Banner Never Understood Philadelphia Fans
BREAKING NEWS, Eagles, News Tuesday, June 12th, 2012
Last week long-time Eagles president Joe Banner stepped down from his post, which was a shock to everyone around the Delaware Valley. This change is nothing short of monumental for the organization. Banner was president for 18 years, and was a key component in turning the Eagles into the powerhouse NFL franchise they are today. Many around the region (including myself) thought Banner would be a lifer within this organization and would surely outlast head coach Andy Reid.
Banner has told the media the move was very amicable, as he’ll remain on staff as a strategic advisor to owner Jeffrey Lurie while he plans to pursue a major new opportunity within the sports field. Banner was a member of the Eagles front office since May 6, 1994 when Lurie purchased the team. Since that time Banner was overseeing day-to-day operations of the team and was named team president on August 1, 2001. Lurie advised last week “There is no better executive in sports than Joe Banner”. That statement alone is where I have an issue.
Joe Banner to me represents someone that is a great business man. He was a major player in the reason the Eagles went from a franchise purchased for $185 million in 1994 to being valued at well over a billion dollars in today’s world. But the bottom line is Banner was about the numbers and the business side of the franchise, not the passion that is so well demonstrated by the coaches, players, and fans of this team.
Banner did a fantastic job of bringing us fans a state of the art football only stadium in Philadelphia which many thought would never happen. He helped bring the Novacare complex to the franchise and created a brand for this team that was never as strong as it is in today’s day and age.
At the end of the day though I firmly believe Banner never had the fans in mind when it came to his day-to-day achievements. Banner was running a business and it didn’t matter if it was a football team or something else, he would have taken the same approach because at the end of the day he cared about profit and brand awareness. This city lives and dies with the Eagles more than any other team in town. Year in and year out, for many seasons we heard Banner say how disappointed he was the Eagles weren’t able to capture a Lombardi trophy. He never took that extra step though to put us over the top like the other elite franchises in the NFL.
The Eagles sell out every game and have a waiting list of 70K fans for season tickets. That to me is Banner’s ultimate accomplishment. Win or lose those seats continued to be filled each and every week and Banner looked at that as the accomplishment not the winning or losing. Those seats will continue to be full each and every week long after Banner has officially left the organization. To Joe Banner, the Eagles as a Super Bowl champion was the furthest thing from his mind. Sure, it would have been great for that to happen but at the end of the day as long as the Linc was packed and people were talking about the team it was a win for the president.
Banner never cared about the fans, and never will wherever he ends up next. He is a true businessman, and that means the guy has no feelings. He looks at things a different way than the fans of this great franchise. We want this team to win so badly. Nothing short of a Superbowl title is acceptable in this town and Banner held us back for many years with his selfish ways with the team salary cap and hard-nosed negotiating when it came to player contracts. Guys like Jeremiah Trotter, Brian Dawkins, Terrell Owens, David Akers, among others all felt his wrath over the years. In Joe’s eyes players that stepped on the field were just a number to him. To us they were heroes and idols that were a representation of our city. They put it all on the line every week in hopes of winning a Superbowl but at the end of the day if they didn’t fit into Joe’s salary cap no matter how great they were they could be dispensed at the drop of a hat.
For those of you out there that enjoy watching a good business man in action Joe Banner is your guy. I’m sure you’ll cheer him on wherever he ends up after he officially leaves the Eagles. For those of us that want to see the Philadelphia Eagles win a Superbowl Joe Banner stepping down as president is a great day. The Philadelphia Eagles are a business to a certain extent but in the eyes of fans around the Delaware Valley they’re a football team first and foremost and when you cheer for a football team you don’t care about numbers and profits you care about winning a Superbowl. Hopefully now with Banner out of the picture that can finally happen in the near future.
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Posted by John Stratis
on Jun 12 2012. Filed under BREAKING NEWS, Eagles, News.
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Affordable Heathcare is is a Pipe Dream and Overrated.. When your time is up, then your time is up, it’s just not meant to be and what’s the big fuss about delaying teh inevitablee… Suck it up and pass on to the next life as peacefully as possible.. Who needs to stay on this Earth any longer than they have too stated the prisoner to the guard..
See that’s the thing Vinnie, the Affordable Care Act isn’t socialized medicine, it isn’t nearly close. It’s mostly leveraging the PRIVATE healthcare market a little bit more toward the consumer.
We already give equal care for all in America – it’s just that those who don’t have insurance drive up the costs for everyone else.
The Affordable Care Act and what Canada has now are WAY different. Period.
An add on to a Navy’s comment earlier.
The Kolb trade actually netted us DRC, Curry and Boykin (gained pick 123 (4th) from trading Arizona’s 51rst pick back to pick 59 with the Packers).
Also fun… the McNabb trade netted us (Allen (2010), Matthews (2011), and the 2012 4th rd pick (via Tampa Bay from 2011 draft trade) used to secure Ryans from Houston
Burflict will be out of football in two years and songs will still be bitching about Kevin Kolb – paste it
Schill – give it up man – Obamacare is unconstitutional – you can NOT mandate someone buy something.. it will skyrocket the national debt (as if Obama needed additional help with that) and projections are that between 20 to 50 million people – for whatever reason – will lose there work sponsored health care.. Obama has openly stated he wants a European style single payer system… this is one case where your ‘you are just guessing what the future will hold’ arguments don;t hold water – anything the government does, and I do not care which party – will cost twice as much and be half as effective.. Medicare and medicade are abused and have gazillions in fraud… how many doctors and nurses are involved in making laws that effect health care? Any… we will bitch about non-football guys making ‘football decisions’ but won;t bitch about ‘non-doctors and government weenies’ making health care law? I have been on both sides (private and government run) side of medical care – I like the private,,,
navy – interesting, the affordable care act includes a provision where DOCTORS AND OTHER HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS form organizations that review accountable care organizations (ACO’s) to look at containing health care costs and finding ways to provide more cost effective, quality, health care.
How much have you actually looked into what you use the wrong name for? The biggest change would be adding much more people to the….wait for it… PRIVATE MARKET.
If you hate huge expensive government programs so much, why on earth did you join the military?
oh and Navy, granted it’s not federal, but most states MANDATE PEOPLE TO BUY CAR INSURANCE – and you know what? It works well.
Those who don’t buy health insurance end up screwing up their own finances and everyone else’s healthcare costs.
You’re brain is so logical with football (and other things Songs, Jake”dumb-as-a”dog bring up) yet so uninformed and twisted with what you call ‘Obamacare’…. it’s a damn shame man.
if people lose their work sponsored healthcare, they’ll be able to go into the state exchanges and purchase their own care with markets that are leveraged toward the consumer. They’ll have far more choices than their employer creates (more freedom), a more user friendly way of comparing the products they can chose from, and better minimum benefits. So what will they have lost other than more restrictions, less control?
Answer that.
Schiller read the constitution, and maybe, although doubtful, you will understand the balance of powers between the states and the federal government, In particular the tenth amendment, the powers reserved to the states, you are among he most dangerous to a free society because how damn irresponsibly dumb you are yet afforded with the most opportunities to be educated, god save this country
Hey paulman, talking about how sick people should just check out, did you ever have a child that needed life saving, extraordinary care, beyond the standard of care, in order to live just another day, maybe one day your time will be at hand, and by your philosophy no one should care, you are one sick, heartless bastard
schiller car insurance and health insurance are not the same – for someone that dogs other people about bad mixing of apples and oranges – that is a really bad example – people have the right to chose not to drive – and driving is a privledge – you have to have a liscense and the car has to be registered (of which the government taxes all by the way) – the health insurance will be mandatory for evryone – you can;t chose not to, with the IRS being the enforcing agency – the enitre Ponzi scheme is based on forcing younger healthy people that may not want or need insurance to buy it – whihc provides a healthy pool of payers to offset the unhealthy ones that before would be denied or forced to pay higher rates.. without that mandatory payment (i.e tax) from the healthy people the system will collapse – like a ponzi scheme –
I ref – I chose to by extra insurance in case I get sued – it is not mandatory -
careful with the insults son – you are supporting a program that I think is about to be declared unconstitutional
Why did I join the military – to pay for college – why do most people join? My dad was in the navy – both grandfathers, 7 uncles.. my wife’s father was air force – his 3 brothers were all in military.. but to answer question – to pay for college!
That ropes you in for 4 years at Annapolis – then they throw this thing called grad school at you – 2 and a half years in Monterey getting a masters degree..
and you don’t think we in the military think half the spending is wasteful?? Really – dude – stop yourself – you are starting to get all Songs’ish – the Navy knew in 1970 the old Philly NAval Hospital needed to be closed – it stayed open until what 1995 or so… Dick Cheney repeatedly tried to kill the Osprey program – look no further then Congressman Murtha – its called pork barrel my friend.. I work in a program now as a navy civilian that many people say should be cut including John McCain… but when it is employing gazillions of peoople in multiple states – the program stays alive… don;t go swimming in unfarmiliar ponds – if you read above – I am a liberatarian – guess what one thing we liberatarians belive in – we should not have tropps stationed overseas – why are we protecting Europe – when Europe should be spending its money to protect itself? Why are we protecting South Korea from North Korea – South Korea has 10 X the GDP and 6 times the population… don;t get me started on wasteful spending – it wasnever the best program – it was the funded program – two different things – and congress provides the funding..
plus the majority of miltary folks are very conservative!
If Obamacare is so wonderful – why isn;t Obama touting it in every campaign speech? If it is so wonderful – why is it about to be declared unconstitutional – hey I have lots of great ideas on how to make the country better if elected – but you can;t step on the constitution to do it… if Obama care is going to do so well for people, why is the CBO (non partisan) raising the expected costs exponetitally and stating 50 miilion people will lose work sponspred health insurance..
Schiller,
Its not about what the healthcare system is now…its where it is headed.
Once you begin down the path to socialized medicine – and don’t kid yourself, that’s exactly where you are going – if you don’t believe that – then why include over 1000 references to “the secretary shall” and “the secretary may” and “the secretary determines”in the bil?. You don’t think you’re on the road to socialism? Communism?? Then why does the bill include this nugget: “The Secretary shall develop oral healthcare components that shall include tooth-level surveillance.” I doubt even in the most grandiose dreams of the former USSR did they ever fell they had the ability, or even gumption, to begin “tooth-level surveillance”…but with Obama its “YES WE CAN!!
Anyway, as I was saying…once you begin down this path, you fundamentally change the relationship between citizen and state. As your SC judge (and perhaps America’s last hope to save the American idea of liberty, as he is the swing vote in the upcoming vote about the bill, states: “The government is saying that the federal government has a duty to tell the individual citizen that it must act, and that is different from what we have in previous cases, and that changes the relationship of the federal government to the individual in a very fundamental way.”
(And if you don’t believe that then just look at how your new medical commisar Kathleen Sebelius used her ridiculous executive powers granted her in the 2500page leviathian that is your health care bill to flex her muscles and trample on the constitutional rights of the Catholic Church)
Besides, idea that there can be one all-covering government beurocracy that can somehow manage the insurance, and eventually healthcare needs of a nation of 300 million is both impractical and absurd.
Not to mention it will only hasten your seeming national obsession to drive yourselves right off the proverbial financial cliff.
Oh, and the auto insurance link is weak. Citizens are mandated to buy insurance that covers accidents that bring harm to others. There’re are no laws stating that one has to buy insurance to cover damages to themselves or their own vehicle. That’s aperson choice.
Its one of the (now lost in the western world) ideas, that free citizens can make decisions regarding what level of risk, or financial burden they are willing to take on to themselves.
But here comes the US gov’t…following the disasterous social engineering policies that have crippled Europe…sorry citizen…no longer is that decision yours…talk to your doctor by yourself, without a gov’t agency in between…how dare you!
You ask: “So what will they have lost?”
Liberty.
vinnie – what do you do for a living – are you a college professor or private school teacher? Dude – you can write andmake an argument – debate team in college maybe?
Since when, did this turn into CNN’s blog site? Let’s get back to sports! F^#@ politics. They are all thieves, liars & con-men! They all worry about lining their own pockets, while draining/ bleeding the common man dry. Thus politicians only having to pay 15% taxes, meanwhile we all have to pay 40-45%. F^#@ all of them! I could go on & on, but I’d rather masturbate with sand paper & poor gasoline on the wounds, than talk about that GARBAGE!!!!
I feel like I need a shower & an exorcism, after reading all of that crap!!!
jakedog, I understanding the 10th. I really do. I also understand that if the constitution was so perfect in the first place, there wouldn’t be a 1rst, 2nd, 3rd, or 4th, let alone 10th and the 27th. In fact, if it were so perfect such that it was a final document, the amendment process wouldn’t have been built into the document itself!
Navy – I guess I hear you on car insurance v. health insurance, but in your view then, those who chose not to buy health insurance (or enroll in a government program) are opting out of the healthcare system because they’re healthy. You can’t chose to be healthy though. What happens when that young healthy insurance abstainer gets shot because they live in Philly, gets in a car accident, gets an STD, has a mental health crisis, THEY GO TO THE HOSPITAL. The hospital doesn’t refuse care to them, and then who pays? The tax payer, and the other people that make up the public because the hospitals have to raise costs. This is just economics – conservative economics actually. If everyone uses the system, and only some pay, what happens to costs…. do they stay the same? Go down? HELL NO
Now, Navy, you’re going to tell me that the only reason that the supreme court will most likely reverse the Affordable Care Act (or part of it) and call it unconstitutional is because of the law? That’s bullcrap. If that happens, (and I agree that it most likely will), it will be for political reasons. You’re too smart to ignore that.
And if that happens, insurance companies will be allowed to kick people who get diseases off coverage (recision) again. They’ll be allowed to deny coverage to the sick again. They’ll be allowed to keep covering the sick, but charge them astronomically more than they currently do.
And you’re whole thing about young people being healthy is hogwash. They are NOT. Obesity, diabetes, ER admissions for all sorts of prescription drug and illicit drug problems, use of antidepressants…. it’s all rampant amongst those young adults who you claim don’t need health insurance. The concept that only some people utilize the healthcare system or won’t need to soon is a total myth – a farce.
Navy – and glad we agree about US foreign policy. Can’t argue with you there.
Vinnie – you keep on saying the path. Were in the healthcare bill does it say that the government will run your insurance? The insurance companies (albeit with regulation and market leveraging toward the AMERICAN PEOPLE THEMSELVES) will will run the insurance.
Navy and Vinnie – Tell me this, for those who don’t have insurance, who should pay their medical bills? Should they be denied access to medical care unless they pay in full out-of-pocket?
Navy – check out the NATIONAL PHYSICIAN’S ALLIANCE and their stance on the Affordable Care Act. There’s your answer about doctors. The president of the NPA is based out of Penn and I got the chance to hear her speak about it. She makes it clear as can be that it is what doctors believe in.
Vinnie, so the liberty they’d lose is to not buy health insurance? They’d have that option, they’d just have to pay an extra (penalty or tax, pick your word, either is money). Are you one of those people who think we should have 0 taxes? If that’s the case, ok, but then I ask, do you think then that individuals should pay out of pocket for everything – ambulances, police, firemen, use of roads, public transportation use, taking out their own trash…. down the line as so…..?
dcar and others, sorry I posted things you didn’t want to read. I have a solution, scroll past it.
I’ll drop the politics stuff for the most part, but I don’t think it’s wrong to discuss it here or anywhere else. Sure this is not a forum created for politics. It’s clearly not anything but a sports site. But if it bothers you that much, like I said, scroll past it.
Who should pay? How about the consumer of the product?
Interestingly enough, people make all kinds of expensive purchases (house, car) all the time. Why should a medical procedure be different? You’re purchasing a service.
If a citizen is worried about the potential prohibative cost of a major medical procedure, then they have the option of buying insurance.
This new plan does not give them that option. Buy or pay a penalty (your words). How exactly is that freedom again?
The other problem with health insurance is its ridiculus comprehensive nature. I’m sure you have insurance on your house. If a window breaks, do you call your insurance company or home depot? What about when a pipe cracks. Do you call your insurance, or a plumber. Plumber of course and then you negotiate a price and pay it. House insurance is for catestrophic events.
Why are people so adverse to the same relationship with their doctors? You need maintenance on your car? Go to the garage and pay the bill. Need maintenance on your body hand over your (now mandatory) insurance card. Insurance in every other area is generally for catestrophic events – it should be the same for health insurance.
Need 3 stitches? Out comes the credit card. Triple bypass use insurance (though voluntary only)
If cost was the true reason for the gov’t entrance/annexation into the health care industry, then this would be the way to go.
But gov’t involvement isn’t about reducing cost. Its about gov’t.
I personally couldnt care less about the health care bill.. I wanted someone to tell me how any of his programs make Obama A SOCIALIST.
His health Care bill was taken from Mitt Romney… Others have had single payer ideas in the past also…
The whole “government is evil” routine is nonsense… Government is a tool.. its evil like a chair or a table can be evil. Government is only as good as the people running it.
An educated and vigilant public will make sure the government works for them.
An uneducated populace will let politicians scare them into the idea that government is inherently evil, with recycled rhetoric from the McCarthy era. Allen West says there are 79 to 81 democrats who are card carrying socialists
Again, there are aspects of socialism already embedded in this system and they werent put there by Barack Obama.
he hasnt done anything radical ….
Well actually…. He has done NDAA (which makes me talk about him like Jesse Jackson got caught doing before his election in 08)
He also has a drone program which is going too far in my estimation… I personally have alot of problems with things Obama has done….^But that stuff doesnt bother the GOP^ They know they have us by the balls again..because its either Obama or that muppet Mitt Romney.. The Obama Admin knows people dont wanna vote for Obama or Romney but dont have a real choice. They are banking on that.
All the talk of socialist is just good old American propaganda..
And with that I’ll Agree with Dcar and say….
Back to Football
SCHILL, STFU & WE WOULDN’T HAVE TO SCROLL PAST IT, YOU @$$HOLE! NO ONE CARES ABOUT YOUR SKEWED, BIASED, KNOW-NOTHING, VIEWS, OR OPINIONS! THIS IS A SPORTS BLOGSITE, NOT A FORUM FOR YOUR PERSONAL AGENDA! THEN YOU HAVE THE BALLS, TO RIP SONGS, FOR BEING OUT IN LEFT FIELD! GO PROTEST, WITH THOSE OCCUPY LOSERS, WHO ACCOMPLISH SQUAT, IF YOU HAVE A GRIPE!
GET A LIFE, & ENJOY IT! STOP obsessing about $#!T, you can do nothing about, nor ever change.
I still Health/Obama Care is Overrated.. When your time’s up, your times up..
Why delay the inevitable and besides, what’s so great about this Earth anyway’s.. Move on, Life is like football players, a dime a dozen..
Wow all that nonsense about politics..Really?
Bottom line is Joe Banner cost the team a chance at a super bowl with his cheap ass penny pinching ways. The Eagles were selling out before Banner and they will be sellling out after.
The Rooney family, The DeBartalos have 10 rings because they understand its not just a business. Something Rat Boy Banner never will understand.
Rooney family is one of the cheapest in all the NFL..