Eagles President Joe Banner Announces Eagles Roster as NFL's Best

[SA_Gunslinger]

everyone is so high on the ea-girls due to their unexpected run last year. success rarely carries over from year to year (as we know all too well), especially when it was a fluke considering how everything went their way on the final sunday. The ea-girls really don't worry me at all. As long as they have 5, they are never winning a damn thing.

 

[Monster Heel]

Banner's not really going out on a limb. This is what all of the analysts and "experts" believe. Good thing is that since Eagles fell off of the NFC East mountain top in the mid part of this decade, the media crowned NFC East champion is never champion on anything aside from paper. I don't have a lot of faith in the Cowboys winning the division, but I really doubt that the Eagles will because they're the front runner and it just doesn't work like that in the East.

 

[SaltwaterServr]

I guess for me it is the loss of Jim Johnson and Brian Dawkins and both Tackles that has me believing they could struggle a bit. Plus McNabb has been injured 2 of the last 3 years.

Eli and company are steady. He has to get used to new WRs, but their Defense is getting back some critical pieces.

That would be one thing, but when those new WR's have to get used to the NFL as well it is quite another thing. Every rookie has some issues with adjusting to the level of competition and speed of the game at the NFL level.

It would be acceptable if Eli also didn't lose his #1 and #2 WR's, the same two #1 and #2's he's had almost his entire career, at the same time.

If would be another thing too if Eli without Plaxico (QB Rating of 69.6) weren't just slightly BELOW that of Rex Grossman's career (QB Rating of 70.2).

Now subtract Toomer, his go to safety valve from Day 1 of stepping on the field of New Jersey's kidney robbing soil, and I think the Vagiants are going to be fighting the Commanders tooth and nail for the cellar of the East.

 

[MONT17]

Totally agree. They are always greater than the sum of their parts.

I never thought of them individually as great. In fact, the past few seasons I viewed them as the least talented team in the division.

But great coaching, a winning attitude, and continuity breeds success.

If you assume healthiness for both teams, we're pretty much on equal footing with the Eagles.

QB:
Edge even

RB:
Edge Cowboys

WR:
Edge Eagles

TE:
Edge Cowboys

OL:
Even (two new guys at tackle will take some time to gel)

Front Seven:
Edge even

Secondary:
Edge Eagles

Of course that's my opinion. Talent-wise we're right with them. But football goes beyond talent. We have got to develop a winning culture here.

Now if we can get the Iggs to put their Offense on the field when the Boys have the ball we may have something!

 

[Chocolate Lab]

I think the Vagiants are going to be fighting the Commanders tooth and nail for the cellar of the East.

Chris Canty will not let this happen.

 

[CrazyCowboy]

Have they seen our roster?

 

[DallasEast]

"All of it had both personal and professional connections and they were tough decisions, emotionally difficult, and, frankly, a little scary," Banner said.

"I feel this year we have the best roster in the league," Banner said. "That's assuming everyone is healthy and standing at the end. You can only make a statement like that on the first day of training camp. After that, anything can happen."

Football is a capricious game. Its most important players can disappear on any play, and its most important moments are not decided best-of-seven. The careful plans and preparations can be blown apart in an instant. But you already knew that.

Banner also said he thought the Eagles had the NFL's best roster in 2003 and 2004 and even last season - "as crazy as it sounds given the way the regular season went" - he said he thought the roster ranked among the top three in the league.

"You get humbled over the years, but since I've been working in the league I don't think the best team has won the Super Bowl any year," Banner said. "You get a ball bouncing the wrong way, a bad call from the ref, a windy day when you plan to throw a lot. You lose once. Even if you get to the playoffs, and it's a year where most people would say you did really good, you don't feel satisfied. There are just too many things out of your control."

"I'm extremely excited about this team, the most I've been in a long time," Banner said.

"I work for an owner, and my job is to apply his philosophy. He says that making money as the owner of the Philadelphia Eagles means nothing, it doesn't change his life. But winning a championship would be a thrill that would change his life forever. Executing that philosophy is our focus," Banner said. "As for the rest, we're big boys. Getting criticized for how the team performs comes with the territory. But I don't like criticism of our character, our integrity and our commitment to winning. I can't tell you that doesn't bother me."

"The reality is that everybody's guessing what will happen," Banner said. "We're trying to give ourselves some flexibility down the road that may turn out to be worthless or it may have some value. We just don't know, but we're trying to be as prepared as possible."

"It's so hard to win a championship," Banner said. "There's so much more to it than just having the best team."

Banner is only saying things which he's been dying to say one day on Hard Knocks, but HBO keeps giving his team the cold shoulder.

 

[Phoenix-Talon]

What we have here (pause) ...is a failure to communicate (Quote from the movie Cool Hand Luke - AkA Paul Newman) ...

First, let me re-focus on the original topic: Eagles President Joe Banner Announces Eagles Roster as NFL's Best!

That said, ...of course the "owner" of a franchise is going to sell tickets to support his own investment; that's "Business 101." I wouldn't think any less of any other NFL Team owner if they did exactly the same thing. While I think it's good business to promote the team you own, I really think Joe Banner believes in his team. That's where it starts, from the top down to the person who takes care of the dirty laundry at the end of the games/practices.

Next, let's talk about various perspectives (ways to view a particular issue/matter). Someone said earlier that (paraphrasing) ...taking into consideration that the Eagles lost a key player in B-Dawk, and a Powerful leader/coach in Jim Johnson (acknowledged), that the Eagles should not be considered front-runners - that sounds a lot like a players concept.

Also, there's the we own the Coboys perspective; but that won't work ... because I'm not certain what "ownership" means (perhaps if we sweep a team in a previous year ...but there again, the Cowboys actually place 41 points on the board in a Cowboys win on September 15th (41-37); to me, that actually nulifies the Eagles 44-6 route on December 30th. Not to mention the Giants split with the Eagles and the Commanders sweep/ownership over the Eagles in 2008. All that indicates that we split with everyone except the Commanders. But does that mean that the Reskins should be placed over the Eagles in 2009 ...I think not! This would be considered a statistical perspective.

What else ...the "empty trophy case" perspective (I'm sure many of you will like that one) ...but it won't fly if you take into consideration that the Cowboys haven't won a playoff game with Romo since he replaced Bledsoe; and the Eagles can barely get past an NFC Championship/Superbowl. That's the "What have you done lately perspective."

Then there's the my team is the front-runner just because they are the Cowboys (or your team). That's the "Homer" perspective, or the "blow-it-off" whatever facts/stats or whatever ESPN or anyone else says ..."your" team will be the front-runner" perspective.

Whatever your reason(s), there are too many unknown factors that negate any fan to reasonably make any type of front-runner predictions. All I can say is that I like the Giants, Eagles, Cowboys and Commanders ...BTW, that's based on the 2008 NFC-East Standings!

GIANTS
EAGLES
COWBOYS
Commanders

Injuries/health, performance and coaching will be major factors at the end of the day.

PT

 

[Hostile]

PT...Jeffrey Lurie is the owner of the Eagles. Joe Banner is the team President.

 

[DallasEast]

PT...Jeffrey Lurie is the owner of the Eagles. Joe Banner is the team President.

I thought that Banner was some hitchhiker who got mad and turned green whenever he couldn't catch a ride

 

[TellerMorrow34]

I wouldn't expect the guy to say anything less. I mean what's he really going to say? They're a contending team so what's he going to say? "Oh I think we've got the 5th or 6th best roster in the league."

I'm not shocked he said this and frankly I'd find any owner, with a contending team, who didn't think their team was the best roster to be a complete idiot.

 

[DallasDomination]

The eagles might be our toughest opponent since they kind of have our number. But the Giants have the better roster and Defense. Personally I'm not scared or worried about anybody in our division. IF the Cowboys win there games at Home against the East and steals some on the road we'll be ok.

 

[burmafrd]

I am not sure the eagles have a real edge in the secondary now that Henry and Roy are gone. I think its pretty close to pickem.

 

[sonnyboy]

It's going to be an exciting race.

Eagles Positves:
They were playing some of the best football through Dec and January. They laid a serious beat down on the Cowboys and Giants they last time they faced each with everything on the line. Dawkins was a shell of his former self, his loss may actually turn out to be a positive. They've improved the roster this off-season for sure.

Negatives:
McNabb's health. No coincidence that McNabb has missed significant time in most of the recent seasons. Best part of his game has always been his physical strength. He's tough to bring down and would often shed a would be tackler to make a big throw or run. With advancing age, this has led to multiple games missed to injury.
Loss of Jim Johnson. I know he has a quality replacement and the system isn't changing. So there a decent chnace we see no fall off in the quality of coaching.
I'm guessing they do. Johnson has been on of the very best DC's for over a decade. Can't underestimate his ability here in game planning. His ability to dissect an opponent. Finding the weaknesses in their players and protection schemes. Generating a pass rush and defending the recievers routes more so with strategy than talent is second to none.

Giants Positives:
They've done it. As a team they have the confidence in knowing they can win a SB. They've won more games period over the past two season than any team in the division.
Best offensive line and best running game in the division. Very good and durable QB. Best defensive talent in the division. Excellent pass rushers and excellent cover people.

Giants Negatives:
Like the Cowboys, they finished weak after losing Burress. That loss and a serious lack of experience and talent at the receiver position is huge. Thier passing game presents no serious threat or anything special to account for. Manning is good and consistent, but he's immobile. You know were's he's going to be and it's easier to pass rush him because of it. And since their recievers command no special attention, it frees up more defenders to defeat their very good OL in both passing rushing and run defending situations.
Loss of Spagnulo. Don't think this will have the same impact as Johnson's loss, but it could.

If anyone questions the negative impact on our rivals of losing their DCs, consider our situation with Wade assuming the post mid season.

 

[Phoenix-Talon]

PT...Jeffrey Lurie is the owner of the Eagles. Joe Banner is the team President.

Thanks for the correction Hos ... It's unusual how there's no consistency within the "front Offce" top positions. For example ...

EAGLES EXECUTIVE ADMINISTRATION
Jeffrey Lurie Chief Executive Officer

Joe Banner President


Giants Executive Administration

John K. Mara, Chief Executive Officer

John K. Mara President

Commanders Executive Administration

Dan Snyder Owner/Preesident


Cowboys Executive Administration

Jerry Jones Owner

Jerry Jones President

Jerry Jones General Manager

 

[bayeslife]

Shawn Andrews has been a great OG. I am not convinced he will be a great OT. Jason Peters allowed a bunch of sacks last year for Buffalo. It won't shock me if they are good. It won't even shock me if they are great, because they are good football players. I need convincing first though.

You know what's funny is up in NJ, all the Eagles fans have to most ******** explanations to both Peters and Andrews. For Andrews, they believe because he's playing with his brother, that everything will be fine and dandy. For Peters (this one is great), they say "look at the division they're in! they have elite pass rushers, like Richard Seymour and... Mike Vrabel.. and, um.. well Jason Taylor isn't in Miami anymore... but they got elite guys!"

As if moving to a division where you must constantly be in a 1 on 1 battle with Ware and Umenyiora is any better. :laugh2:

 

[DallasEast]

Thanks for the correction Hos ... It's unusual how there's no consistency within the "front Offce" top positions. For example ...

EAGLES EXECUTIVE ADMINISTRATION
Jeffrey Lurie Chief Executive Officer

Joe Banner President


Giants Executive Administration

John K. Mara, Chief Executive Officer

John K. Mara President

Commanders Executive Administration

Dan Snyder Owner/Preesident


Cowboys Executive Administration

Jerry Jones Owner

Jerry Jones President

Jerry Jones General Manager

Wouldn't it have been simplier to have typed:

Giants Executive Administration

John K. Mara, Chief Executive Officer/President

and

Cowboys Executive Administration

Jerry Jones, Owner/President/General Manager

...just as you had with Danny Snyder

Many businesses, which co-habitate a particular industry, share similar yet different managerial structures. What exactly does that have to do with a particular executive's title(s)

 

[Arch Stanton]

Just when Snyder thinks he's won the offseason Superbowl along comes Banner to snatch it away. Who cares?

 

[DallasEast]

Just when Snyder thinks he's won the offseason Superbowl along comes Banner to snatch it away. Who cares?

Snyder and Banner.

 

[Hostile]

Thanks for the correction Hos ... It's unusual how there's no consistency within the "front Offce" top positions. For example ...

EAGLES EXECUTIVE ADMINISTRATION
Jeffrey Lurie Chief Executive Officer

Joe Banner President


Giants Executive Administration

John K. Mara, Chief Executive Officer

John K. Mara President

Commanders Executive Administration

Dan Snyder Owner/Preesident


Cowboys Executive Administration

Jerry Jones Owner

Jerry Jones President

Jerry Jones General Manager

Not all that complicated really PT. In your mind do Ford, Pepsi, and Nike all have the exact same executive titles? Football is a business. The titles are handed out as the Business sees fit and no two businesses, not even in the same sport, are exactly alike. Coke and Pepsi are run differently. Nike and Reebok are. Ford and Toyota are.