Fly Like An Eagle to be Free

The eyes of a city turn towards the Philadelphia Eagles as they kickoff their 2005 football season verses the Atlanta Falcons tonight.

The Philadelphia Eagles organization prides themselves as the gold standard of the National Football League but their last four years can be arguably compared to the Buffalo Bills of the 1990's. The Eagles have earned four straight National Football League Championship games and one Super Bowl appearance. The Eagles played a mediocre performance in the Super Bowl and yet only lost by three points to the defending champion New England Patriots. It may be revisionist history but the loss left the Eagles players holding up the dress of a blushing bride. Players can translate these hard knocks to either character building or reasons for disenfranchising the team down the yellow brick road that hasn't lead to gold.

In a watered down conference obliging itself to mediocrity, the talent-rich Philadelphia Eagles begin their quest of another Super Bowl. Because of their recent success, the Eagles now need only a Super Bowl trophy to etch their mark in football history. It is a single-minded measuring stick and anything short of winning the Super Bowl may be viewed as unacceptable to both fans and players.

Football history tells us that of the few teams who became dynasties all shared a short life span. They are built, glorified, then dismantled for new parts. Understand that the players on a football team are moveable parts and remain married for only a short time. Contracts, age, and injury are just a few reasons for divorce in pro football. In my playbook, the future appears to be now for the Philadelphia Eagles. The Eagles need to fly before empty nest syndrome sets in. Finishing second is a hollow conversation in the football annals. At any wedding I had the good fortune of attending, I don't remember a single bridesmaid.