I was watching Comcast Sportsnet a few days after the draft and saw an interview with Sheldon Brown where he was asked what he thought about the Eagles using their first pick of the draft on a QB.  His response was brilliant, and if you ask me, it's the quote of the year.  Brown answered "if you are relying on a first round draft pick to help you win this year you might as well just say you're rebuilding."

I'll be the first to admit I was bummed, borderline devastated, that the birds didn't draft help in the secondary with their first pick.  After five straight hours of watching the draft and realizing that Michael Griffin, Reggie Nelson and Brandon Merriweather were all off the board I was frantically searching online for who the experts had listed as the next best available safety or corner.  We all agree that its time to start grooming a replacement for Dawkins.  I know that.  You know that.  But the truth is, drafting that player this year barely, if at all, effects our chances at succeeding this year. 

Let me say it this way.  I think everyone can agree that the Eagles have been pretty damn successful in the Andy Reid era, making the playoffs in five of the last six years.  Our first round picks in those years?  Brodrick Bunkley (9 tackles), Mike Patterson (44 tackles), Shawn Andrews (broken leg in the first game of the year), Jerome McDougle (not worth listing stats), Lito Sheppard (a non-factor his rookie year), Freddie Mitchell (please) and Corey Simon (9.5 sacks).  So let's see, the only two people that made an impact in their rookie year were Mike Patterson and Corey Simon.  In case you forgot, we missed the playoffs in Patterson's first year.  Corey Simon?  Its safe to say we WERE rebuilding that year. 

So back to the quote of the year - "if you are relying on a first round draft pick to help you win this year you might as well just say you're rebuilding."  We're not rebuilding this year.  We're just not.  This year we make a run at the super bowl.  I've said it before and I'll say it again....I hear Arizona is beautiful in February, who's in??