(originally posted January 19, 2004)
Two years ago, the Eagles almost pulled off a stunning upset at St. Louis. But they weren’t supposed to win that game so, while the fans were disappointed, we knew that this was an improving team. Last year, we were supposed to beat the Bucs at home but got outcoached. It was like a gut shot followed by a kick to the groin. This year, we were believers but last year’s pain numbed us so much that losing to Carolina wasn’t really that painful. But then a funny thing happened on the way out of the playoffs… we got very very angry.
If the Eagles had lost last week to the Packers, we would have just resigned ourselves to the fact that injury finally caught up with this team. That all the defensive players going down kept us from stacking up against a powerful GB offense. But losing 14-3 to Carolina is inexcusable and we want heads to roll.
The Focus of Our Ire
(in ascending order)
The Refs. Blaming the refs is a loser’s lament, however, it needs to be pointed out that they did a horrible job yesterday. Most notably on the injury to McNabb. How is it possible to let Greg Favors come in and hit a defenseless Donovan McNabb while he’s on the ground three seconds after the play is over. That no-call changed the complexion of the game. Why is DMac not getting that call? Brett Favre gets that call. I wish Jeremy Roenick was there to throw a water bottle at that ref.
Mark Simoneau. I just looked it up in the new French dictionary and Simoneau means “le sucks”. Despite a valiant effort by our D, (hell, 14 points should win the game.) Simoneau again showed why he should not be the MLB for the Eagles. On numerous occasions, he was easily forced out of the play or was nowhere near the point of attack. The TD run by Foster was the perfect lowlight reel of Simoneau. He failed to wrap Foster up (a small back, mind you) and then hustled back into the play to not tackle him again. I admire the effort but again, after the LBs (Seth Joyner, Trotter, “Breaking and Entering”) that Philly has had over the years, how can Andy Reid bring this guy in and tell us that he’s good enough?
Todd Pinkston. My dead grandmother knows that the ref is part of the playing field. Pinkston has a terrible day, gets screened on one play by the ref and starts complaining. What the F? Earlier, Pinky screwed up a route so bad that it lead to an interception. McNabb looked disappointed in him and indicated he should have slanted inside. What McNabb should have done was gone Dan Marino on him. After 0 catches for 0 yards and basically allowing an INT, Pinkston said after the game that there was a lack of focus. Lack of focus? Lack of mother $#$@#!@( focus? This is the NFC championship game! If by focus, you mean heart and cojones. Yes, you lack them.
James Thrash. Thrash, pack up your bags and get out of here. If I see you as our starting WR next year, I won’t watch a single game. Whatever marginal talent he did have is now gone. Not to be outdone by Pinkston, Thrash was responsible for 1 catch and 2 interceptions. In the football dictionary, if you looked up Thrash, you’d find it defined as “cannot get seperation.” Definition two would be “sucks — see Simoneau”. The lack of any production from Thrash cost us a trip to the Super Bowl. He needs to be run out of town as soon as possible. They need to escort him to the city limits and ask him never to step foot inside it again. Thrash should never disgrace the Eagle uniform by wearing it again. Harold Carmichael should come down and bitch slap JT for ruining the position.
Andy Reid. Is it because of Andy’s playcalling? Nope. Is it because of his poor clock management? Nope. Is it because he ate all the cheesesteaks in Ruben Stoddard’s dressing room? Nope. Andy actually did an adequate job yesterday. He is not the best game day coach but he didn’t blow it for us.
So why is Andy #1 on this list? Because this is his baby. He has assured us that his system is fine and that we had enough to win it all. If there is any silver lining at all to this loss, it is that Andy must reevaluate the “talent” he has and be forced to make some changes. Because if it isn’t the talent, then it must be the system; and I don’t think Andy will blame his own system. I wish there were a bit of Parcells in Andy. He’d cut Thrash this morning just to send a message to everyone on the team.
The #1 priority for this team in the offseason is to get a top notch Wide Receiver who doesn’t play like a coward. If the Front Office fails to do this, what hope will the Eagles fan base have for next season? And without hope, there are no rabid fans buying all the merchandise. Terrell Owens is the Free Agent that comes to mind. We don’t need a high draft choice that Andy will sit for three years while he learns the system. We need an impact player that will get us over the hurdle. If they bring in TO or even Darrell Jackson, and the Eagles don’t win the NFC, I will be content to know that they at least tried and that perhaps it’s just the way it is. But a lack of effort on the part of the Management is unacceptable.
Do the right thing Andy, cut Thrash, bring in a stud WR and we’ll believe again.
All those in favor of buying Thrash a one way ticket out of town, say Aye. Or better yet, just point to the sky.
