Akers Away from the Super Bowl
James Dugan
Kevin BurkettThe Dream Team: that is what I have been hearing about the upcoming 2011-12 Philadelphia Eagles. I have been dreaming about the interceptions and the long bombs to Desean from the able arms of Vick and Young. I have almost forgotten Green Bay, which is quite easy to do in August. But heading up 95 North to the Ben Franklin Bridge to escape to the shore on Saturday, I was awakened by the Akers' Billboard that thanked the fans for his time here in Philly. And though I remember those two missed kicks last January, I couldn’t remember who the last kicker the Eagles had 12 years ago? Then I panicked, and I said who is doing the kicking this year?
I am like thousands of Eagles fans. I want them to win at any cost and finally bring the Lombardi Trophy to Broad Street. But there is something wrong with cheering for the Heartless Eagles. Dismissing McNabb and Westbrook, booting Staley, and now dropping Akers (after 188 games), the Eagles show little loyalty and they have very little to show for it. Akers’ billboard was the first I heard of his departure and as the most successful of the Eagles kickers, I wonder if there will be negative Karma coming our way. After Reid blamed him for the Green Bay loss last year, even as he knew of his child’s illness, I wonder if this will be the final sin that would burn our organization’s soul, meaning we will become the Dallas of 2010-11.
Releasing Sav Rocca, 64 games played and tied with Jeff Feagles for Eagles Punters, is another part of the gaping question concerning our fall warriors. Will they be able to measure up to the excellence we expect from our kicking specialists? With all the talent on both sides of the ball, the special teams, as I have heard on telecast after telecast, is what wins or loses games. Will two rookies lead us to the promised land when all the January chips are on the line?
Alex Henery and Chas Henry are the replacements for the veterans. With a team and organization hell bent on winning, they Can't Afford Growing Pains. Though they have excellent collegiate records and played in pressure packed leagues, will they be instantly ready for the NFL lights? The Eagles need them to be because they took a big chance in letting veterans go when they seem to be on the cusp of something great. We will be hoping that Henery will be our Tom Brady and make all his career dreams come true by the end of his first season.
As I was talking about the upcoming season with one of the most knowledgeable Eagles fans I know, I could not help but be optimistic. He said this place would be wetter than Niagara Falls come January. With rookies doing the most pressure packed parts of the game, I am getting my raincoat. So to follow Our Probable Ending, I will give you my prediction:
The rain will be pounding down as the dark autumn dusk descends in the south end zone. The Giants will be up by 2, 16-14, as the Eagles drive to the 25 for a chance to win. The field goal team that has been stellar all year will be asked to kick us into the playoffs with the win over New York. Lincoln Financial falls silent as the long snapper shoots one back to the rookie holder while the rookie kicker approaches to the roar of the crowd. Mudville will be happier in the canons of history.
We may have left more than our heart in San Francisco.
Reader Comments (5)
I agree that the Eagles are a team that can be difficult to root for. Their management and ownership are so disconnected from the fans that it often repels them, making an already critical Philadelphia fan base resentful. It's part of the reason I would take a Phillies world series over an Eagles super bowl any year.
The odd thing about Reid's Akers criticism, aside from it coming at a time when Akers was dealing with matters much more important than football games, was that Reid has always shielded his players from criticism. Despite his many flaws, Reid has always stood up for his players and gone out of his way to deflect blame from players to himself.
If you're right about Karma playing a role, the Eagles may be in trouble--even without the Akers situation, they have built up plenty of bad Karma over the years!
You are right -- games can be won and lost by special teams. Which reminds me... the Eagles lost the Super Bowl by three points. Akers missed two field goals. The Eagles lost by three. Last year, Akers missed two against the Pack -- the Eagles lost by five. Clearly special teams can lose you the game.
Your logic of letting go players goes two ways because they have held onto Akers arguably for too long and they held onto McNabb for too long and look at what it got them- too many missed opportunities.
I no longer feel any emotional connection to these players. I simply want them to win for us. That's it. And if they can't, good riddance. However, I still think the biggest detriment to this team is our coach, plain and simple, and I've been saying it for years. While I love the outlook of this team, you have an inexperienced defensive coordinator; a questionable quarterback (injuries, ability to maintain success- look at the 2nd half of the season after teams starting seeing more tape of him); young special teams which will be a big factor in the playoffs if we make it; and still the worst game management coach in NFL history.
I'll cheer and support and do whatever I must, but it won't be without my rainy reservations.
I guess I'm at odds with most fans, but I kind of like the Eagles willingness to refresh different squads every few years. Edmonds is right that it's a double edged sword, because you might lose veteran players too early, like the case with Dawkins, or hold on to them too long as with McNabb.
I have been kind of out of the sports loop the past few weeks as the political drama has been absorbing my attention. However, I'm excited this year for the Eagles. Traven is right that when you see big losses come because of two makable field goals, it's time to revamp your special teams. The coaching staff seems to be doing just that and maybe this year the Eagles will find that balance of old and new. Let's give Big Red one more chance to make it right...
Need I say more? I am a seer. Edmonds you should post this again and I will pick anyone's lottery numbers for a half share this week. I am so mad, I can't see straight.