Health Key to Birds' Redemption
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by user Sportsinquirer
The sweltering heat in Philadelphia has helped thaw the freezing cold winter that was the Eagles offseason. Officially out of town is WR Terrell Owens (he'll be back for a wallop on Oct. 8), and officially in town is Jabar Gaffney (left).
Sure it may seem like a disappointing bait-and-switch, but it fits the formula of the Eagles success. The Birds played in four straight NFC title games without that "go-to" guy, finally making it back to the Super Bowl after the 2004 season. So not having a "stud" out there isn't all that alarming.
The thing that Philly must do is stay healthy. Last season (6-10) was punctuated by a rash of boo-boos to key players on both sides of the ball. This season though, the Eagles brass got wise and landed themselves Jeff Garcia, a very capable QB to back up Donovan McNabb. Even if the former scrambler fails to make it out of the pocket healthy, the Eagles playoff hopes won't be immediately dashed.
If the Eagles manage to stay healthy, the chances of making the playoffs are great. This year's team is much like the ones that went to the NFC title games and Super Bowl, and managed to go 66-26 from 2000-2004.
One key to the season that the players must remember is that this could be the last hurrah. Another disastrous season like 2005, and the team will have to make some serious personnel decisions.
http://mikesphillysports.blogspot.com/
Date
Wed 08/02/06, 1:08 pm EST
