Dear Eagles Fans, C-H-I-L-L-A-X.

So, you’re teams eliminated from the playoffs, and you’re playing a division rival tonight for bragging rights on the lamest National TV game of the week. For being a blue collar, die hard fan base, you fans are drastically eager for a winning team. That fire, oh let it burn. But, let’s have a little chat and hopefully we will all think about your situation with a little bit more rationality.

Sorry to break it to you but, your team is abysmal, and you should’ve known that. 

The past regime deprived the program of talent to replace it with culture. This was done instead of instilling a culture within the team to supplement the talent, so that the team could work as a cohesive unit and grow on and off the field, while working within the coach’s vision and philosophy.

A past regime who: overvalued prospects in high draft picks, chose not to “mortgage their future” for a franchise QB and was stuck with drek in that position with a QB who’s coming off a torn ACL and another who’s playing developmental MLB baseball at this moment.

Your ownership since has moved on to a new regime. A players coach in Doug Pederson, cut from the same mold as a former longtime winning franchise leading coach, Andy Reid (who’s still successful…in the regular season). You take out an authoritative style of coach for a more transformative style, in the hopes to create a winning and growing culture of success and excellence for your team.

So now, you’ve “mortgaged your future” with a D1-AA QB at number two; and created a log jam at that position a la the Sixers center conundrum. Unlike the Sixers, you traded away to alleviate the logjam by dealing Sam Bradford to get a devalued 1st Rd pick to supplement the loss of a devalued pick you traded to get his successor. When in the end, your devalued late round pick is now predicted to be in the top 5. 

So now your stuck with a rookie HC and QB, and shock the world to be 3-0 with your Super Bowl chances soaring above what was expected. The coach looks brilliant, and the QB is the second coming. Nothing can change this euphoric feeling….

Then: 

• Your 2nd best lineman is suspended again for PED use. 
• The WR’s are not playing up to par and makes you wonder, “why’d we sign those vets to just cut them before the season? Why didn’t we just sign another WR that will be a contributor?” 
• “Was Fletcher Cox really all of that, to deserve all of that money?”
• “Why is Wentz playing worse and Dak Prescott is playing out of his mind? He was a 4th round pick?” 
• “Why don’t we have a RB, CB, OL, etc.?!”

That’s when reality sets in. The 2-9 slide the Eagles have been on, is the track they were supposed to be on. They are not a good team, at all. They have been depleted from the get go and you all have forgotten: IT’S A REBUILDING YEAR!

The coach should not be fired, AT ALL. This result-oriented society has bankrupt our society morally. Doug Pederson is getting flak for “loving on his players”, just like Coach K has done, John Wooden and many others (we need more of that in professional sports). It’s about helping these players grow as men and professionals, as well as wins and losses. 

He has dealt with a WR in an existential crisis and now a OL with a mental health situation. Remember fans, these are people too. Highly paid people, but not livestock. He’s the right coach to build and grow around, they just do not have the talent. 

Jim Schwartz’ defense does not have the talent to compete against mediocre to elite offenses. Especially at the corner positions. 

The Eagles are not a good team, but are on their way. You have to remember: 

• You’re dealing with a rookie QB paired with a rookie HC. 
• You’re competing to the end in most of these games, but cannot pull the wins out. 
• There will be personnel and strategic mistakes; they will get them right most of the times. 

I get you’re impatient, but you’re building from the future from the ground up. It’s a rebuild, you’ve out kicked your coverage and now you have to adjust to reality that it’s going to be a struggle, but worth the patience in the long run. It’s not like you were in the NFC Conference Championship with an aging coach, QB-WR tandem and are now sitting at 5 wins and out of the playoffs(ahem! Cardinals). 

So I implore you, C-H-I-L-L-A-X. 

You’re future is bright, believe in Wentz, believe in Dougy P, believe in the Birds, they’re on the right path. 
Photo courtesy of ESPN.com