1-1 — For Now
 
Well, let’s see. Sunday’s last season-style drubbing at the hands of the Philadelphia Eagles, last year’s NFC champs seemed to prove that in all likelihood, the 8-8 season I’d hoped for will be very hard to achieve.
 
Especially with no running game, no quarterback to speak of (except badly) no real O line, and not much of anything else, either.
 
We did prevail over the Rams at home, it’s true. But yesterday, it just seemed that the new stadium full of new devotees in new green and silver, as well as the old sods from the Vet, plus a kick-ass, well-coached team, with T.O. as team captain for the day, just couldn’t be stopped. And they couldn’t be.
 
Incidentally, Sunday offered yet another example of what a fine coach Andy Reid is. All players, once traded, love to make their former teams suffer as much as possible. It’s a way of avenging a huge slight—even though out of their mouths they’ll say it’s “all business.” It’s quite predictable among highly competitive individuals, especially professional athletes. 
 
Given how fragile T.O. is underneath all his b.s. and bombast, Reid knew enough to hit him right where his ego lives—making him Philly’s captain on the Sunday they were to play the Niners. T.O. responded right on schedule, making the most of the recognition he so craves from his coaches, fans, etc. It gave him the exact type of motivation he needed, just the right amount of flattery and validation. The guy is nothing if not predictable.
 
So it’s on to another week, and the Dallas Cowboys. Not much to hope for there for we layabouts who spend football Sundays drinking Rude Dude’s beer. What else is a fan to do? Unless Mike Nolan can suit up and play on the O-line, or throw a decent spiral, there’s not much he can do, either.

 
Posted - September 20, 2005