PHILADELPHIA — Michael Vick is back pitching products.

The Philadelphia Eagles’ Pro Bowl quarterback signed a two-year contract with Unequal Technologies, a provider of the football pads that Vick wore most of this past season. It’s his first endorsement contract since his release from prison two years ago.

The deal officially will be announced Thursday.

“We’re real excited about it,” Unequal Technologies chief executive officer Rob Vito said Tuesday. “Michael is good people. He paid his dues. President Obama reached out to him. He deserves an opportunity. This is what makes America so great. He’s moved forward. He’s a whole other person.”

Vito said Vick is the company’s first corporate spokesman. Terms of the deal weren’t disclosed, but Vito said it’s a “sizable” one.

“We believe it was worth it,” he said, “because of Michael Vick and how he can shed light on the technology of our products.”

Unequal Technologies makes several shock-blocking sports pads. When Vick returned after missing three games with a rib injury, he wore a vest designed by Unequal. He later wore shoulder pads and thigh pads made by the company.

“The Unequal technology is a part of my game now, and I won’t play without my Unequal,” Vick said in a to-be-released statement. “Unequal’s protective power gives me a whole new level of confidence in my game. It makes me feel invincible.”

Vick once was the NFL’s highest-paid player, and he endorsed many products during his six seasons with the Atlanta Falcons. But Vick lost everything following his 2007 arrest on dogfighting charges, for which he served 18 months in federal prison.

Vick returned to the NFL in 2009 with the Eagles and worked his way from a seldom-used third-string quarterback to the key cog on a division-winning team. He will start for the NFC in the Pro Bowl on Sunday.

Vick appeared in a television commercial for a car dealership last month. However, he wasn’t paid for it. He was compensated by having use of a Nissan sport-utility vehicle.

Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press

PHILADELPHIA — Michael Vick has signed his first endorsement contract since his release from prison.

The Philadelphia Eagles’ Pro Bowl quarterback inked a two-year contract with Unequal Technologies, a provider of the football pads Vick wore last season.

The deal will be announced on Thursday.

Chief executive officer Rob Vito says Vick is the company’s first corporate spokesman. Vick was once the NFL’s highest-paid player and he endorsed many products during his six seasons with the Atlanta Falcons. But Vick lost everything following his 2007 arrest on dogfighting charges, for which he served 18 months in federal prison.

He returned to the NFL in 2009 with the Eagles, and worked his way from a seldom-used third-string quarterback to the key cog on a division-winning team. He will start for the NFC in the Pro Bowl this weekend.

Published: Tuesday, January 25, 2011, 5:53 PM     Updated: Tuesday, January 25, 2011, 6:32 PM

No Philadelphia Eagles players were named to The Associated Press All-Pro first team that was announced Monday.

Tackle Jason Peters, kicker David Akers and safety Quintin Mikell all were named to the second team by a national panel of media members of The Associated Press.

New England quarterback Tom Brady was a unanimous selection as the first-team quarterback. See the complete list below.

AP ALL-PRO TEAM

First-team offense

QB Tom Brady, New England

RB Jamaal Charles, Kansas City

RB Arian Foster, Houston

FB Vonta Leach, Houston

TE Jason Witten, Dallas

WR Roddy White, Atlanta

WR Reggie Wayne, Indianapolis

T Jake Long, Miami

T Joe Thomas, Cleveland

G Logan Mankins, New England

G Jahri Evans, New Orleans

C Nick Mangold, New York Jets

PK Billy Cundiff, Baltimore

KR Devin Hester, Chicago.

First-team defense

E Julius Peppers, Chicago

E John Abraham, Atlanta

T Haloti Ngata, Baltimore

T Ndamukong Suh, Detroit

OLB Clay Matthews, Green Bay

OLB James Harrison, Pittsburgh

ILB Patrick Willis, San Francisco

ILB Jerod Mayo, New England

CB Nnamdi Asomugha, Oakland

CB Darrelle Revis, New York Jets

S Troy Polamalu, Pittsburgh

S Ed Reed, Baltimore

P Shane Lechler, Oakland.

Second-team offense

QB Vacant (Brady was unanimous first team pick)

RB Michael Turner, Atlanta

RB Adrian Peterson, Minnesota

FB Ovie Mughelli, Atlanta’

TE Antonio Gates, San Diego

WR Brandon Lloyd, Denver

WR Calvin Johnson, Detroit

WR Dwayne Bowe, Kansas City

T Jason Peters, Philadelphia

T Sebastian Vollmer, New England

G Chris Snee, New York Giants

G Carl Nicks, New Orleans

C Maurkice Pouncey, Pittsburgh

PK David Akers, Philadelphia

KR Leon Washington, Seattle.

Second-team defense

E Osi Umenyiora, New York Giants

E Justin Tuck, New York Giants

T Vince Wilfork, New England

T Kyle Williams, Buffalo

OLB Cameron Wake, Miami

OLB DeMarcus Ware, Dallas

ILB Brian Urlacher, Chicago

ILB Ray Lewis, Baltimore

CB Devin McCourty, New England

CB Charles Woodson, Green Bay

S Nick Collins, Green Bay

S Antrel Rolle, New York Giants

S Eric Weddle, San Diego

S Malcolm Jenkins, New Orleans

S Quintin Mikell, Philadelphia

S Chris Harris, Chicago

S Michael Huff, Oakland

S Michael Griffin, Tennessee

S Darren Sharper, New Orleans

P Mat McBriar, Dallas

PHILADELPHIA — Eagles quarterback Michael Vick likely will watch Sunday’s regular-season finale against Dallas from the sideline.

Coach Andy Reid indicated Wednesday that he is leaning toward resting his Pro Bowl quarterback for the upcoming playoffs rather than put him at risk in what essentially is a meaningless game against the Cowboys.

“I haven’t finalized it yet as far how I’m going to play the guys and who we play,” Reid said the day after the Eagles’ 24-14 loss to Minnesota. “I have to look at what’s at stake if you play them injury-wise. Some guys need to play, and some guys need to rest.”

Reid has that option because of their embarrassing setback against the Vikings. The Eagles (10-5) are no longer in contention for a first-round bye as the first or second seed in the NFC. Chicago has secured one of those berths and either Atlanta or New Orleans will get the other one.

The defeat was not a total loss for the Eagles, however.

Securing the No. 3 seed means Sunday’s game will have no impact on their postseason status.

Although NFL commissioner Roger Goodell has urged teams to play their starters for the final game, Reid will be tempted to give Vick and some other key Eagles players an unofficial bye.

“I’m a competitor,” Vick said after the game. “I always want to play, but ultimately it’s Andy’s decision. He’ll make the best decision possible, and I’ll go with whatever he asks me to do. That’s what I’m here to do — play the quarterback position, lead this football team and play the best football I can play.”

Vick, who was among five Eagles named to the Pro Bowl earlier Tuesday, may not be physically ready to play Sunday, anyway. He suffered a right-quadriceps contusion on the Eagles’ first play from scrimmage and endured an assortment of other bumps and bruises the rest of the game.

The Eagles’ offensive line surrendered six sacks, matching the most they allowed in a single game this season, and spent most of their time helping Vick off the turf.

“I’m not sure (Vick) can get back from what he’s got here,” Reid said Wednesday. “If the game was today … He’s pretty sore and tight.”

The Eagles will face Green Bay, the New York Giants or Tampa Bay in the first round on Jan. 8 or 9. The Packers’ and Giants’ defense are both ranked in the top 10 in the league.

The Packers (9-6), led by linebacker Clay Matthews, knocked Eagles quarterback Kevin Kolb out of the game with a concussion and collected six sacks in a 27-20 win in the season opener. The Eagles beat the Giants (9-6) twice this season, but they needed fourth-quarter heroics in both victories. The Buccaneers (9-6) are among the NFL’s biggest surprises.

Reid may want to give Vick, running back LeSean McCoy, wide receiver DeSean Jackson, cornerback Asante Samuel [stats] and some other key players an extra week to get ready for those teams.

“If that’s what (Reid) calls for, then I’ll be ready,” Kolb said after the game Tuesday. “That’s part of my job as the backup quarterback. I’ll look forward to the opportunity to try to get us in the playoffs in the best shape and get us back on track after this one.”

A break also would make sense because of the challenge that looms ahead for the Eagles. In order to reach the Super Bowl, they would have to win three playoff games, likely including at least one on the road at Atlanta, Chicago or New Orleans.