Winter of Discontent

"Now is the winter of our discontent..." – William Shakespeare

As I sat in front of the television watching the NFL Wild Card playoff games this past weekend, I found myself surprisingly disinterested. It took me a few seconds to pinpoint the reason for my indifference, but eventually it hit me like a ton of bricks.

I know the Flyers are nearing the midway point of their season and would qualify for the NHL playoffs if the season ended today. I know that the Sixers have shown signs, not only of playing well this season but of building for the future. I know that Phillies pitchers and catchers report to Clearwater in less than a month.

I also know that Philly is first and foremost an Eagles town, and with the Birds at home in January, the NFL playoffs don’t have the same allure. Each of the four games has had its exciting moments, but all in all, none has been must-see TV.

I even opted for the Republican Presidential Candidate debate for part of Saturday evening in lieu of the Redskins-Seahawks and Jaguars-Steelers games.

The fact that the Eagles are not in the playoffs doesn’t mean they’re not in the news.

Check out this recent blog posting:

"Now that the season is over and we are concentrating on 2008, I hope we are able to secure some playmakers in all three phases of the game…There is room for improvement. This is a competitive sport. It's about putting together the best players, the best team, and giving yourself the best chance to win. I bet that anyone who wants to see the Eagles win – from Mr. Lurie, to the entire locker room, to every Eagles fan who bleeds green would agree."

On the surface, this type of commentary is abundant and therefore not out of the ordinary. In fact, the opinions expressed above can be heard daily on WIP and from Eagles fans in all corners of the Delaware Valley and beyond.

What makes this particular article newsworthy is its author – Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb.

For the first time in his tenure in Philadelphia, McNabb is speaking out against the company line that the receiving corps is good enough to win a Super Bowl. McNabb has never been the type to publicly cry for help like this, and I for one am glad to see him doing it now.

Maybe he thinks his days in Philly are numbered and he’s got nothing to lose and everything to gain. Or maybe he feels, like I do, that this team is closer to the NFC Championship than not. Either way, hopefully Mr. Lurie and Mr. Banner will read and oblige.