Does anyone else feel the pressure being lifted? Last night's loss gave me a sense of ease and I finally slept great.

The pressure of the "Dream Team" talk and the expectations seemed to give me an extra bit of tension during each game. ESPN and NFL Network jumping on the bandwagon after we beat the Cowboys. This gave the team added pressure. A false sense of, "We're the best in the NFC."

I really hate loving the Eagles as much as I do because it almost gives me an ulcer before and during each game. I pace around the room hoping to not get embarrassed in a game we should win. Mid-season mediocracy when we had McNabb was always the culprit for a sleepless night. We could always count on a week 7 or week 8 burn out, giving us the feeling our coaches and players just gave up. I would sit up at night and read everything I could just to get my spirits back up and give me some confidence for the next game.

I can finally say I feel no more pressure. I'm not saying the season is over, but the pressure is definitely off now. Maybe the players and coaches should feel the same thing. We aren't expected to win the Super Bowl, so can we finally do so experimenting with these corners? Can we finally accept the fact we need linebackers? Can we accept the fact Desean isn't a top five wideout?

With these things accepted maybe we can finally let our players talk to the coaches and make some changes in this defense. For me, I can finally sleep during the football season.

via static.nfl.com

I'm watching the Broncos game a couple weeks ago against the Titans and the announcers were talking about Dawkins becoming a coach after he retires. They asked him if he would ever consider coaching after his contract was up. From what the announcers said, Brian wants to coach but he wants to coach high school football first. His son, Brian Jr., plays high school football and Dawkins wants to coach him.

This was kind of heartbreaking because I was hoping to see Dawk here in a couple years as a defensive back coach. I know the transition wouldn't be hard for a player of his caliber, I see Deuce here doing some running back coaching. I hope whoever is the head coach remembers what Dawk did in Philly and gives him a chance.

So, those of you hoping to see Dawk here anytime soon are going to be disappointed. It will probably be 4-5 years before Dawk coaches anywhere.

I know, he's not Jim Johnson. He doesn't have blitz packages like Jim Johnson. The simple truth is, he doesn't have the personnel that Jim Johnson had either. Look at our defense right now. We have Samuel and Cole as our standout players. Who's our next big player after that? We just don't have the players yet. 

JJ had people like Trotter, Dawkins, Vincent, Taylor, Douglas, Sheppard, Brown, and Simon; just to name a few. These players were some of the greatest in Eagles' history. Our players are simply not ready or are not here yet. 

We had our days of great defenses. Then we bitched about our offense. So we drafted a great offense. Our offense is there, but McDermott needs to get his personnel in here. Give him another year, I think he's going to change some minds here. If Graham and Nate Allen can stay healthy and we pick up another stud LB, maybe pick up Asomugha we'll have a defense that will be second to none. 

Our defense did not look that bad today. We held GB's great offense to 21 points and 171 passing yards and got big 2 turnovers. We didn't capitalize and that's the bottom line.

McDermott should not be the excuse here, Vick threw a huge interception, we missed 2 FG's our running game was none existent and we dropped big passes all day. Our defense kept us in this game if anything.

In an absolute shocking event, we find out Dez bryant really is an a**hole. I don't think this was much of a shock to most of Eagles' fans but I wonder how the Cowboys' fans are taking this. Dez told the media he was here to play football not to carry someone else's pads. Roy Williams said if he didn't carry his pads they would go into phase 2. This meant they would get ahold of his credit cards and charge gas and food on them.

This is all part of the rookie hazing. Apparently Dez Bryant is above these ritualistic jokes played on rookies in the NFL. I think most of the hazing ends after training camp, then you're accepted into the group. I don't know if this has happened much in the NFL, but it's not surprising that it's a Cowboy going against the grain. 

via i122.photobucket.com

So I'm home right now listening to 610 WIP.  I don't know if I've ever heard more hatred towards a person, and more biased journalism in my life.  

Basically it goes down like this (610 WIP) "Ok caller tell us what you think about the Mike Vick signing" (Caller) I think it's horrible he should be in prison for life or better yet, put him in a cage with 3 hungry dogs and let them fight it out" (610 WIP) " We couldn't agree more, he's a sick person and shouldn't be a part of society, thanks for the call you're a genious" (610 WIP) "Ok caller tell us what you think about this stupid signing by the Eagles" (Caller) I think he deserves another cha...*CLICK* (610 WIP) "HANG UP ON THAT IDIOT, YOUR OPINION IS DUMB!  We've talked to millions of Eagles fans and they're all giving away their tickets.  You're and idiot for calling!"  It has basically been going on all night like this.

Merrill called in and didn't say anything about the signing being stupid or bad the for the Eagles and they just laughed after he called and basically said "See even Merrill's on board with us on this subject." UGH. They even had a fan call in and say he didn't want us to win the Super Bowl if Vick was on this team.

I don't know if they screen calls and only let the controversial callers that support their cause through, but they definitely got to speak their minds and weren't hung up on.  They also weren't called idiots after they were disconnected.

I hope that the fan base isn't saying this around the Philly area.  It seems like we've handled it pretty good here.

I just posted something about this on another fanpost, but I wanna see what other people think about this subject.  I don't think animal lovers can ever forgive Vick for this crime.  That's sad.  

Now I don't think torturing animals is right, but we have to remember he wasn't a child killer or a human killer for that matter.  People just can't let it go.  

I sometimes think we as humans have screwed up values.  We aren't calling for Donte Stallworth's head, or Ray Lewis' to be killed. Should we kill all hunters or people that work at a meat locker?  I mean think about this, people in PETA want Vick dead.  Vick was in talks with PETA to become a spokesman for them? What does that say about them?  He's working with the humane society, traveling around the country talking to people about this matter, and has paid his debt to society? What will it take?

I had an argument at work about this.  A lady told me that you can't blame any dog for being vicious, it's the owners fault and the owner should be prosecuted for having a bad dog. Then i asked her "If your child killed someone or beat someone up, should you the parent be prosecuted for being a bad parent?" her answer laughing "NO!  Why would I be responsible for my child's actions?"  Don't we see how our priorities and values are flip flopped on this matter?  

I'm ok with them if they give Donte a second chance, Ray Lewis, and Vick being given second chances.  Have any of us ever made a mistake that we think we've paid for?  Even if this mistake wasn't that big to us it could be huge in someone else's eyes.  Should you be persecuted for the rest of your life for a mistake you think you've paid for?

So i'm on the DallASS forum and i'm reading some of our posts on there.  One of the guys claims "i bet you would trade your recent success for our 5 rings."  

Well actually no I wouldn't.  I wouldn't trade what our team is doing now for 5 rings from the past because those 5 rings don't do much for you now in the present time. Except for bragging rights which really comes down to Dallas and SF now since Pittsburgh won its 6th and since Dallas hasn't won anything since '96.

I love what we're doing over here in Philly.  I love our future and I love our present.  I also love what we've done in the last 10 years.  So would i trade our present status as a team for their measly existence as a team right now? NO!

Dallas' future doesn't look good. They have a QB that can't win a playoff game much less a game that has any pressure or meaning to his team.  Their draft this year was a complete and utter joke, except for the Raiders they had laughing stock of a draft. Their defense is suspect and shotty.  They have a coach in Wade Phillips who has no control over his team and an owner who only looks to the NOW not the future, which really shown through when he made that ridiculous trade for Roy Williams.

So I'll post the question again...Would you trade our teams recent glory for their 5 rings?

This kid looks really great.  I know we wanted a big blocking TE, however this kid might be what we thought LJ Smith was gonna bring to us.

NFL.com's scouting report says he's one of the best athletic players in the draft at his position. Florida considered him the best athlete in the football program.

From NFL.com

At Hawthorne High School, Ingram was rated a four-star athlete and the 11th-best quarterback prospect in the nation by TheInsiders.com and was a member of that recruiting service's Hot 100 list. He also was listed as a four-star athlete and a Top 100 pick by Rivals.com, who rated him the third-best quarterback prospect, in addition to placing him on their Southeast Elite 88 list.

Ingram was ranked as the best quarterback and overall player on the GatorCountry.com Top 101 list. The two-time Class 1A All-State selection in both football and basketball, he threw for more than 1,400 yards and 22 touchdowns in 2003. For the hoops squad, he averaged more than 25 points per game as a shooting guard during his junior season.

I really think if this kid wasn't hurt his entire 2008 season he could've went mid to late 2nd round or early 3rd.  He's humbled by his injury and can't wait to get here and play.  I think this could be the TE we've needed.

I know i know blocking but we have a great O-Line this year and this kid will spread the field and can go over the middle.

This draft pick put the icing on the cake for me.  Get excited cuz i think he's the real deal.

I hope this year we don't boo our first pick or any pick.  I can't argue this point enough with Dallas' fans "you guys didn't even want McNabb you booed him at the draft". I wasn't there that day, I didn't boo him. However i'm in the mix because of that small batch of fans that were there booing DMac.

UGH I remember it vividly...I was workin at a Dairy Queen for the summer and i remember not wanting Ricky. I can honestly say i wanted a QB I wanted DMac. I was arguing the point with a stupid Vikings' fan at the time how we need a QB and Donovan looked good. He said "if you guys don't pick up Rickey you're idiots".

I think we had Rodney Peete starting for us and I for one couldn't stand him. I still cringe when I think about those Peete years. Those were bad times my friends.

I hate watching the draft EVERY YEAR and them showing the DMac draft pick.  It shows the Eagles fans screaming and yelling at Donovan and him just holding his jersey smiling, taking it. The guy with the painted face screaming "COME ON".

Those fans spoke volumes for us.  That day showed the media and the NFL just how dumb "we" can be as fans and they reference that video before every draft day just to show us that point.

I'm not bashing those fans, but us as a whole. So please don't boo this year, we just might be booing our next Brian Dawkins, DMac, Reggie White, or whomever he may be.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kBJEfmQA9q4

It really takes the suspense out of the draft when we know who the first and sometimes second pick in the draft is.  It takes so much suspense out of the draft. Now i don't care if they signed him without telling us the fans but i really don't wanna know until draft day.

I remember waiting for the draft all morning arguing with my friends on who would be the first 5 picks and why.

Now we know ahead of time? Why? It doesn't make alot of sense (unless it's because of money) to make your pick before the draft.  Obviously it's not about money this year AGAIN, because they broke another salary record on an unproven pre-NFL player.

Some teams may have been interested in trading a player or some picks for your #1 overall.  I'm sure that all that has been taken into consideration but i'd really like to know to what advantage it is to sign before the draft.

If anyone knows please let me and others that may have the same question know.

I reposted this because it was only on the forum page for about 10 minutes before it was pushed off the page.  I think it was a hot news day about Cutler maybe so i reposted it hoping that more of you comment on it.  Maybe i'll get roasted for this because i don't know the forum rules, but here it is.

Does Philly have any players on the team that would be stars anywhere else?

 I personally love Hank Baskett and think he could be a star.  I'm not saying that Philly doesnt use him right, but the guy could be a great player somewhere else.

I also really like Joe Mayes i've heard alot of great things about this guy that he has a nose for the ball, but hes really small for an NFL linebacker and I dont think he gets his chances in the NFL because of it.

I think Lito will be great now that he's out of Philly. Not to say that he didnt do great things in Philly but he definately wasnt up to par his last year or two here.

It's yet to be seen but i think if Kevin Kolb was somewhere else he would be a big name QB.  All you hear about this kid is that hes a great player.  I'm sure we'll find out in the next couple years, but his name should be thrown out there.

Jason Avant is another player that is getting better and better and i think its because he's playing more. If he had played more earlier i think he might be a standout player in Philly.

 I hope Buck has success, because i really think he was a great RB and would've been a star here if it wasnt for Westbrook. I know he had all those bad years, but when he was healthy CBuck was a great asset to us and i think we're gonna miss him.

Quintin Mikell is a known name here in Philly, but he isn't known by anyone outside our fandom.  I really think having BDawk here put Quitin in his shadow.  If he had played in Dallas (god forbid) or say Chicago i think he would have a bigger name than he does.

Or maybe not who knows

Are there any Dallas' players that you wished played in Philly? I know this is really hard to say and if there are any Dallas' fans reading this they will gloat, but are there any?

I hated Aikman, Irvin, and Emmit.  In fact to this day I still don't think Emmit is the best ever just because of the record.

I just didn't like Aikman and i don't think he would've fit in as an Eagle.  He just didn't have it in my opinion.

I know for certain that Irvin wouldn't have made it in Philly. I just can't look at him any other way than just a Cowboy. I can't even begin to imagine him being an Eagle.

Emmit is different, he didn't have the arrogance or cockiness that the other two had. He was quiet and cool and was very gracious.  Even him being those things I didn't like him and thought his success came from that awesome front line.  Imagine what Barry Sanders would've done in Dallas for those same years. I will admit that although he was good i don't think Emmit would've been what he is today had he been an Eagle.

One of the players i wish we had is TE Jason Witten.  This guy has put up great numbers against us.  He's not only a good player but seems to be a good stand-up guy that doesn't talk trash.  I like that and respect him for it.

Another player I will admit i wish we had gotten is Deion Sanders.  "Prime Time"...his name said it all.  He could play both sides of the field, and he was exciting to watch when he was around the ball.

 I remember seeing him in the draft when Atlanta signed him with all his bling, his cockiness, his arrogance.  You just knew he was gonna be great. I remember when Dallas got him, I was so jealous. Every time that guy touched the ball it was a highlight in the making. Not to mention his baseball career albeit wasn't that great he still was fun to watch.

These are the only two Dallas players  in my era as a fan of the Eagles that i wish we would've signed. I'm sure there are a few others, but i've only been a fan since '88.

Flame on loyal Eagles' Fans.

Since BDawk signed with Denver, i've really been thinking about how many Broncos games i'll be watching this year just because of Dawk.  So i started to think..if McNabb or Westbrook got traded to another team, would we still follow them? Would we boo them if they came here to play? If they came to Philly and crushed us would we hate them?

 I know it really depends on the team they went to, such as Dallas or any NFC East team, or Carolina (i really started hating them after the 2003 NFC championship game Delhomme was talking so much trash).  

I know when BDawk comes to town we'll give him a standing ovation, but i'm not sure about McNabb. I think its because he just never felt like an Eagle.  He didnt seem to bleed green like Dawk.  He didnt seem to take the losses to heart and the wins didnt seem important.  Westbrook is a fan favorite but i dont know if he'd be missed as much as Dawk.  For some reason we really stood behind him (Dawkins).

 I dont wanna see McNabb or Westbrook go anywhere but i'm still feeling the loss of Brian.  I hope when and if Donovan and Westbrook  dont retire as Eagles that we will be respectful and not boo them. Unless of course they request a trade to go to Dallas, then we can hate them as much as possible.  

I hope Donovan knows that we need him here and we dont wanna see him go, but dammit give us something to stand behind. Give us some Philly pride, and when asked about being traded you dont let Deion Sanders speak for you.  Stick up for your fanbase because when your an Eagle, we may boo you, but dammit we dont let any other non-Eagle fans do it.

Ok..so i'm online arguing with a guy about our Eagles and his POWER-ARGUMENT (and every cowboy fan's argument) is how many rings do the Eagles have?  Had i known this was gonna be every Cowboys closing statement i would've starting liking another team such as the Steelers. (NOT REALLY)  Every argument from them ends with this key line.  My comeback is usually "what have they done for you lately?"  I mean this Dallas team hasnt won a playoff game since what 96? And i still have to listen to this crap? We all know that losing in the playoffs sucks, but its still better having a chance to go to the Super Bowl than losing in the first round or not even going. But is this a good enough argument for them? NO! So i need some help and some bullet points to use against them. Please help, i'm surrounded by Dallas and Vikings here in South Dakota.

yes we have running water here.

Does Philly have any players on the team that would be stars anywhere else?

 I personally love Hank Baskett and think he could be a star.  I'm not saying that Philly doesnt use him right, but the guy could be a great player somewhere else.

I also really like Joe Mayes, i've heard alot of great things about this guy, that he has a nose for the ball, but hes really small for an NFL linebacker and I dont think he gets his chances in the NFL because of it.

I think Lito will be great now that he's out of Philly. Not to say that he didnt do great things in Philly but he definately wasnt up to par his last year or two here.

It's yet to be seen but i think if Kevin Kolb was somewhere else he would be a big name QB, all you hear about this kid is that hes a great player.  I'm sure we'll find out in the next couple years but his name should be thrown out there.

Jason Avant is another player that is getting better and better and i think its because he's playing more. If he had played more earlier i think he might be a standout player in Philly.

 I hope Buck has success because i really think he was a great RB, and would've been a star here if it wasnt for Westbrook. I know he had all those bad years, but when he was healthy CBuck was a great asset to us and i think we're gonna miss him.

Quintin Mikell is a known name here in Philly but he isnt known by anyone outside our fandom.  I really think having BDawk here put Quitin in his shadow.  If he had played in Dallas (god forbid) or say Chicago i think he would have a bigger name than he does.

Or maybe not who knows

I personally love all of our players, but would trade Sean Jones for Brian Dawkins. lol ok.. I really love all of our players that are superstars, but would you trade any of them for another player of the same position? such as Brian Westbrook for LT? or McNabb for P. Manning? Asante for C. Bailey? i dont know if i would trade anyone we have for another, but i do know that our "superstars" aren't getting any younger and i hope the window hasnt closed on our Super Bowl chances, but its interesting to think that maybe if it has closed maybe would could upgrade for younger up-and-coming stars.  I'm a real big fan of A. Cromartie from San Diego or S. Holmes from Pittsburgh and C. Johnson our of Tennessee. These are just a few and i know theres more, but i'm tired and i'm going to bed.

When i mean how many have they made? i dont mean how many have they drafted? I mean how many have they had on their team via draft, free agency, and pre-Andy Reid coaching staff that were on the team before they got here.  In my count i say we have BDawk, McNabb, and Runyan.  I know i've missed a few, so help me out. We have had a couple players at the end of their careers and 1 that is a sure HOF'er but destroyed out team chemistry.  I dont think these should count because they were probably in there anyway.  I've only been a fan since '88 so i get a few of these players/coaches tandums mixed up.  I would also like to mention that Westbrook is on his way, Asante could be one of the greats, Trott was great, Vincent and Taylor were also mentionables.

the biggest loss in my opinion in Philly history (Dawkins) is making us forget about our offensive needs.  Remember when we were all bitching about our WR needs? I think the news about Dawk made us forget McNabb needs help here.  We have a great up and coming WR in Desean, another great number 2 in Curtis and a guy who i love Hank Baskett.  But we dont have a real number 1 yet. We need a Fitzgerald type receiver now.  Westbrook isnt getting any better and in my opinion hasnt been effective because we havent got a great receiving corps.  Our tight ends stink and cant block anything so lets go out and get a big number 1 PLEASE.  McNabb has every right to be weary about the FO.