Yes, folks, if it's a Saturday in September, it must be time for the dreaded Eagles pick.

Once again I will attempt to dazzle readers (yeah, I know, both of them, and my wife doesn't count) with my football acumen. It comes from a lifetime of bleeding green, including more games than I want to remember from the nether reaches of the 700 level at The Vet. I wonder if most of those guys who inhabited that raucous joint (and I use that term in all its meanings) are still alive.

At any rate, it's on to the season opener.

I have two words for you, Iggles fans: Deja vu.

Andy Reid has decided to give us an instant replay. Remember, this is the guy who last year did not think it necessary to have someone on the team who could catch a punt. The result was a deflating loss to Green Bay. It was all downhill from there.

And please, don't tell me they ended the season with three wins.

Fast forward to this year. King Andy has decided to enter into the 10th year of the Donovan McNabb-Andy Reid era without a fullback. Honest. You can't make this stuff up.

Tony Hunt, who starred as a tailback at Penn State, is going to start at fullback Sunday. He has all of two weeks experience in the pre-season, and Reid has deemed him good to go at the fullback spot.

That's the guy who picks up the blitzes and keeps Donovan McNabb from being blind-sided. After all, it's not like McNabb has a history of injury problems, or anything.

Then there is wide receiver. That's the spot the Eagles' brass continues to carp is fine, while the loyals scream for a game-breaker. We have one, but he's a rookie. But with Kevin Curtis and Reggie Brown down with injuries, your starting receivers Sunday look like DeSean Jackson and Hank Baskett.

Drafting Jackson just might be turn out to be the best move Reid and Tom Heckert ever make. The dynamic rookie will also be handling the punt return duties. He showed in the exhibtions that he has the ability to turn games around. He's a true game-breaker. But he does not come with what you would call an NFL body. Whether he can take the rigors of every-down play in the NFL remains to be seen.

McNabb is likely to be looking for him early and often Sunday. When he's not looking up at the sky from another missed blocking assignment from Tony Hunt.

Of course, there is always the other option, that the Eagles simply rely on a steady diet of all-everything back Brian Westbrook. They could do a lot worse.

I have a bad feeling about this one, and the season in general.

Don't include me in all those hyping the Eagles to be in the Super Bowl. I don't see them getting there without a ticket.

Make it another depressing season opener as the Rams prevail, 19-16. I see the Eagles 7-9 on the season.

Let's go, Phillies!