Philadelphia Eagles: Don't Shut the Window—Still Time for Success in '08

Penguins 6, Flyers 0...it has now been 25 years since Philadelphia's last professional sports championship (the 1983 Philadelphia 76ers).  I was 4 years old, and I am now 28!

But there is reason for optimism...the E-A-G-L-E-S!  Am I delusional, overly-optimistic, desperate, drinking the green Kool-Aid...all possible.  But as a Philadelphia fan, our mantra is "wait until next year" or "this is our year".  Well, we are only a few short months away from next year being this year!

The window of opportunity is open for one more year, 2008.  A strong core returns for one last push.

Donovan McNabb is healthy and will most likely be playing his final year in green (so he will at least want to impress the national media and his next potential suitor).

Westbrook is entering his prime and has a nice complimentary back with similar potential skills in Booker.

As for the receivers? Well, it's not too late to think that the Bengals won't still end up trading Chad, and we can always split Westbrook out.  L.J. Smith will be playing for a long-term deal, and Wilson has been labeled as a freak athlete at the TE position.

The offensive line is aging, but it still has perennial Pro Bowler Shawn Andrews and the always dependable Runyan and "is it Tra or William" Thomas at the ends. The defense is loaded with promising young tackles and linebackers.

Pro Bowler Trent Cole now has another speed rusher on the opposite end in Chris Clemons. The cornerbacks are possibly the deepest and most talented in the entire NFL.

B-Dawk had a full off season to dedicate to training and to prove to doubters that he has one more year left in his aging body.   And the special teams, Desean Jackson compared to Mahae, do I need to say more!

In reviewing the NFC competition, there are no truly dominant teams.  The Packers lost their starting quarterback, the Cowboys' locker room is just waiting to explode with the likes of Tank Johnson, Pacman, TO, and Romo, and the Giants, well I still can't figure out how they won it last year (are we sure that was Eli Manning and not Archie or Peyton?).

Book your tickets to Tampa now and start thinking up excuses for a day off from work as the Eagles hoist the Lombardi down Broad Street.