Rich Hofmann of Philly.com wrote an article last week that revealed what I had suspected all along, that letting Stallworth walk was not as detrimental as most of Philadelphia would have you believe (link here).  A few highlights:

- McNabb's completion percentage was a bit higher in games Stallworth did not play

- McNabb's yards per pass attempt were also higher

- The Eagles scored 24 pts vs the Saints in the regular season without Stallworth, and 24 pts in the playoffs with him.

- Most importantly, the Eagles scored more pts per game in games Stallworth did not play.

I would've preferred that Stallworth stick around.  But the truth is that Stallworth didn't bring to the Eagles what we lacked in a receiver.  What the Eagles have been missing, in non-T.O. years, is a receiver that can bail McNabb out of trouble.  That's what's necessary when you pass 60% of the time.  Had Stallworth stuck around, he and Reggie Brown would've made a nice starting group for years to come.   However, Brown alone is better than any receiver we had during the '02 - '04 run.  Now, with the addition of Kevin Curtis, we have the speed back, and our starting group is head and shoulders above those during the 3 yrs we fell short of the big dance.

Character has been a major factor in who the Eagles decide to bring on board.  That's why a better athlete such as Stallworth was offered a 1 yr deal after having been successful in the system, while Kevin Curtis, he of the Mormon faith, was offered a six year deal after being dropped from the team he had been a 3rd stringer for his whole career.  Maybe that's why the Eagles have always had such a hard time filling the position.  Saying your not bringing on a turd to fill the WR position is like going to Jim's Steaks and vowing to eat healthy.  You'll end up with a cheesesteak with lettuce and tomatoes without the cheese or the steak.  Or the roll.