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Are the Philadelphia Eagles and Michael Vick, Zealous Hoarders?

Luke Johnson
Jun 6, 2018

Life beyond the Donovan McNabb bars, the Philadelphia Eagles and Mike Vick had it made. Theย renewed veteran and NFL Comeback Playerย of the Year did as great stars do: He won, leading his team to a 10-6 record and aย playoff relevance.

Yet, somewhere, somehow, a hoarders complexย turned Eagles managementย insane this offseasonย with aย spending an upward of $100 million forย new talents.ย 

Adding Namdiย Osomugha is one thing, but to continueย the gluttony with Culen Jenkins, Vince Young and Ronnie Brown is another. Stack in newly-acquired Steve Smith and things get more outlandish.

The acclaimed "Dream Team" is bringingย lofty expectations withย itsย high caliber of Pro Bowl talents. In an NFC East as unpredictable as a quarter slot machine, the movesย seem like a small cryย for help.

This season the Eagles have set themselves up for quite aย storylineโ€”though enticing and paralyzingโ€”automatically placing themย as the most hated team in football.

Theyย also upturned a common divisional denominatorโ€”the Redskinsโ€”who are well-known for zealous spending and are now minuscule in comparison to the Eagles flaunt of cash.

But, why now ?

Considering that the best they ever got the future Hall of Famer Donovan McNabb was an unhappy Terrel Owens and injury prone Brian Westbrook, proposes a larger question that may be rumbling quietly beneath the surface.

Is Mike Vick for real? Signing the 31-year-old to a one-year franchise tag answers that as "no".

Whatย then can we make of this current spending spree that has catapulted the one-time prudent Eagles toward Miami Heat status?

You got me.

I am certain the impending embroilment between Vick, and an undervalued Vince Young is a storyline the Eagles management is interested in.ย The formerย Longhorn is 30-17 as a starter, andย like Vick, can win games with his feet.

But more compelling will be what Vick can do this season with a fattened offense. As nice as he looked as a pocket passer all last year, he now will be forced to do so even more with Ronnie Brown in the back fieldโ€”a talentedย player able toย slot out and run with efficiency.

With three flankers in DeSean Jackson, Steve Smith and Jeremy Maclin,ย can Vick continueย in a pass-first offenseย moldedย around a need for a governing slice and dice-wheeler dealer?

Heย is not aย Brady, Manning or Breesโ€”but a guy who at times still showed signs last year he is uncomfortable underย pressure in the pocket,ย resulting in an injury that cost him two weeks, the Eagles a first-round bye and theirย loss to the Packers in the playoffs.

Two losses in a row from the man and four turnovers warrants team concerns. But it also, considering the nature of pro athletics, could be water under the bridge with an early rise this year.

Last night's line: 13-6 W over Baltimore, 4-6, 74 yards and a touchdown says that is a fair possibility. We'll have to wait and see whether or not this "Dream Team" will crumble in LeFraud fashion or flourish in a hoarder's heap.