Open Letter to Eagles #2

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Dear Philadelphia Eagles Executives,

A little more than a year ago, I sent an open letter to you expressing the frustration and hopelessness that I felt as a Philadelphia Eagles fan.  That letter was read over the air at WIP and received considerable support on Twitter.  After the conclusion of another season, I feel that I owe you another letter.

First of all, congratulations on winning the Division and exceeding the expectations of most Philadelphia Eagles fans.

Thank you for bringing in Chip Kelly.  The guy is sharp and his ability to adjust in-game and to different quarterbacks is impressive.  I was a member of the Gus Bus Bunch and slightly disappointed when Chip was hired over Gus.  However, I’ve been won over, which is not to say that Gus won’t go on to be a successful coach in Jacksonville.

When I listen to Chip’s press conferences, I, once again, feel like a member of the Philadelphia Eagles community instead of an outsider who doesn’t deserve actual answers to questions from the press no matter how much time and money I spend on the team.  Chip is accessible via interviews and he’s real.  They are both a fantastic change of pace.

The past two drafts have also been impressive.  I know that we were skeptical of Howie Roseman’s ability as GM, but he appears to be a smart guy who isn’t afraid to surround himself with smart football people.  That’s impressive and says a lot about Howie.  Many young and unproven GM’s would be too insecure to bring in the two Tom’s (Donahoe and Gamble).  It’s also cool that Howie is accessible to the fans with a weekly WIP call-in show.  I’m looking forward to Howie’s defense-heavy draft in May.

Thanks for the great Fly Eagles Fly videos.  Those videos were all well-done and embrace our blue-collar nature as fans.  In the past, I had felt as those the organization may have been trying to polish-up our image as Eagles fans.  We aren’t a glamorous bunch, us Philadelphians.  The videos this year really celebrate the grit and fortitude that us fans wear proudly as a badge of honor.  This ain’t Tampa or Arizona.  As Chip Kelly said, this is Philadelphia and we fight. It’s good to feel embraced as we are.

Thank you for letting WIP bring mystics and people of the cloth into the Linc to help end the home game drought.  Did it really have anything to do with the four game winning-streak at home?  No one will ever know.  However, it was good, light-hearted fun and sometimes it’s nice not to take things too seriously.

shining_hopeWhile my last letter was out of frustration and hopelessness, this letter is purely out of gratitude and hope.  I didn’t expect the Eagles to win the Super Bowl this year and don’t know if I expect one next year.  However, it’s not out of the realm of possibilities.  That’s a huge difference from past years.  No longer does it feel as though the organization is treading water.  For the first time since maybe 2008, I possess hope that a Super Bowl is in the near future with a Roseman/Kelly/Foles core.

In closing, I say thank you.  Thank you for the 2013 season.  Thank you for Chip Kelly.  Thank you for re-instilling hope. Thank you for making football in Philadelphia fun again.  And, in a bit of anticipatory gratitude, thank you for the signing of run-stuffing D Tackle Paul Soliai and for the return to Kelly Green−pun intended.

These are just one fan’s opinion.

E-A-G-L-E-S!

Sincerely,

Violations Greg