“As the draft commences on April 29, Eagle fans are given latest updates of their beloved team.”
In 2021, there have been numerous changes for the Philadelphia Eagles that left a mixed message for fans. In turn, looming questions remain on the state of the team and the franchise.
One question someone outside the realm of the Philadelphia Eagles would ask is who is to be blamed for the current issues facing the Philadelphia Eagles and be set as a reminder for future games. According to an article by Brandon Lee Gordon on SB Nation, during a Phillies game on April 19, there were reported shouts of “fire Howie” by Philadelphia fans (Gordon, SB Nation). For many Philadelphia fans, it is believed that the general manager Howie Roseman is responsible for the looming decline of the Philadelphia Eagles.
Back in 2017, the season with the great Nick Foles as backup quarterback, the Philadelphia Eagles were on top of the world with a 13–3–0 season and with their first Superbowl win against the New England Patriots; there were no limits to where they would go. In a different article by Gordon, during an interview with Howie Roseman after the Superbowl win in 2018, he stated that he was “[t]rying to get the second one” (Gordon, SB Nation). https://www.bleedinggreennation.com/2018/5/8/17332740/howie-roseman-eagles-super-bowl-run-fuels-him-win-another-interview-philadelphia-cowboys-repeat-nfl. The word “trying” at that time was mediocre to say about the Philadelphia Eagles since they got the job done.
At the time, the Philadelphia Eagles had a superpowered offensive and an immovable defense with stars like Jason Peters and, yes, Carson Wentz that led the Philadelphia Eagles to glory. Despite their achievement of winning their first Super Bowl, the Eagles were unable to capture another Super Bowl dream and later in 2020 had a humiliating defeat leading to a 4–11–1 record. On the bright side, at least Andy Reid, a former Eagles coach, captured a Super Bowl win in 2020.
To remedy the issue, decisions were made by the higher ups to fire offensive coach Doug Pederson on Jan. 11, 2021 and 10 days later hire Indianapolis offensive coordinator Nick Sirianni as the new coach. From ESPN, it was announced by the Philadelphia Eagles on Jan. 7, four days prior to Pederson’s firing, that defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz “will be leaving the team” (ESPN). With no known team identity and Wentz traded away to Indianapolis, it is a small wonder why the fans of the Philadelphia Eagles would chant those two words toward Roseman. If there was something that Philadelphia is good at, it is to express their outward expression to state a claim.
As the draft comes this week, fans are uncertain as to what the Eagles will decide in their new team. Due to the many changes in the Eagles roster, the Eagles currently stand with eleven picks, but there are five changes, according to Jimmy Kempski from Philly Voice (Kempski, Philly Voice). Rest assured, there is growing desire and hope from fans for better offense picks and defense picks. In particular, the desire to have someone like the Alabama wide-receiver Jaylen Waddle in the second round of the draft would constitute a better return for the Eagles offense, or a defensive end from Michigan in Kwity Paye for defense. Whether there will be numerous hardships or simple successes in the future, one thing is certain: the Philadelphia Eagles long for another chance to revitalize themselves and become a better team.
Nicholas Bartelmo is a fourth-year History major. NB790429@wcupa.edu
https://www.bleedinggreennation.com/2018/5/8/17332740/howie-roseman-eagles-super-bowl-run-fuels-him-win-another-interview-philadelphia-cowboys-repeat-nfl