I had a conversation with a friend earlier today about that despicable Eagles game Monday night.  He asked me the question that sums it all up; are we entering the dark ages?  I paused....and sighed....and eventually had to answer, "yeah, we might be."

I think you know what the dark ages refers to.  The dark ages are the Rich Kotite years.  The last few Ray Rhodes years.  The annual feeling that Detroit Lion's fans feel.  And Cleveland Brown's fans.  The dark ages linger.  And linger.  And linger.  One good draft doesn't save a team from the dark ages.  Drafting a QB in the first or second round doesn't save a team from the dark ages.  The dark ages mean three, four, five, six years without a visit to the playoffs.  Bottom line, the dark ages suck.

Of course we're only two games in to the season, and we've been here before.  I've heard it all and it is true that we can turn it all around.  We did last year.  When we lost to Indy to go 5-6 on the season I thought the dark ages were knocking at our door.  Turns out they weren't.  But this year, yeah, they might be, and here's why....

The Eagles players are split in to three categories.  Veterans that are almost past their prime, veterans in their prime, and the young guys.  Let's start by isolating the vets almost past their prime; Brian Dawkins, Takeo Spikes, Jevon Kearse, Darren Howard, John Runyan and William Thomas.  Let's leave Donovan out of that group for now.  Now imagine a world where every one of these guys is retired, cut or ineffective as early as next year.  If you don't think that's possible, ask Jeremiah Trotter what he thinks what he thinks. 

Now let's look at the vets in their prime years; Lito Sheppard, Sheldon Brown, Brian Westbrook, LJ Smith and Kevin Curtis.  The first three of course being main cogs in the present and future plans of this team.  Curtis is still a variable and all indications are that LJ not coming back.

The young guys?  Reggie Brown, Shawn Andrews, Jamaal Jackson, Todd Herremans, Chris Gocong, Omar Gaithers, Brodrick Bunkley, Michael Patterson, Trent Cole and Sean Considine.  Andrews is the only star amongst them.  The only anchor.  Other than him, not one of these guys has stepped up to show that they are a future star in the NFL.  Not one of them seems on their way to a pro-bowl.  Sure we have some young guys on the bench, but they're even more unproven than these guys.  Look at this list again and compare it to the list of veterans near the end of their prime.  Do you see a Dawkins on this list?  A Jevon Kearse?  A John Runyan?  I sure don't.  A team with mediocre youth and lots of "potential" is a team destined for the dark ages.

OK, now let's talk about the proverbial elephant in the room.  It really is all about Donovan.  Is this really the beginning of the end for Donovan?  If its not and he really is just rusty from his injury then we'll be fine.  The dark ages will be put on hold for at least another year or two, probably more.  But if this is the real thing, yikes.  Of course we have Kevin Kolb waiting in the wings, but ask yourself this, how long will it take Kolb to be as good an NFL quarterback as Donovan is when he's at his worst?  Think about that for a second.  Even on his bad days Donovan is still a nine year vet with multiple pro-bowl appearances, several playoff victories and a super bowl start.  How long does it take for an inexperienced QB who's never played in a pro-style offense let alone a pro game to be at least as good as a bad Donovan?  Two years?  Three years?  Never?

This could all be a moot point in two weeks.  If we beat Detroit and the Giants and go in to the bye 2-2, we're fine.  But the scary truth is that if we lose these next two games we really are staring into the great football abyss.  Our candle is still burning, in these next two weeks that candle either catches fire or it gets blown out.  If it gets blown out, it looks to me like its going to be dark for a long, long time.

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??

So I despise the way they run the team, but I’ve learned to give them benefit of the doubt, something that unfortunately most Eagles fans have not. After all, the Eagles have been in sniffing distance of a championship for more years under Reid than under all previous Eagles head coaches combined. So they must know something. You just have to dig a little to find it…

As we all know, this past Sunday, Reid spent his top draft pick on a Quarterback. A top notch QB you say…what in heavens for? We already have one. He’s helped us get to the playoffs six times in his eight year career and even took us to the Supe once! Sure he’s had a few injuries, but nothing chronic, right? I mean he’s only 30 coach! What are you thinking? Are you sending us a message about McNabb? Are you sending McNabb a message about McNabb?

Or do you have a plan?

Let’s flashback 20 years ago to draft day 1987 (doodle-oo, doodle-oo, doodle-oo): Bill Walsh, coaching genius, father of the West Coast offense and most likely hero to young Andrew Reid hangs up the phone with Tampa Bay GM Rich McKay and cements a curious trade. A 2^nd and 4^th round pick for a young and talented, but extremely raw QB named Steve Young. Not the Steve Young you know today, but the Steve Young who was about to be thrown into the recycle bin for a brand new Vincent Testaverde.

Now I was busy trying to graduate from high school right around then, so I’m not 100% sure what the reaction was, but I’ll bet there was some head scratching by the fans and maybe the media too. Something like…A QB? We’ve got one coach! His name is (ahem) Joe Montana. He’s taken us to the playoffs five times in his eight year career and he’s even won a few Supes coach! Sure he had an injury last year that sidelined him for half the season…but it’s nothing chronic right? I mean he’s only 30 coach!

Hmmmm……familiar?

Here’s what Reid’s thinking: McNabb might keep getting injured and I’m not tanking this whole thing just because of one guy (even if it is my best little buddy Donovan). On the other hand, he may have half his career left, but he needs to know that the clock is ticking. Either way, I’m here for the long term and that means long term plans for each and every position. That includes QB.

So, let’s go back to 1987 and see what happened next?

Montana came back from his injury and guided the team to four consecutive divisional championships and two more Superbowl rings, all while the threat of Young lurked behind the clipboard.

Then Montana got injured again...this time more seriously. He missed all of the 1991 season and most of the next and by the time he was fully ready to come back he found that the QB job was not his. Young went on to take the 49ers to the playoffs seven times in the next eight years and even notched his own Supe victory before retiring in 1998.

Off the top, I find it very difficult to believe anyone can think the Eagles the Eagles haven't improved in the free-agency period. The offense returns Donovan McNabb, retains Correll Buckhalter and adds defense-stretching receiver Kevin Curtis, who replaces defense-stretching Donte' Stallworth. Depth (Jeff Garcia) needs to be replaced at one position.

On the other side of the ball, the Eagles retains end Juqua Thomas, safety Quintin Mikell and cornerback William James, returns end Jevon Kearse and adds tackle Montae Reagor. Depth (Michael Lewis, Rod Hood, Shawn Barber) needs to be replaced, agreed.

On special teams, the Eagles add blazing speed in Bethel Johnson and retain Mikell, the MVP of the special teams the last two years.

 By the way, how much were you singing the praises of New England and Minnesota when they brought in Bethel Johnson and his blazing speed?

In an episode of "The Best Damn Sports Show" taped yesterday, receiver Donté Stallworth reiterated that he hopes to return to the Eagles but also elaborated on some possible destinations in free agency.

Stallworth, 26, came to the Birds in a trade last Aug. 28 for linebacker Mark Simoneau and a fourth-round draft pick that becomes a third if the Eagles sign him before free agency starts March 2. For that reason,]]>http://www.4thand26.com/journal/rss-comments-entry-916254.xml