Team Sampler: the Philadelphia Eagles

Welcome to our first edition of the Team Sampler. Before we begin, please take this oppurtunity to sit back and relax:


It probably seems strange to you that I would choose the Eagles, arch nemesis of my beloved Giants, as the subject for this first TS, but there are a few things that we need to remember. First, the whole point of this series is for us to provide you with objective analysis of each team. What better way for me to practice this skill than by writing about such a hated rival. Second, the Giants won the Super Bowl, which makes it much easier for me to write about other teams, because inherent in my analysis will be "what went wrong for this team that prevented them from achieving what the Giants did." Third, and most importantly, is that the only time when I really enjoy discussing the Eagles is when I tell people about how much they suck. For the first time in many years, I can say that in this post and nobody can say that I'm not providing an accurate analysis.


This was a tough season to swallow for Eagles fans. Not only did their team miss the playoffs for only the second time in the past seven years, but they finished in the basement of the NFC East (the only team in the division that failed to reach postseason play). Although the final results were not atrocious, 7-9 in a very tough division, this season has left fans in the city of brotherly love with a bad taste in their mouths and many questions about the direction their team will take as we head towards next season.

Grumpy Old Men is amazing:


There is no question that the Eagles have been one of the most succesful teams of the 21st century. Four straight NFC championship game appearances and one Super Bowl appearance have given fans reason to be optimistic year after year after year. Andy Reid, Marty Mornhinweg, and Jim Johnson (head coach, offensive coordinator, and defensive coordinator, respectively) have carried with them a nearly-Patriots like mystique throughout this time (the only difference being that the Patriots won championships during these years). The Eagles always seemed to be completely prepared for every situation on both sides of the ball, and they were able to find success with their system regardless of who was on the field. Who can forget Donovan McNabb going down, and AJ Feeley or Koy Detmer stepping in, and this team continuing to win until McNabb could return for the playoffs. It's like clockwork. It seems like it happened every year (even though it didn't, but it really does feel like it).

That mystique seemed to fading in 2006. The Eagles came in to the season determined to erase the awful memories of a Terrell Owens saga that ripped apart their '05 campaign and eager to prove to NFL fans that they were still one of the NFC's elite teams. They looked shaky during the first half of the season, dropping four of their first eight. However, after McNabb went down with an injury, Jeff Garcia stepped in to the starter's role, led Philly to wins in each of its last five regular season games. When all was said and done, they were three points away from making their fifth NFC championship game appearance in six games. Throughout this season, the Eagles had looked far off from their '01, '02, '03, and '04 form. However, their strong finish gave fans some hope that this group could still contend for a championship. That hope now appears to have been misplaced, as the mystique of this Eagles team has completely faded away.



The '07 season in a nutshell

One of the greatest parts about this segment is that we are going to be doing everything in our power to communicate with fans of every team that we feature. We didn't have to look very far this week, as one of the most die-hard and commited Eagles fans I have every come across happens to be a writer for this blog.

Gilby is a man that has his finger on the pulse of Philadelphia. His knowledge of the cheesesteak spans far beyond Pat's and Gino's. He can guide you to the greasiest and most delicious cheesesteak in any area of the city, and any suburb within a 45 minute radius. Needless to say, he is an Eagles fanatic. On Sundays in college, he would often be found down at Winner's wearing a Shawn Andrews jersey and watching the Eagles passionately as he enjoyed a team sampler and a Texas Burger. As evidenced by his much more infrequent posting over the past few months, this season has been hard on him. Nevertheless, he afforded me the honor of a phone interview this week. Here's what I found out (note, this is all paraphrased)....

First, Gilby confirmed that the Giants winning the Super Bowl was the definitive sign that the door has shut on the Super Bowl hopes of this Eagles team. As he said "I mean, it was pretty much closed all the way after this season. But, that definately sealed it shut."

Second, on what the future will hold for Donovan McNabb, Gilby believes that something will most likely be worked out. Although McNabb playing for someone else is still a very real possibility, turning over the reigns to Kevin Kolb at this point would be officially throwing in the towel. Given the fact that they still have talent and many veterans from their glory days on the team, it would seem like keeping McNabb was still their best option when it was all said and done.

Third, on what went wrong this season, Gilby said that this season was like watching a completely different team. "They seemed totally unprepared when the season started," he said, "that's never happened." I have to agree with him here. And, although I know there is no way for us to ever know the answer to this, we again have to wonder how Andy Reid's family issues affected his coaching. How could it not have SOME impact?

Fourth, on what needs to be done, we both agreed that the answer couldn't be more obvious. TO, in 2004, was the only top-tier wideout that McNabb has ever had. The Eagles went to the Super Bowl that year. The rest of his career he has had James Thrash, Todd Pinkston, Freddie Mitchell, Reggie Brown, and Greg Lewis. If they really want to give themselves a chance to still make this thing happen, they need to get a great receiver. They don't like to spend money, but desperate times call for desperate measures. The Eagles haven't been this desperate in a long time. They need a big-play receiver. It's not hard to figure out. We both agreed on this. I put forth the idea that Chad Johnson might be available. Gilby said that he would love to see Chad in Philadelphia (note, reports later this week have indicated that Chad will not be moved. Still too early to know).

Fifth, I re-iterrated Gilby that I really thought they could be good again if a big-time receiver somehow found his way into the picture. He paused, sighed, paused again, and said "I don't know......I'm not really....Look man, I'm really in a bad place here with this." Gilby is one of the most balanced people that I know. To hear him speaking from such a dark place indicated to me that the situation may be even more dire than I previously thought.



Plax the Prophet beating the Eagles in OT in 2006


As far as what the future holds for the Eagles, it's hard to know at this point. Will they move McNabb and start the re-building process? will they plug some holes in free agency and give it another serious run? Will they stay quiet in the off-season and try it again with what they have? There's no way to know at this point. This one is going to have to be a multiple part series.

We'll have more stuff for you this weekend and a Foil in the Oven on Monday recapping all of this weekend's NBA All-Star action.