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10 Reason that the Eagles aren’t going to the Play-offs By: David Lipner

Has it been stunning to you too, that the Eagles are not making the play-offs this year? After a super bowl appearance. Many people in Philadelphia find this disgusting, shocking, and most of all disappointing. Even “ESPN” analysts like Sean Salisbury say this is all one big shock. I know that the Eagles have let me down, but I do not stand alone. Respected sports columnists, alike, have said that this could be the biggest Philly sports blunder ever. That is quite impressive. This would mean they are as disappointing as the 1964 Phillies. They had a 6 game lead with 10 games to play and blew it! Their manager decided to pitch only 2 pitchers for all ten games, Bunning and Short. And what do you know, they didn’t make the play-offs. Beside this point, I cannot believe these two blunders can be compared. But, I totally understand now after the Monday Night Game against Seattle. 42-0. I think this is reason alone why they aren’t going to be in the playing late in January. Here is something you might find very funny. The Monday Night Football game was so bad that I turned to watch figure skating. Michelle Kwan was my hero that night. Well, compared to the Eagles. But I do not want to stray from the main point. Here are 10 outstanding reasons why we will not see our Birds in the play-offs.

10. Injuries: The Eagles have lost 4 Pro Bowl players this year. These players brought great fear in the eyes of other teams. •	Donovan McNabb •	Brian Westbrook (probably the best player the eagles have to offer) •	Trea Thomas •	Lito Sheppard

9. Coaching: People blame the Eagles’ failure on a multitude of things. I am one of the few who think it is the coach’s fault. Andy Reid… Has he shown any ambitions or any leadership this year? I don’t think so. My theory is that everybody has a good run, and his is up, just like New England Patriots’ coach, Bill Belichick. Even though the Patriots are still a possibility for the play-offs, he is not having nearly as good of a season as in past times. Now we cannot forget and overlook that their injury toll has been a lot worst than the Eagles. Or has it? The Eagles’ defensive coordinator has also been slacking off in this writers mind. The Eagles’ D is not performing close to their old par.

8. Management: Not only is it Jim Johnson’s fault the Eagles’ D suffering, but it is the Management’s fault. They did not go out signing some of the players that are needed to make our defense what our defense is. They have lost big name players like Corey Simon, Ike Reese, and many others. The other players might not have been so large key but they were defiantly little pieces of the puzzle. However, these little pieces were definitely 100% important in the chemistry and success of the Eagles’ D.

7. Jeremiah Trotter: Do you remember when Jeremiah got ejected from the first game for unsportsmanlike conduct? Because I sure of a heck do! Many skeptics believe that it is ALL Jeremiah’s fault. If he played there is that possibility that the Falcons would not have been able to exercise their run game. I give all the credit possible to Mike Labinjo for stepping it up as a rookie. But lets be honest, he did a pretty bad job. Running backs for the Falcons like Warrick Dunn were able to take advantage of the holes that he left open for crucial first down runs. And for you people who are superstitious, maybe if Trotter didn’t get in that fight, McNabb wouldn’t have got injured. Hmm?

6. Other Coaches in the League: Darn! Why do people have to be so smart? Even better, why do NFL coaches have to be so smart? Why do they have to catch on to the Eagles game? I did but they shouldn’t. You could also blame Reid on this one too though. If you are a coach wouldn’t it be smart to blitz if for the beginning of the season McNabb was passing more than 70% of the game? Duh! Come on Andy! But still you have to give the other coaches credit. They have a game plan for Donovan McNabb who at the time was one of the best in the league. I don’t know anymore though.

5. Ownership: Man do they make me mad! After hearing the Eagles’ ownership being credited many times for things that I don’t agree with. Number 1: Hear me and hear me now, THEY DID NOT HANDLE THE TERREL OWENS SITUATION CORRECTLY. The Eagles’ ownership did the wrong thing. They should have found a way to resolve the problem and keep T.O. He was the best player on the team, and it is only hurting them keeping him from playing. They also did a crappy job with Corey Simon. They made no effort to keep him in shape so that they could sign him to a long term contract. He had potential and the Eagles B-L-E-W it. Maybe they should change their fight song too. Fly Eagles Fly on the road to misery.

4. Terrell Owens: T.O T.O T.O T.O, T.O T.O, T.O T.O T.O T.O, T.O T.O! It is funny the way that things change. Last year that chant used to be synonymous with success and now it is synonymous with hate. Last year when T.O used to score touchdown, people would yell that chant with drunken joy. Now it is only a instigator and mean negative things. After T.O wrecked havoc in a interview saying that Brett Farve would be better with the Eagles, people started to hate him. When he stepped on the field the same chant would be chanted but it would be hate. I think what he did was ridiculous, but not enough to have him fired. Or excuse me, “inactivated.” This is just a classic example of what a Philadelphia professional sports team would do.

3. Donovan McNabb: Can you say wimp? Well I can, and that is exactly what I think of Donovan. I blame him also for the Terrell Owens ordeal. He played it off that he was the victim and T.O. was a horrible convict. I think that we in Philly give McNabb a sniff of reality. It is pro football. Don’t be so sensitive. Example, Dre’ Bly on the Detroit Lions said to the reporters that is it Joey Harrington’s fault that Steve Marriuci got fired. What did Harrington do? Took it like a man and did what he had to do. McNabb on the other hand cried to the media. Come on Donovan, you are better than that. Take it like a man, you are a professional and act like it!

2. Philadelphia Eagles Fans: All Eagles fans do is bandwagon. Or well, a big majority of them. Can you tell me how many people who are “die heart” Eagles fans today who were with them in 1996-1998? Probably less than 5%. Not only do they bandwagon but, they are also the most hypocritical people alive. One day they are praising the Eagles and everything they are doing, and then the next, when they become stinky, all they do is condemn every move that the Eagles make. Even here at Plymouth Whitemarsh, you can find classic examples of what I am talking about. Many students going around claiming that they are now Seattle fans until the Eagles get good. For one, that is contravening the sports fan code of ethics and two, I can guarantee you that once the Eagles get good again they will claim that they have been with them from the start. And when they are all older they will say that they were there in the 05’ season and again pretend to be “die heart” Eagles fans. I can sum it up in one word though…. POSERS!!!

1. Drew Rosenhaus: MORON!!!!!