and its gone." All that power has captured the attention of baseball fans across the country, but it is Abreus appreciative attitude that has quickly endeared him to his teammates. No small feat considering Abreus arrival pushed franchise icon Paul Konerko into a reserve role. "Hes such a good team person and you like to see stuff like this happen to people like him," manager Robin Ventura said. Abreu is the latest in a new wave of Cuban stars finding success all over baseball, and part of a long history of successful Cuban players in Chicago. Sluggers Yoenis Cespedes of Oakland and Yasiel Puig of the Dodgers are two of the majors most dangerous bats. Cincinnati left-hander Aroldis Chapman has blossomed into an All-Star closer. Miami right-hander Jose Fernnandez was the NL Rookie of the Year last season. Ron Greschner Jersey. There were a record 19 Cuban players on opening-day rosters and inactive lists this year. "I think clubs are learning more and more how to do it," Reds general manager Walt Jocketty said. Cuban players often travel a dangerous road to the majors. According to court documents in a federal lawsuit in Miami, smugglers who helped Puig leave his country on a speedboat have made death threats against him and against a boxer who says he defected with Puig. When they make it to the U.S., they face what can be an isolating transition to a completely different culture and the rigours of the majors. One of the biggest challenges is the language barrier, but they also have to work through changes brought on by a level of wealth and fame far beyond what they could have experienced in their home country. Major league teams are more careful than ever these days about creating a positive atmosphere for the Cuban players, making sure there is a translator in the clubhouse and help nearby when it comes to challenges on and off the field. The 27-year-old Abreu has three Cuban teammates; shortstop Alexei Ramirez, outfielder Dayan Viciedo and catcher Adrian Nieto. Lino Diaz, the manager of cultural development for the White Sox, also is around if Abreu needs any assistance. The White Sox have had 18 Cuban-born players in franchise history, tied with the Los Angeles Angels for fourth among all major league franchises, according to STATS. Minnie Minoso, regarded as baseballs first black Latino star, played 12 of his 17 seasons in Chicago and remains a team ambassador. Orlando Hernandez helped the White Sox win their last World Series title in 2005. Abreus fast start is drawing interest back home. The slugger is followed as closely as possible in a country where, despite the appearance of recorded major league games on state TV starting in March 2013, games featuring Cuban defectors are still not shown. Cubans with access to the Internet and bootleg versions track his career and often discuss it at the "hot corner," a spot in Havanas Parque Central where baseball fans gather to discuss international and Cuban players. "Abreu is a powerful hitter, he was really good here, but personally I think that with his major league results hes really exceeded expectations," said Jose Estrada, 55. "All over Cuba were following him much more than before because hes Cuban and he represents Cuba in the country with the best baseball in the world, the major leagues, and hes showing everyone the level of Cuban baseball." That level looks better than ever right now. ' ' '