Eagles are now strictly second class in Philly

By John McMullen  |   Thursday, October 30, 2008  |  Comments( 1 )

Philadelphia Eagles
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A 25-year marathon finally crossed the finish line Wednesday night in South Philadelphia.

For a quarter of a century, Philly's four major sports teams jockeyed for position, hoping to end the infamous Billy Penn-induced championship drought.

For the past decade, the Eagles were the favorite to do it. Jeffrey Lurie and Andy Reid built an annual contender, a football team that reached four consecutive NFC championship games and gave the mighty New England Patriots a run for their money in the Super Bowl.

And the Eagles were rewarded for their success. The franchise was unquestionably the most popular in town and received fevered fan support.

But the Birds never took advantage and got over the hump.

A month ago, most baseball experts would have laughed if you claimed the Phillies would win the World Series title.

When Tampa Bay's Eric Hinskie swung over another nasty Brad Lidge slider, it was over.

Like Steve Carell's character in "The 40-Year-Old Virgin," Philadelphia finally scored. The well-chronicled 25-year drought was over and it wasn't the Eagles who did it.

So what now?

For the first time in the Lurie-Reid era, the Eagles are on the back burner and may be feeling the heat.

Reid did not speak to the media Thursday, letting surrogate Jim Johnson handle the inevitable Phillies talk.

The veteran defensive coordinator gave a measured response.

"That was fun to watch. I didn't see the whole thing, I didn't want to watch the ninth inning, hoping they were winning," Johnson said. "It was very emotional and you get caught up in it, no question. I know our players did too. It was great for this city. I'm sure that parade tomorrow will be great too. You could tell the players were emotional and you could tell the coaches were emotional, so it was a great time for Philadelphia."

Johnson then tried to take the win and use it for his own players.

"I hope it inspires them for this weekend (in Seattle) ," Johnson said. "We've got to win this weekend. It’s the old thing, one game at a time. We know how Philadelphia is, we know what a passionate city it is and how much they want to win. I know the players want to win and the coaches too. It was great to see and it was great enthusiasm, but we still have to play Seattle this weekend."

Then the media horde got down to brass tacks. Does the Phillies win put more pressure on Reid & Co.?

"We feel pressure to win," Johnson said. "You want to win for the city, you want to win for the organization and the players want to win. You always want to win. I don't think it’s pressure. It’s one of those challenges. That’s our goal, is to get there every year; to get to the playoffs, to get to the Super Bowl and win the Super Bowl.

"We've had a taste. We've come close. It’s always been that disappointment, but that’s part of the game as far as the pressure of just getting there. But, we don't feel extra pressure, I don't think."

They should.

Reid wasn't scheduled to speak Thursday, but he understands what a championship means to his city. The coach should have sucked it up, congratulated the team that toils across the street from him and answered all the questions Johnson did.

Reid's popularity is sinking in Philadelphia.

The Phillies have pushed his team off the back page of the newspaper and it's only a matter of time before Lurie realizes it and makes a play to get it back.

The Eagles are now strictly second class in Philly. But they won't be for long . . .

Can anyone say coaching change?
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About John McMullen

John is the managing editor of The Phanatic Magazine, the assistant managing editor of The Sports Network and the co-host of the highly rated 'Johns on Sports' radio show on WTBQ in New York. Every Saturday from 6:30-9 p.m. (et) you can hear John along with his co-host, John Gottlieb, talk to the ...
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