This past weekend was the start of the NFL season. It's a time for everyone to get behind their favorite team again in the hopes that they will make it to the Super Bowl.
Since I am originally from the Philadelphia area, my team is the Eagles. I enjoyed being able to watch their game on FOX this Sunday against Green Bay, until late in the fourth quarter.
Watching in horror as J.R. Reed tried to make a diving miracle catch on a punt return that gave Green Bay the ball in Eagles territory, I realized two things that I should not have needed this play to figure out.
The first of which was that shouting "Don't touch that ball!" at the television did not stop this man from making the error. As Cowboys fans that saw Leon Lett's infamous play on Thanksgiving Day of 1993 are well aware, shouting will not make things better. The other is that the Eagles are going to lose, and it would take a miracle for them to still be around in late January.
The NFC might be a weaker conference compared to the AFC, but the Eagles have some work to do before they can enjoy the Super Bowl from anywhere except their living rooms.
Andy Reid obviously had family issues this past off-season, with two sons being arrested and facing various charges involving drugs. Whether or not this affects his ability to coach at all remains to be seen and most likely will be difficult to measure anyway.
Regardless of the impact that these legal troubles have on Reid and the team, the releasing of valuable members of last year's squad made me wonder how this team can feel that they are ready to compete in January.
Last season, Jeff Garcia was their backup quarterback. When Donovan McNabb got injured, Garcia stepped in and got the job done. He brought the team to the playoffs, which was far beyond expectations for the second-stringer. They rewarded him by letting him go. Garcia, who reportedly said he would accept less money to stay in Philadelphia, was not offered any sort of contract. Instead, the Eagles used their first draft pick on quarterback Kevin Kolb to put behind McNabb
First, this created controversy that said that the Eagles were looking to replace McNabb in the media, a problem that could have been avoided if they kept Garcia and the team stayed the same as last year. Second, this meant that the Eagles did not use their first pick on a wide receiver, something everybody and their brother knows that the team needs.
The Eagles have not used their first pick on a wide receiver since Freddie Mitchell in 2001 and we all saw how that turned out. "The People's Champ," "First Down Freddie," or whatever nickname he gave himself did not prevent him for being known more for his post-game interview hats than for his ability on the field.
After it was clear that Mitchell was not the breakout receiver they were hoping for, it has been all over the sports news that the Eagles needed a go-to pass catcher. They need a deep threat, like Terrell Owens.
Okay, so they failed twice in their search for a big-time receiver, but Owens was wrong for a different reason. He had the ability and helped them get to a Super Bowl in 2004. His ego, though, can cause anyone to ask for aspirin.
After Owens ruined any hopes for a return to the Super Bowl, they released him and got Donte Stallworth, which is the other player they let go for reasons I do not understand. Stallworth missed some of last season with an injury, but was McNabb's favorite target when he was healthy.
The Eagles did not try to re-sign Stallworth and allowed him go to the New England Patriots, who may be able to show the Eagles that receivers are important.
The Patriots, who have won three Super Bowls in the past five years, including one in 2004 over the Eagles, signed Stallworth and Randy Moss to add to Troy Brown. Tom Brady now has more options than he knows what to do with.
The Eagles' offense was only able to get 13 points this Sunday, despite having the most versatile running back in the league in Brian Westbrook. Their defense looked strong against the run, but it is not what it used to be.
I was able to watch the Eagles lose on a field goal in the closing seconds and get ready for another season that probably will not end with a ring. Maybe the Eagles will pull off a surprising move, such as signing Freddie Mitchell as a free agent.
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
