Will This Eagles Season Be for the Birds?

The Philadelphia Eagles need to get back to their winning ways.

By Dino Ciliberti
Email the author
September 8, 2012

23 Comments

‹ Back to Article

new

Embed | Share

Where's the love for Andy Reid?

Photos (1)

Photos

Credit Chris Zabaska

Upload Photos and Videos

The expression "for the birds" means "worthless," "useless," "unreliable," "unacceptable."

In 2011, Philadelphia Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie could have described the play of his football team that way. This year, he's put Coach Andy Reid on notice that another .500 season is "unacceptable."

As the Eagles' 2012 NFL season kicks off Sunday against the Cleveland Browns, will they be "for the birds" again this year? It's hard to say.

The NFL is a high-wire act in which anything goes. The New York Giants played sub-par football for most of last year, but caught fire in the playoffs and torched the New England Patriots in the Super Bowl.

You gotta be in it to win it, as they say, and 8-8 records don't get you into the playoffs (unless you're the 2010 Seattle Seahawks, which finished 7-9 in the regular season).

Reid spoiled fans with four consecutive NFC conference championship appearances and a narrow loss in the Super Bowl. But after last year, another soutbound season will be enough for Lurie to pluck Reid's feathers.

We can all envision Jon Gruden pacing the sidelines.

Can the Birds get back to their winning ways? There's so much promise, yet so many question marks. Chief among them: Can Michael Vick stay healthy and actually play at a higher level?

Since Vick played about three downs in the pre-season, that's hard to say. And if he's out for injury, is rookie Nick Foles the savior or can Trent Edwards shake off the rust and show off his talents?

Can Shady McCoy find running room without mighty tackle Jason Peters blocking for him? Can DeSean Jackson make the big plays again? Will the offensive line offer Vick enough protection so he doesn't have to leave the pocket?

The defensive line looks like a force. But if you get past it, will the linebackers and secondary hold up? Again, hard to say.

The Birds have a great rookie class and it will be fun to see if the likes of Fletcher Cox, Bryce Brown, DeMarius Johnson, Foles, Vinny Curry, Brandon Boykin and Mychal Kendricks will fly high.

Playing Cleveland and Arizona in the first three games might help. And the Birds tend to get hotter come November. The Eagles might finish 10-6. Or 8-8. Or worse. It's a long season.

Let's hope the only thing that's "for the Birds" this year is a Super Bowl title.

Related Topics: Andy Reid, National Football League, and Philadelphia Eagles

Thanks. We'll email you the next time we update this story.

Curmudgeon

6:28 am on Saturday, September 8, 2012

We well be dissapointed once again this year. Vick wil be Vick, screw up and get hurt. Andy will have to show he is the smartest man the room, blowing 3rd and 1 plays with stupid roll out passes to no one. We will run out of time outs in crucual situations, and our defensive players still do no speak Spanish, so the won't undrstand the coach!! We'll be watching the Flyer's in January and counting the days until pitchers and catchers report to Clearwater. I feel like Randy Quiad in Major League.

Bill Sams

8:42 am on Saturday, September 8, 2012

I love Football But Not the Eagles. It has never been a world class team since they won the world Championship with Players like Concrete Charley, Bobby Tomlison , and those great players who played for $100.00 a game.
As long as they keep Players like Vick around and coaches like Reid The Eagles will fail to win. Better start rooting for a proven Winner like the Steelers. We need a champion in Pa. and The Steelers are our best chance.
Wave those Yellow Towels

Ski Ulinski

9:20 am on Saturday, September 8, 2012

New York Giants are NJ's team

Ski Ulinski

9:18 am on Saturday, September 8, 2012

Eagles their few fans cannoit handle the fact that they are losers and so they beat up old men and women and spit on children. Team has as much class as some of their fans. Kill dogs and be a hero.

Tom Sofield

11:09 am on Saturday, September 8, 2012

I think it's time for Coach Reid to go.

Joe

6:57 pm on Sunday, September 9, 2012

All of our chips are in with a guy named Marty! Imagine what a good defense can do to this team. As for the defense .... A team of great talent hiding the fact that Andy hired the parking attendent to run the defense!

frank ciliberti

11:37 am on Saturday, September 8, 2012

Let's get Grudden, out with Ried. He would be great for this team and make them a winner.

chris

12:31 pm on Saturday, September 8, 2012

I would take Jon Gruden or Bill Cowher, I cant take Reid's "it starts with me" post game excuse feasts anymore.

David Curran

1:19 pm on Saturday, September 8, 2012

Reids act is getting old, but if the Eagles make the playoffs as even a wild card team, Lurie will keep him. Vick has to produce, and McCoy will have to be used wisely for their offense to be succesful. The defense will be ok, and will probably win a couple of games on just their play.

chris

12:27 pm on Saturday, September 8, 2012

And what Ski Ulinski forgot to mention is that Eagles fans also worship satan and eat kittens

Ski Ulinski

2:54 pm on Saturday, September 8, 2012

Thank you Chris, I had forgotten about that. Perhaps police and the stadium Judge can change that we can only hope Chris.

Rick350

7:01 am on Sunday, September 9, 2012

Don't forget we boo Santa! That's a classic! And we're still throwing around the judge in the stadium thing? That was the Vet. Haven't played there in about 8 or 9 yrs.

Michelle Hazlett

12:56 pm on Saturday, September 8, 2012

I am an Eagles Fan...I have faith that this will be our year. I know preseason does not mean anything but I think we look good. If Vick does go down we have Excellent back-up. DeSean's head will be in the game, McCoy is just Awesome. Defense needs a little work but I think we can be a serious threat this year..No matter what people say about the Eagles or the fans. I have faith!!

redneckwillie3

8:36 pm on Sunday, September 9, 2012

YOU MUST SAY THAT EVERY YEAR FOR THE PAST 13 YEARS.I BET YOU HAVE IT MEMORIZED

The Illuminati

1:12 pm on Saturday, September 8, 2012

Its not if Vick goes down, its when. We know what Reid is...he's an OK coach who makes bone headed decisions at really bad times. We have played this record for 13 years and it always sounds the same. I'm not sure why Jeff Lurie thinks this year will be any different? A change at coach is long overdue. It should have been done after the 2009 season when the Eagles lost the division to the cowboys in the final game and then got their butts handed to them again a week later by the cowboys in the playoff game.

LP-SC

2:08 pm on Saturday, September 8, 2012

I used to like the Eagles - then came Reid. Garcia took us from garbage to almost getting to the SuperBowl. Then Andy traded him! Why? Because he "didn't want McNabb to feel threatened". Excuse me?! Now he has Michael "I'm a different guy now (I got caught)" Vick in the lineup. Ditch Reid and we may have a chance - and get some fans back.

David Curran

2:28 pm on Saturday, September 8, 2012

Ski Ulinski

2:56 pm on Saturday, September 8, 2012

Insanity is doing the same thing over and over and really expecting a different result

Voice of Reason

11:45 pm on Saturday, September 8, 2012

I can't believe we have all these Eagle haters in Cinnaminson. Lets rute for the home team until they give us a reason this season why we should not. You never know, Vick can have a good year and if or when he goes down, maybe, just maybe Nick Foles can step in and show us that he can be a franchise QB.
GO BIRDS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!