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Flashback Friday: Philadelphia builds a “Dream Team” in 2011

By Geoffrey Knox

Dec 11, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Eagles mascot swoop waves a flag before action against the Washington Redskins at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 11, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Eagles mascot swoop waves a flag before action against the Washington Redskins at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /
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The 2011 version of the Eagles should serve as a reminder that you can’t completely rely on free agency to build a winner.

Picture being part of an NFL franchise housed in a city where the residents love their sports teams more than they love some of their own family members. Suppose that city, arguably, loved football more than any other game. Then, imagine seeing that city become so obsessed with winning its’ first Super Bowl that they’d do anything. Throw all of that in a really big pot, simmer until it boils and you’ve got what’s been going on in Philadelphia for a while.

2010:

Prior to the 2010 season, the Philadelphia Eagles promoted a new general manager, Howie Roseman, from his role of vice president of player personnel. Philadelphia named a new starting quarterback, Kevin Kolb. Then, Kolb got hurt. Michael Vick would take over, and Kolb never got his job back. After a wild ride of a season, the Eagles lost their first playoff game since 2006 to the Green Bay Packers.

The “dream” begins:

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Prior to the 2011 season, it seemed as though the Eagles and the entire city of Philadelphia were out of patience. There was a lockout that stretched from March to June, and in July, the Eagles went on a spending spree.

They traded Kolb to the Arizona Cardinals for Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie. Then, the team added Tennessee Titans defensive end Jason Babin and New York Giants wide receiver Steve Smith. Packers defensive tackle Cullen Jenkins was signed. So was Dolphins running back Ronnie Brown and Packers tight end Donald Lee. If that wasn’t enough, they’d also land, arguably the most sought-after prize of the off-season, Oakland Raiders cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha.

The dream becomes a nightmare:

They could have stopped there, but they didn’t. With Kolb no longer in the team’s plans for the future, the Eagles needed a backup quarterback. They dipped in the free agency pool again, and when they resurfaced, they had landed Vince Young. Young, in his first press conference as a member of the Philadelphia Eagles, referred to his new team as a “dream team”, and with that, an unraveling began that couldn’t be reversed. Every single one of those signings became a disappointment. Philadelphia struggled to an 8-8 record.

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The moral of this story:

You’re probably asking why we’d force you to think about one of the low points of this team’s history. It’s simple. The free agency period is approaching again. Hope is beginning to resurface, but “The Dream Team” must forever serve as a reminder. Free agency alone doesn’t build a winner.

As the Eagles juggle contracts and play around with the pieces of an ever-changing puzzle, we offer a cautionary tale. Dynasties aren’t built overnight. The same can be said for winners. The Eagles must find a balance of core players. Then, they’ll need to add a few quality free agents. Before you know it, the draft will be here. As a fan, you have to hope for the best, but like it or not, we’ll all need to be patient.

We all failed at that in 2011, but sometimes, that’s just how it works.

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