When David Akers' field goal attempt hit the right goal post with just seconds remaining on today's Eagles/Giants contest, the feeling that this was not the Eagles day was officially confirmed.
After all, how often does Brian Westbrook fumble, and the almost automatic Akers boots a field goal (even though the distance was less than normal)? either way, let's just file that under "not very often."
My oh my, times have changed for our boys in green. Our once proud Eagles, long considered the "gold standard" of NFL franchises, couldn't even get a gold medal out of a Cracker Jack box these days. This however, did not happen overnight. A great mid-season surge by the team last year perhaps swept under the rug that the wear and tear is starting to show in the armor, and that the window has indeed closed for our heroes. Never has there been so much drama surrounding a team that hasn't even won a championship. The Oakland A's fought their way to three championships. the Yankees of the 70's did as well. Those of course, are just two examples of many sports teams over the last 35 years. If you look really hard, it would be hard to find another team with more plot twists than an episode of As the World Turns.
Who is to blame for the team's demise and where do we begin? Let's take a look:
Donovan Mcnabb: In all fairness, the man came back from a possible career ending injury to almost start every game this year. For that, Donovan should be commended. However, is he helping or hurting this team by playing? While it is obvious that he is not 100 percent healthy, you can't almost always count of number five to break down some point in mid November. This is a fact not unnoticed by the Eagles brass. Let's just put it this way: there is no coincidence that contract talks were called off after his injury in November 2006. The problem with McNabb is that he makes a lot of amazing plays, but also a lot of dumb mistakes. These are further magnified because they usually come at the worst possible time (Rondee Barber). Is this pure coincidence? Or a major meltdown? The Philly fans who begged for A.J. Feely weren't doing so out of anger towards McNabb, they did it because they want to win so badly. And at this point, they don't care if it's Matt Cavanaugh on the field. Donovan has done very well for himself in his NFL career, and at times he is unfairly scrutinized for doing extremely well, but in the end not well enough. Sure, there were the four straight NFC Championship games (which will probably NEVER happen in this town again, by the way), but Philly hasn't won a title in quite some time. That isn't McNabb's fault, but nonetheless he is the quarterback. And the teams failure to ultimately win the big game more often than not will be placed on his shoulders. This is a notion that McNabb has never acknowledged or really understood. In saying that, do you bring back Donovan next year and surround him with the players it takes to ultimately win the Super Bowl, or has his time come and gone? Will he ever be effective again? If you think a hobbled McNabb is ineffective and the team isn't winning now, try starting a rookie at QB next year.
McNabb's psyche has always been questioned. I always wondered why he never went to bat for T.O. as far as contract extensions were concerned, yet he lobbied for the Eagles front office to sign Brian Westbrook. McNabb had the best season of his career with T.O. as his sidekick. One can only imagine how things would have been if things were handled differently on both sides. Sure, the two of them now speak and they've cleared the air. That's nice. Real nice. Makes me warm and fuzzy inside that two overpaid millionaire athletes can't play nice, but finally kiss and make up. In the meantime, it has been said that the Donovan vs. T.O. feud singlehandedly changed the face of the franchise. I can believe it. Sure, everyone says that Donovan is their leader and all that nonsense, but it's no coincidence that the locker room was divided in 2005.
Terrell Owens: T.O. was THE BEST thing to come to Philadelphia since Moses Malone. Never has there been an athlete in this town whose arrival has been more publicized since the Sixers acquired Malone in 1982. Every game, you would wait for what T.O. would do when he scored that touchdown (remember the Ray Lewis dance on Halloween 2004?). Say what you want about the man, but he was NEVER boring. He was like Pete Rose: you hated him when he wasn't on your team, but once he was, he became one of our own. Unfortunately, never has there been a quicker fall than the one he took shortly after the Super Bowl in 2005. How he handled himself in the media (sit ups), and at Lehigh later on that summer was a total disgrace. Would the Eagles have rewarded him if he kept his mouth shut and quietly went to the team after Jacksonville? Probably not a chance knowing our owners, but it beats the alternative: T.O. as a Cowboy (ugh!) As I previously had mentioned, there IS a reason why that locker room was divided two years ago.
Andy Reid: This is an even bigger question mark than Donovan McNabb. First and foremost, my heart goes out to Andy Reid for his personal issues that have been well documented throughout the year. Which brings me to my next question: How can he coach this team with a clear head? and/or an effective mind? Maybe he can, maybe he can't. Why do you spend two years waiting fr Jeremy Bloom to show up, but then you cut him right before the first game of the year and have NOBODY to return kicks? I hate to say this, but Bill Bellichick wouldn't be caught dead doing that. If you cut Jeremiah Trotter in camp, why not replace him with a veteran and not immediately by an unproven Omar Gaither?
Sure, this team is now composed of veterans as well as younger players learning the ropes of this complicated system. It's hard to argue with success, but after nine years, have the players finally tuned out Andy Reid? Riley got tuned out in LA, we saw what happened to Larry Bowa in Philly. Due to the fact that there are new players, it's a tough call. Maybe the message worked with the old crew but not the new, or it may just be that these players are just not good enough. On a side note, the fact that the west coast offense has been in effect here for almost a decade and only one high caliber wide receiver has been a part of it still boggles my mind. Your best receiver is a running back. Every time a different QB is in the lineup, the ENTIRE game plan changes and the defense knows this! I just don't get it. I'm not Vince Lombardi, but I'm not Norv Turner either (HA!) I would imagine that either McNabb or Reid will be gone after 2007. A change is needed somewhere.
The ownership- How embarrassing must it have been during Thanksgiving weekend when Jeffrey Lurie met up with Robert Kraft at Gillette Stadium? Probably pretty damn embarrassing. After all, these two teams who were once so close are so far away from each other that there's a better chance of landing on Mars before the Eagles have three Super Bowl rings. Simply put, New England was humiliated by Peyton Manning last January in the AFC Championship Game. So much to the point where they acquired Randy Moss, Dante Stallworth. Those two receivers aren't the sole reason for New England's success in 2007, but it doesn't hurt having those guys on your team in addition to the best surveillance cameras money can buy. Bottom line: they needed to improve their team and they did. The Eagles got Kevin Curtis. A nice receiver, but nowhere near the caliber of Randy Moss. The minute the Eagles were only three point losers to New England in the Super Bowl, this team should have done just that: get the remaining pieces needed to finish the job. Other owners would have handled the Donovan/T.O. scenario better as well. They didn't want to pay Owens, so they took the high road and never bothered to help solve the dispute and move on to finishing what they set out to do: win the big game. I know it's easier said than done, but even if the Eagles took a financial hit (which they would never do with the popularity of football in this town) they would still be in the black if they pulled the necessary steps in order to get this team back to its glory days.
Mr. Banner can pull his number crunching nonsense all he wants. I didn't go to Wharton School of Business, but I do know people who did, and Banner makes it seem wayyyy more complicated than it really is. Truth be told, the ownership of the Eagles doesn't care about a Super Bowl victory, they care about being competitive. As long as the birds are in the thick of things, they will always be happy. If they win, it's a bonus. Sure, the bottom line is the almighty dollar. These men aren't in business for fun. However, don't you think the fans (the one's who take second mortgages out on Super Bowl tickets) are finally entitled their just due? Just once? The town is ready for a change, and they will likely gravitate towards any team that will give them that ray of hope. If the Phillies are smart, they finally would have done what it takes to bring a winner to town. It is theirs for the taking. As we all know, the bait was once again there and as of December 9th, they have failed to take it.
So as far as who is to blame? You be the judge. You can't expect Banner to blatantly say that neither Reid or McNabb would be back next year. It's becoming more and more apparent that this team, with or without McNabb, are simply not good enough, and what they're doing isn't working now. And truth be told, does anyone have faith in this orginization to do the right thing when the time comes anyway? Oh how the mighty have fallen.
Meanwhile, over in Dallas.........................
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