Doug Pederson compares his Eagles to the ’96-’97 Packers
Don’t tell Doug Pederson he doesn’t believe in his Eagles team.
Older Philadelphia Eagles fans will remember Reggie White‘s time in “The City of Brotherly Love” and remember him fondly. If you ask any one of them, they’ll also be able to tell you how they felt when he informed an Eagles organization and their fans that, after spending time in prayer, he believed God wanted him to join the Green Bay Packers.
After doing so, the Packers went on to win 13 games in consecutive seasons. Both of those seasons ended up in a Super Bowl appearance. They’d win it in 1997 and lose to the Denver Broncos in 1998. Ironically, two guys every current Eagles fan knows were there to see it all. Former Eagles head coach Andy Reid served as an assistant to Mike Holmgren. Current team head man and eventual Reid understudy Doug Pederson was still in his playing days and served as a backup to Brett Favre.
Maybe you remember those days vividly. Maybe you don’t. Either way, if you’re a football fan, you’re aware of the fact that the Packers were at the top of the NFL in those days. Well Eagles fans, your head coach has got some good news for you.
He believes his current team to be on equal footing talent wise, maybe even better. Here’s a direct quote:
“I look back at my time in Green Bay as a player when we were making those playoff runs and those Super Bowl runs there, and do we have as much talent on this team than we did then? We probably have more talent, right?”
Another Dream Team?
Philadelphia Eagles
Pederson’s comments have irritated some and sent an adrenaline rush through others. They’ve also brought up another memory that Eagles fans wish they could forget and probably never will. It all took place on a summer day in 2011. Vince Young, part of a team free-agency spending spree, took the podium and what came out of his mouth were two words that will forever be remembered by Eagles fans: “Dream Team”.
In Young’s defense, he wasn’t guaranteeing a Lombardi Trophy. He was just expressing his excitement of potentially being a part of something special. The same can be said for Coach Pederson and his comments. There’s just one thing, much like what happened with Young, the media can get a hold to these types of things and run with them. It gives opposing teams bulletin board material. Pederson has been a player and a coach. He should probably know better right?
How good can this team be?
So what do we make of these comments? Does this Eagles team have more talent than those great Packers teams? Keep in mind the fact that Green Bay had two players that will forever be remembered as two of the best to ever play their respective positions. The Eagles don’t have that yet. Sure pieces are in place, but there’s a long way to go before anyone would consider this to be a roster most would consider to be Super Bowl caliber.
Next: Is Peters the best Eagles lineman ever?
In the meantime, some of us are starting to understand why Pederson doesn’t always address the media. It might just be better to handle things that way. Last year’s playcalling has already taught us there may be something wrong with the decision-making process.