Rob Maaddi of the Associated Press reports the Philadelphia Eagles are strongly considering releasing quarterback Michael Vick.

Maaddi's source says the Eagles might not wait until the Virginia Beach police conclude their investigation into the shooting that occurred outside Vick's 30th birthday party in early morning hours of June 25 to release the backup passer.

Vick contends that he had no involvement in the shooting, and claims to have left the party 10-to-30 minutes prior to the shooting. Surveillance video from the restaurant shows Vick leaving the area three minutes before shots were fired from the direction Vick's vehicle headed.

Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie is said to consider Vick's actions "horrific" and "despicable", the AP reports.

If Vick is released, he would still be owed $1 million of his $3.75M base salary for the upcoming season, which became guaranteed when the Eagles picked up his $1.5 million dollar roster bonus. Should the Eagles release Vick, look for them to sign veteran quarterback Jeff Garcia to be the veteran backup behind Kevin Kolb, ahead of 2010 fourth-round pick Mike Kafka.