With the way this team has played over the last two seasons, it's becoming more and more clear that the 2008 run was merely an abberation (something I think we've all known for a while but have been hesitant to admit).  The result of this abberation has been for the front office and the fan base to declare a rebuilding process that was far from over, indeed over.

Just one year removed from being the worst team in the NHL, Homer agressively retooled the team to put them in a position to be competitive again.  That 2007-08 team surpassed all expectations in the playoffs, leaving us all feeling that we were on the brink of a cup.  Many of us forget how...well...lucky for lack of a better word we were in those playoffs. 

We beat Washington in a 7 game series when the two teams (and the whole series) could not have been more equal.  While the Flyers deserve credit for gutting it out and winning, that series was more or less a toss up.  In Montreal we could have easily gotten swept 4-0 had it not been for Biron and Umberger playing out of their minds.  We were outplayed for long stretches of every game in that series yet the aformentioned two players constantly bailed them out.  Now again, the Flyers certainly deserve credit for the win because they did play their asses off, but the fact remains that had it not been for two unsuspecting players playing the best week and a half of Hockey of their lives, the Flyers would not have been close in that series.  Then came the Ptitsburgh series and we all know how that one turned out...

SInce then the Flyers have been a model of inconsistency.  The only prolonged stretch of good play that I can remember was last season before the all-star break.  From the second half of last year into this year it has been constant ups and downs.  These constant stretches of inconsistency (and at times flat out terrible play) are not a good team playing poorly...its a slightly above average team playing slightly above average hockey.

To try and correct this problem the Flyers brought in a veteran monster defenseman.  Management has fired the coach and  called out the players for lack of focus time and time again and yet nothing has worked.  In my opinion the problem is much more internal than that.  Its the general attitude of the team thats followed that 2008 ECF run.

The theme within this team during the 2007-08 season seemed to be a burning desire to prove to the rest of the league that the previous season was an abberation.  The Flyers played with a fiery intensity to show that while the franchise had fallen on hard times, they were still going to fight and claw their way back to the competitiveness.  It was this attitude that allowed us to survive that 10 game losing streak in the middle of the season, and it was that heart and attitude that allowed us to advance so deep in the playoffs despite being outskilled and outmatched.

Ever since that run the attitude has changed.  Instead of a desire to prove the naysayers wrong, it is a calm, collected attitude of "Ok we're close, now it's time to take the next step".  Theres nothing wrong with that approach if it indeed is true, however in the Flyers case it is not.  I believe in two years or so they will be in a better position to contend.  When Richards, Giroux, JVR, and the like have all had more time to grow up.  But in the meantime the front office needs to get back to basics with these players.  Instead of drilling it into their heads that this is a talented team and they should expect to win the cup, the message should be that each player needs to prove why he should be on the team, on the first scoring line, wearing the C, etc.

Over the last two weeks I've been watching old school Flyers playoff highlights to ease the pain of our current struggles.  As the first decade of the 21st century comes to a close this constant reminiscing leads me to beg the question, who was the best Flyer of this decade?  here are some nominees...

Eric Lindross- In here more as an honorable mention than anything else as he didnt really play for the FLyers in the 2000's.  Theres nothing I can say about him that hasn't already been said.  He really belongs more in the conversation of the decade before this one however he did play a season or two and he simply can't be ignored.  WHo knows what would have happened if he kept his head up and avoided Scott Stevens' vicious assasination in game 7 of the 2000 Eastern conference finals.

John Leclair- again, his best years were in the 90's but he was a model of consistency for the Flyers in his time here.  Hard working, physical, dominant down low.  Its a crying shame that he never got to hoist the cup in philadelphia, nor did he get to finish his career here

Mark Recchi-Many forget that he was arguably our best player for the first half of the decade.  A true professional who came to work everyday.  its really hard to root against him nowadays

Jeremy Roenix- he was a lethal scoring threat, a tremendous competitor, and had a rgeat character that was impossible not to love.  i'll never forget his dance after scoring the winning goal in OT in game 7 against the leafs, with Jim Jackson repeating "he scores!" about 50 times in the background

Simon Gagne-quietly one of the most consistent players in the NHL over the past 10 years, even with all the injuries.  He's been with the Flyers through the good times and the bad and he's never once raised his voice to complain, never once exorted his energy to do anything other than playing tremendous hockey.

Keith Primeau- the epitome of Philadelphia Hockey.  He wasn't the fastest or the most skilled, he was simply a workhorse willing to do whatever it took to make his team better.  He had huge shoes to fill when he was traded for Rod Brind'amour and he didn't let the pressure crush him.  when Hitch asked him to play a more defensive oriented role on the team he didn't bat an eye.  The goal in the 5 epic 5 OT game...  and of course...I don't think any of us will ever forget that 2004 playoffs when he strapped the team to his back, had it not been for Martin bleeping St. Louis and the Lightning's fluke season we would have most certainly hoisted the cup that season.  His speech at the Wachovia center when the flyers honored him was touching.  The guy gave this city everything he had, and you can tell he wouldn't have had it any other way.

If you hadn't guessed by my lengthy explanation, My vote goes to Keith Primeau.  what do you guys think?  feel free to add anyone I forgot

Real  good interview with Mike Richards on CSNphilly.com

http://csnphilly.com/pages/landing_09?Panaccio-Richards-Reflects-on-the-Flyers=1&blockID=51499&feedID=717

“I think we kind of let things go because we had a good feeling. We didn’t clinch the playoffs, but everyone assumed we’d be in the playoffs. And maybe people just thought once the playoffs hit, we could turn it on.

“But we lost home ice advantage down the stretch, which was disappointing. I really thought it cost us in the long run. Yeah, I guess I could take responsibility for not preparing the team. Like I said before, it’s a learning process [as a captain], I’m going through it the first time, too. Next year, hopefully, I improve on it.”

He's mostly just confirming what we all already knew, but its nice to hear the captain come out and take responsibility.  This makes me feel more confident about the teams ability to mature and learn how to win

I know we have all summer to mull over this kind of stuff but the sooner we get to preparing for next season the sooner the sting of this loss fades.

Here is what I think the Flyers need to do with some of their "bubble" players.

Antero Nittymaki-let him walk.  he has talent but he cant put it together for long stretches, everytime he's handed the #1 job he coughs it back up.

Marty Biron- I say keep him.  sure hes not "great" but the best a goaltender can do for a team is put you in position to win, and Biron does that.  hes shown he has the capability to rise to the occasion and play like a star when he needs to. 

(in the long term I think the Flyers should just draft a young goaltender and develop him through their system.  Biron is good enough to hold down the fort till he's ready)

Joffrey Lupol- This is the most obvious one being as he was trade bait all season long, but Lupol is likely gone after this season.  he's a good player but he doesnt do anything thats irreplacable.  he makes way to much money, it just isnt gonna work out for Lupol.

Matt Carle- I was really dissapointed with Matt Carle all season long but he was great in the playoffs.  Still, he's due to make a lot of money next year and like Lupol, he isnt anything special.   he also has some trade value being as hes only 24. 

Mike Knuble- THis is going to be a tough decision.  if he offers to take a huge paycut and finish his career here im all for bringing him back, he's our only true power forward and he does a lot for the team.  but if another team wants to throw him a lot of cash we may have to let him walk.  the reality is he doesnt have too many years left and in a salary cap league you need to constantly try and get younger. 

Randy Jones-Just get rid of him.  I know it won;t happen, but a guy can dream.

John Stevens-I could go back and forth on this one but in the end I say keep Stevens for atleast one more year.  I do believe that he deserves the blame for much of the things that plagued and ultimately doomed the Flyers this year (discipline, long lapses in games, overall inconsistency) but he has also effectively weathered the storm through a lot of adversity the last two seasons.  The Flyers are still very young and inexperienced, as is John Stevens.  The hope is that John Stevens will really blossom into a winning coach and the Flyers learn how to be a contender.  I give him one more year, but keep him on a short leash.

Overall I think the Focus of the Off-season should be defense.  Our Defenseman are all cut from the Ryan Parent mold-small, quick, one on one defenders who aren't very good with the puck and aren't overly big.  I love Parent but we need some more versatility back there.  We need more of a physical presence, and we need another puck mover.  Getting the puck out of our zone cleanly was the Flyers biggest problem this season.  Jay Bouwmeester is a free agent and I think the Flyers should go hard after him.  they may have to get into a bidding war with teams like Vancouver, Calgary, and Toronto but I have the confidence that Homer can make it work.  If not Bouwmeester, Chris Pronger may be available for trade and Tomas Kaberle is a free agent.  we need to upgrade our defense badly.

I also think we need some more veteran leadership/grit on the wings.  Look at how much having a proven veteran scorer like Bill Guerin helped the penguins. 

Like I said above, if we dont trade our 1st round pick we should use it on a goaltender.  Lets find a guy we really like, and properly bring him up through the system.  Its time we stop trying to find a quick fix with our goaltenders. 

the loss stings but soon enough our boys will be back on the ice.

Go Flyers

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3763209

this was just posted on ESPN.com.  does this surprise anyone?  heres the bulk of it:

A current Cowboys player compared Owens' behavior to that which led to problems with his former quarterbacks, Jeff Garcia in San Francisco and Donovan McNabb in Philadelphia. Those failed relationships and problems with the head coaches and other teammates led to Owens' exile from those teams and made him available to Dallas owner Jerry Jones in 2006.

"He's insecure about it,'' the player said of Owens. "The thing that bothers me more than anything about this problem is that it's always something with him--San Fran, Philly and here; always something. And he brings other people into it. You know, he talks to Sam Hurd and Roy Williams, who just got here and doesn't really know these guys. TO talks to him and so now he probably thinks Witten politics with Tony for the ball.

"That's so far from the truth. You think Tony is throwing to him because that's his buddy? His best buddy is Bobby Carpenter, and that's not helping him too much. It's crazy to think that, and I hate that he acts that way.''

Witten leads the Cowboys with 64 receptions to 55 for Owens, who has a team-high 848 receiving yards and nine touchdowns. According to one of the sources, Owens cannot fathom how Romo and offensive coordinator Jason Garrett justify the tight end having more catches than does Owens even though the latter ranks among the most accomplished receivers in NFL history.

There has so far been no known confrontation between Romo and Owens, who have combined for 33 touchdowns since 2006, the most of any quarterback-receiver tandem in the NFL during that time. Romo has always been careful to make certain Owens felt appreciated so that he would compete hard and not cause the kind of upheaval he did with his previous teams.

But one teammate suggested Romo is frustrated enough that he might initiate a different approach, although not the confrontational kind that some believe might solve the problem.

"To be completely honest, I just think Tony is over it; not like, "Screw it.' But I think Tony is over the mind games,'' the player said. "It would help if Tony would stand up to him, but he would never do it. He does a great job of ignoring it and not letting it affect him, and that's why it has worked as good as it has. It's just hard. I think right now everybody is to the point where, "We're going to need him, so let's not piss him off.''

But Owens seems to be finding it increasingly difficult to conceal his irritation. Last week in Pittsburgh, on the first possession of the Cowboys' most important game of the season, a team source who reviewed the game tape said Romo threw an interception when Owens mysteriously failed to complete his route. Troy Polamalu intercepted the ball at the place where Romo expected Owens to be. Later in the half, Romo underthrew a pass for Owens that was intercepted by Ike Taylor and Owens gestured openly in Romo's direction as he walked toward the sideline that the ball should have been thrown further upfield.

But what upset Owens' teammates most of all was his response to the interception Romo threw on a pass intended for Witten that DeShea Townsend returned for the game-winning touchdown in a 20-13 defeat. Both the quarterback and tight end publicly accepted blame for the Cowboys' season-high fifth turnover. In contrast, Owens said the offense stunk, that the team can't win with turnovers like those and then suggested his defender was playing off in single coverage and that he was open but Romo decided to throw elsewhere on the fatal play.

On the sideline, Owens was seen yelling at a Cowboys assistant coach. In his press conference after the game, Owens implied that Romo's decision to throw to Witten was the wrong one, saying, "It's his job to go out there and assess what the defense is, and he made that decision.''

That incensed some Cowboys, one of whom said, "If you only knew all that guy does. It's gonna go down with him before it's all over with. He is unbelievable. Tough loss and he does that?''

Until then, Cowboys insiders considered Owens' most damaging behavior the interview he did with former Cowboys cornerback Deion Sanders on the NFL Network in which he suggested Dallas' offensive system under Garrett was responsible for his worst statistical season since his rookie year with the 49ers. Owens also hinted that Romo and the other Dallas quarterbacks who played when the starter was injured were not making getting him the ball a high enough priority. "I can't throw it and catch it,'' Owens said.

If you look at the last couple of decades, the nature of what works and what doesnt in the NFL seems to drastically change every few years.  The NFL is very much a copycat league and teams evolve accordingly.  look at the last 5-6 seasons.  teams such as the colts, patriots, eagles (early on in that period) and others were succesful utilizing wide open spread offenses equipped with lots of speed and passing.  defenses around the league adapted accordingly and went to small quicker players who were better at blitzing/covering/stopping the pass.  now those smaller defenses are getting abused by the power running games of teams like the Titans, Giants, Panthers etc. The eagles offense just isnt equipped to play against modern defenses. 

with that being said the nature of NFL evolution is only a fraction of why our offense is terrible this year.  it doesnt matter what year it is, when you cant run the ball and your recievers cant get off the line of scrimmage your going to struggle

I'm not giving up on this teams chances to make the playoffs just yet...as much weirder stuff has happened in professional sports.  remember 2006 when things looked equally as grim?  the Eagles finished on a 5 game win streak and were arguably a Scott Young false start away from going to the NFC championship.  At the beginning of Baseball season it seemed as if the phillies had no starting pitching and Ryan Howard forgot how to make contact.  then throughout the summer it seemed like the team forgot how to hit and they werent going anywhere.  In the middle of september Cole Hamels lost to santana on a nationally televised game on Sunday night leaving us three games back with two weeks to go.  Now the phillies are world champions and all that seems like a distant memory.  Its not completely out of the realm of possibilities to see the eagles in the playoffs.  with that being said there is no way this team goes anywhere unless the coaching staff makes a drastic change to it's approach.  first and foremost, andy reid needs to hand over the playcalling duties.  I don't see how anyone can disagree with that.

But the problem goes a little deeper then just playcalling.  the team needs a serious attitude adjustment.  All off-season into this season we heard everyone in the Eagles camp talking about how good of a team this is.  While confidence is good, this type of talk got the Eagles and Reid believing that it is our god given right to win football games.  The team seems to be waiting around for success to come, while our conference rivals are reaching for it and grabbing it. 

with the exception of the Super Bowl year I would say this is our most talented team.  the difference between this team and the teams that won the NFC East consistently is swagger and swagger alone.  The offense plays with no emotion or fire and takes the "aw shucks well get em next time approach" every time they walk off the field without points.  In the past we would always have someone come up to make a big catch/run/block when it counted.   today every member of the offense seems to be waiting around for someone else to do it.   

the eagles need to ditch this notion of "we know were a good team we just need to come out next week and play better".  Right now they are not a good football team, and they need to earn back the right to call themselves such.

and finally, people need to get off Donovans back.  as bad as he played on sunday those numbers were severely inflated by reids refusal to make adjustments.  if Donovan threw half as many passes he would have thrown one, maybe two interceptions.  Every player has an off game, its just the nature of the game.  the reason you dont see the mannings/Bradys/Romos/etc. of the league having 3 INT games is because when theyre struggling their coaches dont ask them to throw the ball as much.  McNabb is only 31, he easily has another 2-3 years left before his skills really start to decline.  If Kevin Kolb was our starter from opening day we would have 2-3 wins tops, and would not have been close in any of our losses.  Donovan is still a franchise quarterback and still gives this team the best chance to win a superbowl year in and year out.