The hope.
The wait.
The moment.
The rumors.
The final descision.
To all Eagles fans, March 11 will always be the day, the day that could have started a victorious run to Super Bowl XLIII.
The day started, as usual, with speculation and discussion: The Eagles will get Larry Fitzgerald.
There are two kinds of eagles fans: the optimistic and the pessimistic. I am a pessimistic one.
They say pessimism will get you nowhere.
They say optimism is the key to success.
I say pessimism is reality.
The Eagles have been around longer than many teams, but they have yet to win a Super Bowl. They came close in 1980, but fans watched in horror as Jim Plunkett tore apart the Eagles defense while Ron "Jaws" Jaworski threw two interceptions.
It felt natural for me and other fans to start March 11 pouting about our unsuccessful franchise.
At school, there has always been one kid who has always been the optimistic fan. His name is Daniel Kane, a fellow Bleacher Report member.
He was the one person who believed the Eagles would do something. He always yelled with passion "We're getting Fitzgerald or Williams!!!" even though the harsh reality was that it probably wouldn't happen.
Day after day after day, Mr. Kane would take constant criticism from Giants fans, Jets fans, and even dreadful Buccaneers fans. There was no bringing young Daniel down, no way to change that smile into a frown.
March 11: a normal day. No one would have expected what would happen.
Danny came in wearing his usual attire: an Eagles jersey and a Phillies hat. I didn't see him for a while, but as soon as I got out, I saw him trying to convince people that we would indeed trade for Larry Fitzgerald.
"Shut up Danny!" i shouted. I couldn't take it any more.
Before I left I heard one last thing. "The Eagles are going to land Fitzgerald soon, I can feel it."
The hours passed as i went from class to class. It would be 2:45 before I would find out the truth.
The Cardinals had signed Larry Fitzgerald to a four-year contract for $40 million with $30 million guaranteed.
Reality had come back to me, and hope was diminished that very second. I watched with shock as I was teased for being an Eagles fan.
That is when it happened.
I was told to tell Mr. Kane that we had traded Lito Sheppard and a first round draft pick for Larry Fitzgerald, and see his reaction.
With a loud shout and fist pound, I knew he believed me. The second he ran off shouting and went in his bus, I knew I had done wrong. I ran after him to tell him the truth, but it was too late.
Later at home I received a very sad phone call from a horrified Daniel.
I could tell how upset he was that the signing had taken place and how ticked off he was that I had given him false hope.
You could tell from the sound of his voice that even Danny Kane, the most optimistic fan, lost hope.
Your number one fan has lost hope, Philadelphia.
you god damn son of a bitch front office you god damn son of a bitch, look what you have done.
I pledge allegance to the Eagles, the team that I have supported through thick and thin, and to the players to whom create my enjoyment, one team, in Philadelphia with liberty and justice for all.
A wide receiver is necessary, but Andy Reid won't listen. Give me proof that you tried, and I will forgive you. That's all I need, Andy. All I need is proof that you tried, and this will all be forgotten.
Look what you've done Andy: Even the greatest supporters like Kane don't trust you.
Fans will just have to sit down because it is going to take a lot more to give us hope now.
For now, my third finger will be up on each hand and my head down, as I give you a powerful message. You fucked up. You really fucked up this time Andy.
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7 months ago
sorry buddy but this is just sad, if you think for one minute it's our dying day that we didn't sign fitz....puhlease. we are the eagles, the elite underdogs......get over it & move on.........
7 months ago
What a Jackass comment. The Eagles were a good team last year even without a #1 reciever. Yes I agree a big name reciever will be a huge plus, but I dont feel its a necessity. I really believe that Donovan wasnt 100% the first half of the season. They had no choice but to play to get him to get his confidence back. The second half was a much different story. As he got healthier he got much better and the Birds didnt finish off too bad did they. I think instead of paying millions and millions to a reciever, they should give Westbrook whatever he wants and then figure out how much they have left for a reciever.
7 months ago
Proof, umm lets see. Didnt i read like two weeks ago that they put out a big contract to try to get Moss. Offered more than the FAGriots did. I agree with what Ken said with everything. Its people like Josh Nimentzow that give Eagles a bad name. Joe Banner, Tom Heckert, and Andy Reid has done the best job with this team in History of the Eagles organization.
7 months ago
Is Ken or Anonymous an alias for Howard Eskin? Come on, we have sat through Charles Johnson and Torrence Small, Na Brown, Freddie Mitchell, Greg Lewis, Todd Pinkston and other wrs whose names I can't remember. Who of any of this group would make a team nervous or honest in covering them? The one year the Eagles actually addressed the situation properly resulted in a superbowl appearance. When is the last time we had a pro bowl caliber receiver? Why do the Eagles continue ignore this position? I am beginning to feel apathetic towards this team as they ignore this position more than any other, despite pleas from fans as well as stressed needs by many experts in the media. I really used to beleive that the ownership was so much better than the Phillies, but I am starting to believe they are very similar. There are only so many more times I can listen to "our receivers are just fine". Explain then why an offense that passes so much doesn't have a wr with 100 catches? It would seem if Reid doesn't want to invest in the run, he should damn well make sure his receivers are top notch. The official team website panders to Reid and company by suggesting that Reggie Brown is very similiar to Hines Ward. Brown is no Ward, and Ward is no elite wr. Pittsburgh runs the ball 60% of the time so defenses are forced to be honest or over commit to the run. I don't think those who want a wr are being irrational. If the eagles don't care maybe the fans will stop caring too.
7 months ago
c
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