August 5, 2011

Enough Philly Talk Already

By - Kris Fletcher

The 2011 NFL season hasn't even officially started yet, and I'm already sick of hearing about the Philadelphia Eagles.

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Besides, I don't really see how being called "the Miami Heat of the NFL" is a positive in the first place. If memory serves me correctly, the Heat didn't win the title this year, so if by comparing the two people mean they're a talent laced team that will probably come up short, I can agree with that.

Don't get me wrong, I can appreciate what the Eagles are trying to do. They've had a good free agency period and have definitely improved their roster, but for folks to be referring to them as a "dream team" is just absolutely ridiculous. If picking up big name free agents in the off-season automatically turned you into a "super team," the Washington Redskins would have won the Super Bowl eight out of the last ten seasons.

Since the lockout finally came to an end, Philadelphia has added Nnamdi Asomugha, Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, Jason Babin, Cullen Jenkins, Ronnie Brown and Vince Young. Some solid additions obviously, but I wouldn't really call any of these guys huge difference makers.

Not to mention the fact that the Eagles still have their fair share of question marks at other key positions, like offensive line, where they struggled mightily at times in protecting the quarterback last season.

Plus, how will year two of the Michael Vick project play out exactly? No one could have envisioned he would play at the level he played at most of last year, and I don't expect him to play at that same level this season. The one thing defenses in this league do more than anything else is adjust, so rest assured, Vick won't be seeing the same type of schemes he saw last year. His maturation process as a quarterback had better be in overdrive.

Photo by: Getty Images
On paper, from a talent standpoint, I would still put Philadelphia behind the Green Bay Packers, New Orleans Saints and Atlanta Falcons in the NFC. Add the AFC to the mix, and the Eagles barely crack my top ten. Sorry if that puts me in the minority in not wanting to crown them Super Bowl XLVI champions just yet.

7 comments:

  1. PatrickAugust 5, 2011 at 6:24 PM

    I completely agree. They've picked up some good players, but they are far from being some sort of dream team. Way overhyped at this point.

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  2. RaekwonAugust 5, 2011 at 8:39 PM

    Love Vick and the Eagles, I just hope that all this dream team stuff doesn't put so much pressure on them that they end up folding once the season gets going.

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  3. Jammar BAugust 5, 2011 at 9:11 PM

    stop hatin on philly brah. they loaded & goin all the way this year. vick gonna be mvp.

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  4. Kris FletcherAugust 5, 2011 at 10:51 PM

    I'm not hatin' on anyone. I said I can appreciate what they're trying to do.

    Having said that, the people they've picked up are nowhere near as great as everyone's making them out to be, so all this "dream team" stuff is a joke.

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  5. Alan HaddockAugust 6, 2011 at 1:56 AM

    Eagles are ALL HYPE dude. Vick MVP?! Thats not gonna happen. Be lucky if they go 9-7!

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  6. Daniel PottsAugust 6, 2011 at 7:53 AM

    I like what the Eagles have done, but I agree the whole dream team thing is a tad bit much.

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  7. George VietoAugust 6, 2011 at 4:11 PM

    The season has not started yet guys. Just hope you don't trip over your capes.

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