Lost ground - Believe there's truth is this component of your opinion. But the "lost ground" you refer to was attributed to a certain Mr. Owens; coupled with multiple injuries in key players. Admittedly, our OL and other positions needed tweaking -- a problem that has, at least for the most part, been resolved.
Well if the argument holds true with TO coming to Dallas and making them better, it also holds true with making your team worse when he left. It's no denying that it was a better team before he stopped playing for you guys.
Reggie Brown is not even on the same level, and like any rookie WR, he looked lost last year.
Westbrook, as effective he was last year is not a between the tackles, 20+ carry back. He never was, and he never will be. You guys are relying on Correl Buckhalter to carry the load, and he hasn't been healthy for years. Reid is becoming stubborn in his drafting of RB's. Moats was a good addition, but you guys need a big back, and what does he do, gets another in the Bryan Westbrook mold.
Your defense wasn't the same without Simon last year, and it showed. Sometimes your organization being so cheap only hurts you, and it's starting to catch up. At some point you can't let all of your good players go because it's going to cost you. You dont hit on every draft pick, but it seems Philly has gotten arrogant enough to think that they do this now.
I agree that Philly had some bad luck with injuries, but how bad were the injuries when you came into Texas Stadium and got your *** handed to you early on in the season. If you really think a few guys coming back here and there, and the little bit you guys did on OL will close hte gap that was blwon up last year, you are mistaken. NY, Washington, Dallas, all got substantially better this off season. Philly is sitting there hoping a buch of 30 somethings will come back and be better than ever.(you can say what you want about Bledsoe Glenn and Owens, the rest of our team is young).
Phoenix-Talon said:
NFC East cought up - That's actually a good thing for the NFCE. We're more dreaded among the other divisions and the AFC Conference; and the rest of the NFL in general. That said, the Eagles have made strides toward improving as well -- don't underestimate the Eagles based on their 2005 performance.
It may be good for the NFCE, but it isnt good for the Eagles. Half the reason the Eagles were able to have so much success over the last few years has to do with the ease of the division. When you're guaranteed 4-6 wins just in your diviision, that helps you out alot. Now that you are going to be hard pressed to win 3, you're going to have a real tough time.
Phoenix-Talon said:
Sometimes I don't know where you're coming from BB! I mean really ..."Many people are predicting..." (many people = the media); "McNabb is great; but he has to stay healthy..." (are you joking here? That's true for every QB, and every player in the entire NFL, AFL, and NFL in Europe). By that, I mean you really haven't said anything that doesn't hold true to everyone.
I agree that I made a captain obvious statement right htere. But come on, you can't accuse me of getting my info from the media, and then turn around and point out I am going completetly against what they are saying. Yeh he needs to stay healthy. But he was nagged all of last year.
Your statement is both profiund and honorable as an opponent fan. But in reality ...you, my friend, are in for a rude awakening if you honestly believe that!
Yeh, I bet some of them will pan out. But you guys had some holes to fill last year (Corey Simon) and none of your rookies stepped in, whereas teams like NY Washington and Dallas all had solid contributiosn from rookies.
Truth be told, I believe that the Eagles are much stronger than the paper you're reading off of implies. I'm not prepared to go player for player to qualify what I'm saying, but you must not discount the Eagles in your assessment of tough ...as it applies to the NFCE. You can't always get a good picture of outcomes by looking at the radar screen, or listening to rumors.
I dont listen to rumors. This is my own oppinion. And my oppinion has nothing to do with last year, last year only helps show that Philly isn't the best team in the NFC East anymore.
It wasn't a personal assault on you, just the fact that somebody has to finnish last in the division, and based on last year, the offseason moves of all the teams in the division, Philly looks the most likely to finnish 4th.