Howie Roseman only sees one path to becoming the greatest Eagles team in franchise history
Here's a discussion that we have been waiting on for a while. Once we heard the shot heard 'round the world or, in this case, the clip posted on Twitter and YouTube of Philadelphia Eagles Vice President/General Manager Howie Roseman boarding Chris Long's RV, we knew the Green Light With Chris Long podcast had something in store for us. We recently checked out their discussion, and we're inclined to give it the thumbs up.
In what's becoming a normal occurrence, another media appearance for Howie delivered some entertaining talking points and sound bites. The best might have come when everyone's favorite G.M. answered a question that we all have asked and/or answered at one time or another.
Stop us if you have heard this one before.
""That team, last year, I said (was) better than our Super Bowl team. And, I don't always think (that) winning the championship is the best barometer (of) whio the best team is... But, I do think this team was better than our team. Would you agree"? "
- Chris Long, Green Light
Howie's answer? Seriously? What do you think Howie's answer was?
"No, because we didn't win a world championship. And, I think, at the end of the day, it's like fingers on your hand. It's like... You know what? Everyone says they don't have a favorite kids. Everyone loves their kids the same, but everyone has kids they like more..."
"Who's your favorite kid?" Chris asks. Howie replies by saying "I can't tell you" before finishing his thought.
"I think it's the same with teams. I remember Fletch (Fletcher Cox) got asked (the same question) in the divisional round, and he was like 'The '17 team is better'. (He didn't want to create) the expectations. You know what stinks? I was thinking about this because of the basketball playoffs. One game...If you get a seven-game series... I mean you can't obviously in the NFL, but it's like one game... (If) one thing happens, it changes the whole game, right? It changes your life. I feel like, that team, the effort (and) the camaraderie of that team was unbelievable, but (the '17 team was like that too)... In '17, we probably had a little more adversity than this team did... We probably had about 20 plays that each had to go the right way to win a world championship (in Super Bowl LII), and I almost feel the opposite (happened) last year. There were 15 plays (where) if one goes the opposite way, we're world champs. "
Who's thinking what we're thinking? Again, stop us if you have heard this before.
Howie Roseman is right. There's no need to compare any team to the 2017-2018 Eagles unless both squads won a Lombardi Trophy.
Most would agree with Howie Roseman's statement. Now, let's ask the question Chris Long posed earlier again. Is (Team X), in this case, last year's Eagles, better than the 2017-2018 Philadelphia Eagles? If not, is there another team that compares? Here's where the rubber meets the road.
There's no need in beginning the conversation unless any team with an argument ended their campaign by hoisting the Vince Lombardi Trophy.
The most recent iteration of the Eagles set new benchmarks for the franchise, almost too many to remember. Still, on football's grandest stage, they ended their season by watching the confetti fall on another team. Thus, rather than being the best team in franchise history, they might be the most disappointing, and they play second fiddle to the only Eagles squad that won it all. Period... Point blank... End of sentence...
Heck, the 2007 New England Patriots won every game EXCEPT their last. Do we remember them as one of the best teams of a dynasty. We don't, do we? No one needs to be reminded why we don't.
No one will ever forget the 2022-2023 Philadelphia Eagles, for good reasons and bad. They hold a special place in our hearts, and they shouldn't hang their heads. They should be proud of what they accomplished. One Eagles team stands alone though.
People often discuss how great teams are 'on paper', but there's only one way to become the greatest Eagles team ever. You have to win that 'chip' to enter the conversation. Can this year's roster get it done? Some are saying that this unit has the potential to be better than last year's Birds, but they have a lot to live up to. If you doubt that, just ask Howie Roseman.