I'll be honest. I'm an emotional guy who flies off the handle, screaming at the television set every Sunday to players and coaches alike. I do it for teams I could care less about.
And I have done it for my beloved Philadelphia Eagles. Done it. But not recently. Not within the last four years or so. So use to their failure at the most crucial moments in a game or season, I have grown numb and indifferent to the franchise's bi-monthly letdowns.
Whether it's blowing a 24-7 second half lead to the New York Giants a few years ago or the 14-0 advantage that they had early on yesterday to another divisional rival in Washington, the theme is the same. They underachieve.
Now sure, any Detroit Lions fan out there reading this is rolling their eyes, silently cursing me, and thinking I am ungrateful for the last 10 years that the Eagles have given me. And I understand that. But right now, I don't care.
Donovan McNabb and his Eagles are just 2-3 this year. Last year, he guided them to only an 8-8 record. He was 5-5 the year before that in a season that ended prematurely for him. And he was 4-6 in 2005 in a similarly injury-plagued year. That's a 19-22 record over the last three plus seasons for the oft-criticized quarterback.
Sure, the man was one of the driving forces in helping the Eagles roll off four straight NFC Championship games and culminating in a Super Bowl appearance in 2004. But they also did so when the NFC was at its weakest, perhaps ever since the AFL-NFL merger.
They did so when the Cowboys man under center was Chad Hutchinson. Or Quincy Carter. Or, well, you get the point. They did so when Steve Spurrier was running and gunning and punting for the Washington Redskins. They did so when the Giants were drafting high enough to swap Philip Rivers and picks for the number one overall selection Eli Manning.
But since the conference has restored their power and image, McNabb and his Eagles have been mediocre. Not slightly above average. Mediocre. Since the 2004 season when they went to the Super Bowl, the Pheagles have managed a sub .500 record and just one playoff appearance. One by the way that took place only because of a late season surge powered by Jeff Garcia and a revived defense led by Brian Dawkins.
So what am I saying? I am saying...what now? Where do they go from here? Most of the Eagles woes, aside from some injuries, have been due to highly questionable play-calling from the staff, poor offensive (no pun intended) red zone play which is a by-product of that terrible playcalling, below average wide receivers, and a defense that performs one week like they are the best unit in the league and another like they are the worst.
But McNabb and Andy Reid are the main problem. Reid grew an ego through the success he had early in his career there and thought he could run things his way with his
17 comments Last one added 7 months ago — Leave a Comment
Jimmy Kimmel 9 months ago
i agree with reid being fired but mcnabb needs to stay kolb isnt the future that was another bad andy reid pick. i say we forget marty and bring in bill cowher a great coach who knows marty ball as he's a product of his coaching tree. plus cowher brings something marty doesn't a ring. if welose mcnabb kiss the next 3 years atleast goodbye.
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Patrick Phillips 9 months ago
jimmy-
trust me. i'd love bill cowher more than anyone else. but rumors have been that he may end going to cleveland or elsewhere. i doubt we have a shot at him. but you never know. and i'll respectfully disagree with you on kolb. college players who start for all four years in the ncaa's have a very high success rate in the nfl. and thus far, he has showed why. he has a very strong arm and is extremely accurate. he was 7 of 9 in his limited regular season playing time this year and one of his "incompletes" was a pick that was the result of horrendous wide receiver play.
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kinter kinter 9 months ago
People can say a lot about McNabb, but all I can say is shut up and give him a WR that can catch the balls. The only time he has a good WR was in 2004, and took you to the Super ball. That is it! Point blank.
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Patrick Phillips 9 months ago
kinter-
i won't deny this. as stated in the article, mcnabb has a strong career qb rating despite having mediocre receivers over the years. however, i think they need to move him for reasons that are more intangibly based. he doesn't appear to have the leadership needed, the fire to get his teammates going and elevate their "game", nor the proper mindset i feel is needed--one that demands perfection from himself and his teammates...not one who smiles after every three and out series.
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hocus pocus 9 months ago
hi everbody, i don't like andy reid. i made a petition to fire him. i have 118 signatures so far, i think i need more. please sign it. http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/fire-andy-reid.html
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Patrick Phillips 9 months ago
i'll definitely check it out and sign it. thanks!
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Andrew O 9 months ago
You and all the haters here in philly need to stop. Do you remember what it was like before they got here. It is much better now than in '98.
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Patrick Phillips 9 months ago
You're right. But how long do we stand pat and accept mediocrity? Over the last three plus seasons, the Eagles are just 26-27.
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hocus pocus 9 months ago
fire andy reid petition http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/fire-andy-reid.html
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Andrew O 9 months ago
I say we stand stand pat for a few more years. And I just read McNabb called a team meeting that might just turn this season and/or his career around. There is some of the leadership everyone around here has been looking for.
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Patrick Phillips 9 months ago
Andrew-
Yes, I think that's the first time McNabb's called people out. And I like it. But I never see that on the field. I see no fire or sense of urgency. All I see is him smiling after three and outs. There's a lot of season left so I guess we'll see what happens.
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Andrew O 8 months ago
maybe his little speech got us the w this week
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Patrick Phillips 8 months ago
andrew-
let's put it in perspective. it was san fran. if mcnabb's speech truly did anything, and reid is truly doing his job, we will see a long lasting effect and the eagles will come to play like this every week, as they should. to me, that means they win vs. atlanta (which i think they will), at seattle (not so sure as bad as the seahawks look), and are in peak playing shape when they meet the giants in philly on a sunday night. at worst they lose one of those three, and then go out and win, as they should at cincinnati, at baltimore (with a rookie qb and inept offense), and vs. the cards at home. basically, i think they should go 5-1 over that stretch based on their capabilities and what they've shown. 4-2 may be what happens and that would put them at 7-5 with four tough games left. and that might not be good enough. they need to sense the urgency and for me go 5-1 over that stretch to pull to 8-4.
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Bob Cunningham 8 months ago
it's fans like this that make philly sports the joke that they have been.
a lot of people in denver were screaming for elway to be bench around 93 or so.. bet they would have regretted that.
bill cowher didnt win a super bowl for 15 years.
just relax. what we need is for reid to turn over the playcalling to an O coordinator who will run the ball. he's a great coach. not a great play caller. and lets not forget, he wasnt ever an O coordinator. maybe for a reason.
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scott 8 months ago
The fatter reid gets the dumber his play calling gets. He is an absolute moron. Wally the Walrus's last good call, was the one he made to his dietician. The whole team sucks with the fat man at the helm. Who can I complain to to get this ass fired. Bring in colb too, why the hell did we acquire him. The owners a moron to, these 2 idiots came in at the same time and they should be fired together as well.
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Joe Ramagli 7 months ago
Mcscabb Must Phucking GO!!!!!!! And Phuck Andy "Air" Reid too. Those phuckin bums make me phuckin sick. Goddamn phuckin choke artists. Learn how to throw you phuckin bitch. You are the worst QB EVER!!!!!!!!!! I have also grown numb to the patheticness of the SPEAGLES. It's a shame I'm a die-hard fan too. Phuckin bumbs!!!! It's a shame that all of those talented players they have are stuck playing for such a bumb coach and QB. GO PHILADELPHIA PHUCKIN PHILLIES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! At least my Phillies know how to WIN!! I bet Cole Hamels would be a better QB for those choke artists. Take the goddamn chearleaders off the side lines and get them in some shoulder pads. They would do a much better job. My final thought...... I love the EAGLES but, you make me phuckin sick. Lose those two bumbs and you have a team. Cincinatti? CINCINATTI!!!???? Come on guys! How the phuck could you let the worst team in the phuckin league punk you like that. Throw in the phuckin towel. I'm so goddamn tired of saying "Next year. We will do it NEXT YEAR!" Can yous tell how pissed I am!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Dan Tolly 7 months ago
I understand you are frustrated with the Eagles. Believe me, I am too. I had to watch that pitiful performance against the Benglas. But you gotta be kidding me with Marty ball. Marty Schottenheimer makes Andy Reid look like the most clutch coach ever. The guy is the definition of a choke artist. He is a great regular season coach. His playoff record is 5-13.... yea I'm sure that would play out GREAT in philly. Incase you don't remember, he coached those Cleveland Brown teams that blew AFC championship games to Denver. Yup, they dominated the Broncos, only to play prevent defense at the end of the game and helped John Elway make history. Congratulations, you just helped me find a scenario that would beat the TampaBay NFC championship game as the worst moment in Eagles history.
You want Marty because he runs the ball. Ok. But understand, he likes to run the ball as much as Reid likes to pass. Do we really need that? An ultra conservative coach? No, we need someone who will run a balanced offense.
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