A Useful Analogy

Dear Mr. Lurie and Company,

As a lifelong fan, I would like to begin by congratulating you on your Thanksgiving Day win. It was impressive and the players managed to fight for a full 60 minutes. But please don't kid yourself. This was not enough. How is the team we saw on the field last night 6-5-1? I have to disagree with my dear friend Dave. Though I love this team to death, this kind of behavior is so typical and it's getting old. This is how it goes: Start the season with endless possibilities and high expectations. Follow that with a big first game against the Rams. Then fall into a win-loss-win-loss slumber until you completely tank against Cincinnati and Baltimore. THEN, when the season is nearly dead, start playing like kings of the world.

Don't try to fool us.

My fellow poster Nick is right. Eagles fan should not get complacent and believe that everything is right with Reid and McNabb. Please allow me to draw this economic/political analogy: The price of oil booms and the resulting price at the pump skyrockets in America. Once a gallon of gas passes $4.00, Americans cry out for alternatives, pressing policymakers and politicians to set aside money for increased production for solar, wind, and nuclear energy. We want out of foreign oil. All of a sudden (it's happening right now, actually), the market settles and conflicts in the Middle East calm. Prices drop and gas falls under $2.00 again. Americans forget about their pains and relax their once urgent calls for viable alternatives. We become complacent until the next spike hits. And over and over and over again.

As crazy as this sounds, it's quite similar to relationship between the Eagles and their fans. Think of it this way: We find that the Eagles, after a promising start, are lacking a true running game and a durable offensive line. McNabb struggles, yet Coach Reid continues to force in 60% or more pass plays. We cannot convert in 3rd down and short yardage situations. We cannot get in the end zone. We cannot find balance...Then the critics, rightfully so, come pouring in. "Fire Reid!"..."Bench McNabb!"..."Draft better!"..."Run the ball!" However, on the brink of elimination, the Eagles step up and have a complete game. There is a fire in the players' eyes. Reid runs the ball! McNabb throws efficiently! Well, count me as one who doubts that we can keep this up. Don't get me wrong, it was a nice win. But, just like the sudden drop in gas prices and the corresponding drop in enthusiasm for alternative energy, fans and critics may get complacent and expect this kind of play from the Eagles every week. Look, we will have to come to grips with the end of the Reid & McNabb era sometime...why not now?

By the way, pay up Jeff Lurie! You owe the city millions of dollars and Mayor Nutter could really use it, considering Philadelphia's massive budget deficit.