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Eagles Reach Rock Bottom

Watching the Eagles now, one has to wonder how they started the season 3-1.

They were blown out by the lowly Washington Redskins yesterday. The Redskins defense had been struggling mightily this season. As is their wont, the Eagles provided the elixir for whatever is ailing their opponents, playing inept offensively and committing three more turnovers.

Fans have not seen a team as dismal as this one is since 1998. They are absolutely terrible. Worse than how bad they are is how little they care. These games are almost unwatchable.

In his first start, Foles did some good things and some bad things. It is difficult to judge him while he is playing with this supporting cast. They are just horrendous. The offensive line is one of the worst units to ever line up in an NFL game.

Andy Reid, charged with helping his rookie QB succeed, produced a horrific gameplan, heavily reliant on short passes. The running game was largely ignored as usual. When they did run—as much with Bryce Brown as with All-Pro Lesean McCoy—every single play was a draw for some unknown reason.

The inept offense was backed up by as toothless a defense as this city has ever had the displeasure of watching. It added up to annihilation at the hands of a very bad Redskins team.

Andy Reid will be fired at the end of the season, if not before. He deserves to be. At that point, however, it will then become evident that the problem goes much deeper.

The source of the insidious rot disintegrating the team is its roster. It will take at least a couple years to turn that over, and the Eagles will have no chance of being successful during that time. The last time things were this bleak was 1998.

Andy Reid turned that team around in just two years. He never did get a Super Bowl ring, but there was lot of good football in his first 12 seasons. That is all over now.

If the Eagles brass makes another shrewd coaching hire, this team could be horrendous for only another year and a half. If they don't, it could be a lot longer.

Reed Rothchild

10:02 am on Monday, November 19, 2012

Well said. Especially: "The offensive line is one of the worst units to ever line up in an NFL game."

Now each and every fan has no choice but to face the dismal reality of the current Philadelphia Eagles organization. Besides a select few players the only answer is an eventually cleaning house from top to bottom within the staff & players. After this season we can only go up, but it's up to the Jeff Laurie to choose the right people to steer this pathetic ship in the right direction.

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Mike Diviney

10:09 pm on Monday, November 19, 2012

VERY important hire coming up. Don't like the Roseman got an extension thru the next 4 years. If they get a legit guy, it will energize the team for a time, but for real success, it will take time, roster turnover and better talent evaluation.

John Medero

10:02 am on Monday, November 19, 2012

Please let the nightmare end that is the Philadelphia Eagles Football team 2012.
I have been a fan since 19988, and can tell you that the team of this year is the worse
ever. No guts, heart, spirit, or honor, out there in the football field.
If Andy Reid had any self respect and truth in himself, then he will resign this week and just end the Bull S%^t.

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Mike Diviney

10:08 pm on Monday, November 19, 2012

That's not in his nature. He'll never quit. He'll grind to the nth degree, but unfortunately, it's not doing any good.

Jack Walden

10:54 am on Monday, November 19, 2012

After watching the past few weeks, it is hard to believe that this team was able to win three games. I think Nick Foles could be a decent quarterback, but with that offensive line, I don't think he is getting a fair evaluation.
As for Andy Reid, I can't imagine waht he is going through. We all know he works hard and long hours. What does he think when he sees the result of all his efforts?

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Mike Diviney

10:07 pm on Monday, November 19, 2012

Andy's work ethic is beyond question. I imagine he is as confused and bewildered as the fans are. This is a business and he will be fired, deservedly so. I'm telling you though, I think the problem is this mix of players. They are un-coachable because they aren't nearly as good as they think they are. Will take awhile to get any better.

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Porterincollingswood

7:55 am on Tuesday, November 20, 2012

And scheme. The wide 9 has to go, it's a joke. A gimmick system that everyone knows how to beat. It belongs on Madden '94 or the PAC 10, RGIII went through it like it wasn't even on the field.

Mudd has to go, he can't coach. Anyone can look good with Peyton Manning at QB. He's a fraud. Numerous OL we let go because they couldn't get his "scheme" are now starting elsewhere - 3 of them on Indy. Meanwhile, we start Jake Scott off the street because the 26 year old fireman we drafted in the first round can't handle NFL play.

mathforeveryone

7:02 am on Tuesday, November 20, 2012

I think it's interesting that a couple of players would like Andy to stop taking blame and place it on them. Maybe some of the guys who are playing hard would like the coach to "call out" some of the guys who aren't. There obviously is a lack of leadership and accountability amongst the players and some guys just aren't the type to confront other players. I believe that because most players aren't professional enough to go about their business making all of that money the only real way to get their attention is sometimes to embarrass them in the media. Andy would never do that in the past, but things have changed with athletes even over the last 5 years.

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Porterincollingswood

7:46 am on Tuesday, November 20, 2012

There's a lack of leadership and accountability at all levels, that's the problem. We have an absentee owner that never ran a business or had a serious job, he just doesn't know what to do as a leader.

Guy blows multiple drafts, and gets an extension (this was going to be Nate Allen's "year" just like most of the 00's were going to be LJ Smith's "year").

Same problems on display every week for 14 years, coach says he'll fix them...they never get fixed.

The one thing the franchise did in a competent manner recently was have cap space and flip C- QB's for high picks. The guy who did that was the one to be shown the door.

We have no football people in the front office. At least Jerry Jones played the game.

And when you build a team of mercenaries (because you blew multiple drafts) you're damn right they're going to be out there playing for money. That's who they are.

Andy has been a C- coach for at least four seasons, and he's been a D+ one for the last two. But he's now become dangerous, wrecking franchise assets like McCoy in some vain attempt to improve his resume for next year.

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Mike Diviney

8:13 pm on Tuesday, November 20, 2012

I think things changed with athletes 20 yrs ago, not 5. You can't start arguing in the press, it becomes a circus. Don't know what the answer is.

Porterincollingswood

7:48 am on Tuesday, November 20, 2012

Does anyone trust Roseman with a top 5 pick? This could set the franchise back 5 years.

Rock bottom is good. It's an opportunity. But, as we saw with the 76ers after Iverson was dealt, you have to carefully manage the recover. And it's slow and painful. No quick fixes (Igoudala) or big contracts (Delambert). Draft and cultivate young talent. Hopefully Foles is a start.

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Mike Diviney

8:17 pm on Tuesday, November 20, 2012

Porter back with a bang. Come on man, as bad as things are now, you can't say they've all been buffoons all those yrs they were winning 10+ games. We don't know Banner engineered the QB trades that netted us draft picks. I do strongly agree with your opinion on Mudd. Losing 4 starters is extreme, but they had no legit backups because of his odd scheme. And mercenaries NEVER work in football- ask Dan Snyder.

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Porterincollingswood

8:02 am on Wednesday, November 21, 2012

The last few drafts have been disasters, and they align with the ascent of Roseman and the decline of Banner. We have special teamers starting at key positions. And our special teams are devoid of any talent.

This is the worst defense I have ever seen - at least the mercs that Kotite had (Millard, Townsend) could play.

Jamie Lyons

11:48 am on Tuesday, November 20, 2012

Wasn’t this the same team that claimed they were the “Dream Team” last season? Too bad they have turned out to be a nightmare!

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Porterincollingswood

12:44 pm on Tuesday, November 20, 2012

Some d-list QB who here for 5 minutes said that. What's your point?

Phil McConkey

3:02 pm on Tuesday, November 20, 2012

The next coach of the Eagles won't be around long... 2 years tops then he'll be fired for not winning quickly enough because the fans will start complaing led by their fearless complaing leader Angelo Cataldi (how is this guy still on the radio?)so hopefully they have enough sense to just put some lame duck cordinator as coach for the next 2 years and not go out and spend big money on a big name at first..

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Reed Rothchild

4:31 pm on Tuesday, November 20, 2012

Beat IT Phil!! Any comment about the Eagles from a Giants fan, regardless of the content, is just blowing Angelo Cataldi style hot air. The reason he has a show and you can post on this message board is b/c it's a free country and the majority of the population is complete and utter morons. Especially people who listen to AM radio. It doesn't always matter who the coach is or how good the team is. Coughlin, Eli and the Giants proved its mostly about getting "hot" and extremely lucky. EliManningFace

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Porterincollingswood

4:48 pm on Tuesday, November 20, 2012

Like the annual "fire Coughlin" drumbeat that existed until he won you a 2nd Lombardi?

Don't worry, we'll see those headlines and hear those WFAN calls in a few seasons. The league figured out that every play is a deep ball to Victor Cruz*.

*Still works a shocking amount of the time given everyone knows its coming

Mike Diviney

8:18 pm on Tuesday, November 20, 2012

I'm with you Reed and Porter. F Phil.

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Larry O'Doyle

8:55 am on Wednesday, November 21, 2012

I was taking my daily jog over the Ben Franklin yesterday ruminating about the immediate and long-term future of our beloved green franchise. I suddenly found myself hunched over the railing, staring deep into the murky brown waters of the Delaware in search of answers. After some time, I realized I had better chance of seeing the floating corpse of a dead prostitute than finding any cures for our infected football team in this reflective cesspool.
First off, anyone who says "Andy should resign now" are the same guys who would turn around and bash him for quitting on his team. This season is over, but I would lose all respect I have left for Andy if he bailed now. True character is revealed by adversity and Andy's character is the only thing he can leave here with intact. He is a man with a heavy passing problem and he needs help. Howie Roseman should be relieved of his duties immediately following the season as well but then who would Jeffrey have to hide behind?

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Mike Diviney

11:27 pm on Wednesday, November 21, 2012

Your weekly drawn-out analogy/metaphor is insightful as usual, as well as entertaining. Gotta be cold on that bridge in the early-morning hours. Roseman is a big problem. He positioned himself as Andy's little brother so once Andy's gone, where does he stand. Andy will be fired, but the man has character and a great work ethic- those universal attributes work anywhere, at least for awhile.

Porterincollingswood

9:59 am on Wednesday, November 21, 2012

Problem solved, they fired the VP of Communications this morning. Now the defense and play calling will improve. Unreal.

My guess is that this guy mistakenly believed he worked for a real company / business owner and thought Lurie owed the paying customers some respect in the form of a statement. Or maybe he thought that, as the PR guy, he should be allowed to do his job and address the concerns of the fan base (who are in the process of spending money on Eagles jerseys, hats, and t-shirts for Christmas gifts).

But no. This isn't a real business. It's a fantasy football team operated by a trust fund baby. And he owes no one anything. He has zero regard for those who have supported it all their lives.

Remember that when you see that Eagles merchandise at the malls.

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Mike Diviney

11:28 pm on Wednesday, November 21, 2012

Yeah, what was that firing all about. I'd like to know what caused that- chances are, we never will. Maybe he was the one who turned up the PA system and WOULDN'T TURN IT DOWN!!

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