Wow, so the Philadelphia Eagles are like the Miami Heat of the NFL now, eh? I can't tell you how many times I've heard or read this comparison being made. I just heard it on SportsCenter this morning via Jeremy Schaap.
For those not very cognizant about these two teams and why the comparison is being made, let me fill you in on the matter.
This past year, the Miami Heat signed LeBron James, Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh, three perennial all-stars and arguably two of the best five players in the NBA (James and Wade). James was the most sought after free agent and made his decision known on a nationally-televised interview on ESPN. The majority of people didn't care for these moves, especially of James' circus stunt on ESPN. Due to all of this, the Miami Heat became the most hated team in basketball this year. If you were even a casual fan and not living in Miami, chances are you pulled for the Heat to lose on a regular basis. In the NBA Finals, it's not as if the Dallas Mavericks had a sudden surge in popularity, because people from all across the country fell in love with the Mavericks. No, the majority of basketball fans just wanted to pull against Miami and with Dallas facing the Heat in the finals, these same fans suddenly became huge Mavericks' fans.
Taking all of that into consideration, let me now bring the Philadelphia Eagles into the discussion. Like Miami had been prior to their big signings this past season, the Eagles have been a pretty solid playoff-caliber team in recent years, but have been unable to get over that final hump. Actually, unlike the Miami Heat, who won a NBA Title not too terribly long ago, the Philadelphia Eagles have never won a Super Bowl. They have been to the big game, but have yet to hoist up the Lombardi Trophy at season's end.
Since the NFL labor agreements were made, the Philadelphia Eagles have been grabbing quite the headlines with all the signings they've made. They've signed: Nnamdi Asomugha, Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, Cullen Jenkins, Vince Young, Jarrod Page, Ronnie Brown, etc. These are all huge moves, especially for the Eagles' defense and secondary, in particular. Asomugha and Rodgers-Cromartie are Pro Bowl-type cornerbacks and as Eagles' fans know based on last year, they were in desperate need of help in the secondary.
For big-time football fans, we know these are huge moves. We recognize the names. We recognize Philly's needs in the secondary. However, what casual fan will recognize the names of Philly's two biggest signings? Nnamdi Asomugha and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie? Chances are slim to none, whereas these same types of fans would have no problem recognize the names of Lebron James and Dwayne Wade. In the world of sports, name recognition matters. What would grab a bigger headline - Deter Jeter signed by the White Sox or Jose Reyes signed by the Phillies? I'll tell you what the bigger headline SHOULD be. Jose Reyes is having a MVP-caliber season and if he stays healthy, is one of the best, if not the best shortstop in baseball right now. Deter Jeter has had a Hall-of-Fame-worthy career, but his best days are behind him. However, even non-baseball fans know the name Deter Jeter. So, while Reyes would be the bigger story in the world of baseball, Jeter would be the bigger story nationally. Whether the Miami Heat or Philadelphia Eagles made the better moves is arguable, but it's not debatable on which team's signings was the bigger national story.
Also, none of the Eagles' signees created a big stir by having a nationally-televised interview on ESPN to share with the world which team they were going to sign with.
Due to this, unlike the Miami Heat, the Philadelphia Eagles will not be the most hated team in football this year. ESPN may try to milk this for all its worth (okay, it's almost a certainty they will), but I doubt they'll be able to create as much traction with this story as they did with the Miami Heat all of last season. They will try, though. They will indeed try.
For those not very cognizant about these two teams and why the comparison is being made, let me fill you in on the matter.
This past year, the Miami Heat signed LeBron James, Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh, three perennial all-stars and arguably two of the best five players in the NBA (James and Wade). James was the most sought after free agent and made his decision known on a nationally-televised interview on ESPN. The majority of people didn't care for these moves, especially of James' circus stunt on ESPN. Due to all of this, the Miami Heat became the most hated team in basketball this year. If you were even a casual fan and not living in Miami, chances are you pulled for the Heat to lose on a regular basis. In the NBA Finals, it's not as if the Dallas Mavericks had a sudden surge in popularity, because people from all across the country fell in love with the Mavericks. No, the majority of basketball fans just wanted to pull against Miami and with Dallas facing the Heat in the finals, these same fans suddenly became huge Mavericks' fans.
Taking all of that into consideration, let me now bring the Philadelphia Eagles into the discussion. Like Miami had been prior to their big signings this past season, the Eagles have been a pretty solid playoff-caliber team in recent years, but have been unable to get over that final hump. Actually, unlike the Miami Heat, who won a NBA Title not too terribly long ago, the Philadelphia Eagles have never won a Super Bowl. They have been to the big game, but have yet to hoist up the Lombardi Trophy at season's end.
Since the NFL labor agreements were made, the Philadelphia Eagles have been grabbing quite the headlines with all the signings they've made. They've signed: Nnamdi Asomugha, Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, Cullen Jenkins, Vince Young, Jarrod Page, Ronnie Brown, etc. These are all huge moves, especially for the Eagles' defense and secondary, in particular. Asomugha and Rodgers-Cromartie are Pro Bowl-type cornerbacks and as Eagles' fans know based on last year, they were in desperate need of help in the secondary.
For big-time football fans, we know these are huge moves. We recognize the names. We recognize Philly's needs in the secondary. However, what casual fan will recognize the names of Philly's two biggest signings? Nnamdi Asomugha and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie? Chances are slim to none, whereas these same types of fans would have no problem recognize the names of Lebron James and Dwayne Wade. In the world of sports, name recognition matters. What would grab a bigger headline - Deter Jeter signed by the White Sox or Jose Reyes signed by the Phillies? I'll tell you what the bigger headline SHOULD be. Jose Reyes is having a MVP-caliber season and if he stays healthy, is one of the best, if not the best shortstop in baseball right now. Deter Jeter has had a Hall-of-Fame-worthy career, but his best days are behind him. However, even non-baseball fans know the name Deter Jeter. So, while Reyes would be the bigger story in the world of baseball, Jeter would be the bigger story nationally. Whether the Miami Heat or Philadelphia Eagles made the better moves is arguable, but it's not debatable on which team's signings was the bigger national story.
Also, none of the Eagles' signees created a big stir by having a nationally-televised interview on ESPN to share with the world which team they were going to sign with.
Due to this, unlike the Miami Heat, the Philadelphia Eagles will not be the most hated team in football this year. ESPN may try to milk this for all its worth (okay, it's almost a certainty they will), but I doubt they'll be able to create as much traction with this story as they did with the Miami Heat all of last season. They will try, though. They will indeed try.
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