You’ve got to give Philly.com credit for their comprehensive layout of the Eagles decision makers over the last week.¬† I applaud their efforts but I still have quite a few unanswered questions.
I do understand that they might not have been able to do the series of stories if they had pressed on questions that could have been deemed as negative.
Still the questions remain in my mind and I’m sure other Eagles fans remain puzzled.
Why did the Eagles build a team around Donovan McNabb and the passing game but refuse to obtain quality receivers for most of the decade?  If they are such great planners, how could they forget such a key component of a championship team.
I still haven’t had anybody in the front office explain to me why they decided to give McNabb bonus money during last offseason.¬† Was it an apology for benching him?¬† Is it because the benching came from the front office and not the sidelines?¬† I don’t know if the money was truly apology money but I haven’t heard a good excuse for giving it to him.
Why did an organization which refused to sign players who had any kind of troubles off the field decide to sign a convicted felon like Michael Vick?   Did their plan of how to win a Super Bowl change?
Have you heard a good explanation of why they did it from the Eagles organization?¬† The only thing that makes sense to me has to be the tie in with Andy Reid’s kids and his changed attitude toward people who get in trouble with the law.
Today’s article titled, “How the Eagles moved on from McNabb”, goes into detail on how the Birds decided to trade McNabb and hand the keys to the team over to Kevin Kolb.¬† Team president Joe Banner summed it up in the following manner.
“The crux of the decision, and I think everybody [who had a hand in making the decision] would describe it the same way,” Banner said,¬† “we have two quarterbacks who are very good, we think . . . capable of winning a Super Bowl – I understand that needs to be proven. Donovan didn’t do it. Kevin hasn’t even tried yet. But at that point, it really became [a question of] one of them has a chance to lead us for the next eight to 10 years . . . one, who knows? One year? Four years? But a considerably shorter time.”
I can understand the thinking of the entire Eagles front office, but they had better be right.¬† I don’t want to hear excuses.
Kevin Kolb needs to lead the Eagles to a Super Bowl title and he probably won’t have as much time as McNabb did.¬† It’s as simple as that.
He’s got a great group of receivers to work so let’s get about the business of winning a Super Bowl.
I don’t want to hear about how Kolb does such a good job on the interviews after the game or how he knows how to pat guys on the butt on the sidelines, or how much yardage he’s throwing for.¬† He’s got to win enough games to get this team to the playoffs, then he has to lead them to a Super Bowl title.
All that a “quarterback capable of winning a Super Bowl” doesn’t mean anything as far as I’m concerned.¬† The true question is do you have a football team capable of winning a Super Bowl.
Remember that during McNabb’s tenure here in Philadelphia, Trent Dilfer led the Ravens to a Super Bowl win and Brad Johnson led Tampa Bay to Super Bowl title as well.¬† Eli Manning led the Giants over Tom Brady and the Patriots in a Super Bowl.
The play of the quarterback is important but the play of the team is more important.¬† I’m talking about the defense, special teams, running game and coaching.¬† They don’t give the Lombardi Trophy to quarterbacks, they give it to teams.
Kolb will have to play well but he’s going to need help.¬† Last year in both the NFC Championship game and the Super Bowl, the New Orleans Saints defense came through in big situations to help Drew Brees earn his first Super Bowl title.
With McNabb gone, I’m starting to hear and read others in the local media talking about the importance of other areas of the football team.
It all starts this year and the clock is already ticking on Kolb and the Eagles.¬† They can’t take any years for granted because you don’t know what the future holds.¬† 2010 might be their best chance.
People should never forget that football appears to be a sport but really its just a business where the product is a sport played on a field. And whatever comments the business executives make to the media, they are going to show support for the key components of their product. I think part of the recent media push on Kolb is that many people are excited for a fresh change – no matter what happens. If this situation is going to play out as well (or hopefully even better than) the Fave/Rodgers scenario in Green Bay, then our defense damn well better show up from the very start this year. As always, the defenses for the last two Superbowl winners made some key plays. I think this year’s Eagles defense has the capability to be much better than last year’s (statistically good, but couldn’t stop some playoff quality teams). They need to bring it, and bring it consistently all year long for this team to sniff the playoffs.
GCobb, thanks for reporting “from the muscle!” It seems nearly all Eagles journalists have an agenda. Like you said, if they ask the tough questions, the team could cut them off. It’s so nice to have someone fearless who puts their heart into reporting.”
Again, I keep hearing about McNabb/Kolb, but in my mind, the questions concern Andy Reid. Whether McNabb can be considered great, good or a bust is somewhat irrelevant because he was Reid’s guy for 11 seasons before Reid jettisoned him to DC. It was Reid who drafted, groomed and anointed Kolb the team’s starter.
As you pointed out, other teams have won with lesser QBs. We had opportunity after opportunity when the NFC East was one of the weakest divisions in the league. Our defense looked ferocious against those feeble opponents, but disappeared in the big games, and our offense always lacked playmakers. There’s only one person responsible for those shortcomings — Andy Reid.
Hopefully, he’s learned enough to pull it together with Kolb.
I think it’s pretty obvious that the extra “Bonus Monery” that McNabb was paid last season was because it was going to be he last as an Philadelphia Eagle.. (unless they won the Super Bowl)
The plan was set in place 2 years that 2010 season would be time for Kolb era to begin.
They did MCNAbb well by trading him to a good offensive team that has talent,a rabid fan base and a tradition of winning… I think in the end,they treated #05 pretty well and in fact maybe a little too well.
How many times does DW need to make the same comment on the “weakest division in the league”? Are you sad nobody replies, so you will just keep throwing it up there? Didn’t mommy show you enough love, so you need to repeat yourself until you get validated? We get it, you don’t like Coach Reid. Please think up something new that you did not learn on the 610am morning show.
AS, you’ve got me figured out. My momma didn’t show me enough love. Is it possible I could meet your momma. Perhaps she could show me love.