I don't have any inside information here, but pay close attention to the Eagles next two games. Remember these games because the jerseys we are used to seeing every week might not be out there next season.Two weeks ago, Duce Staley came back to Philadelphia and retired as an Eagle. All it did was remind us of how fleeting stardom can be, and how quickly our sports heroes are replaced by younger and cheaper versions.
In 2003, Duce Staley, Troy Vincent and Bobby Taylor were at the top of their games and leading the Eagles to yet another NFC championship game, but everyone could sense that the end of the road for them was near.
That season, Brian Westbrook was emerging as the ultimate weapon, ready to replace Staley as the focal point of the Eagles offense. Lito Sheppard and Sheldon Brown had gained experience and were prepared to replace the best cornerback tandem in Eagles history.
That off-season, we said goodbye to the memories of the pickle juice game and the 205 yards Duce racked up. We said so long to the memories of a young Bobby Taylor making a name for himself by shutting down and essentially mugging Michael Irvin. And of course, we must not forget Troy Vincent going 90 yards for a touchdown against the Cowboys after taking a lateral from James Willis, who had just picked off Troy Aikman in the end zone. That memory was sent to the back of our minds, as well.
Despite those fond memories, we had to say goodbye to that group, which brings me to the final two games of the 2007 season.
These last two games against the New Orleans Saints and Buffalo Bills could be the final times we see our current group of heroes wearing Eagle green. Like 2003, this could be the year the Eagles make the dramatic shift to get younger.
All the signs are there and the pieces are in place for Donovan McNabb, Brian Dawkins, Jon Runyan, and William "Tra" Thomas to be shown the door by Eagles management.
When the Eagles face the Bills on December 30, it could be the final time we see Donovan McNabb come out of the tunnel, pound his chest and point to the sky. It could be the last time we see Weapon X, Brian Dawkins, deliver a bone crushing hit to an unsuspecting receiver going over the middle.
Remember that Monday Night Football game where McNabb scrambled around for 14 seconds against the Cowboys and hit Freddie Mitchell for a 60-yard pass? That was some amazing vision he had in 2004, but it's almost 2008, and all McNabb can see is his 23-year-old replacement standing on the sidelines like a circling vulture. The Eagles chose Kevin Kolb in this year's draft instead of improving the current team and going for broke with Superfive.
Who can forget the hit Dawkins put on Alge Crumpler in the 2004 NFC title game? That hit left Crumpler doubled over on the turf for a few minutes, but as strong as B-Dawk has been, he's been the one laying on the turf quite a bit the last few years, and this season, he suffered a vicious stinger that kept him on the sidelines for half the season. We all know there's no quit in number 20, but living a normal life with fully functioning arms has to take precedence over playing for a team stuck in rebuilding mode. (I'll be completely honest, it will probably traumatize me not to see number 20 roaming around the secondary next year. I can't even remember who came before Dawkins at free safety.)
Big Jon Runyan, despite recently discovering his love for commercials, might be on his last legs at right tackle. He's started every game this millennium for the Birds, but this year, it seems like nagging injuries have lingered longer than usual. Runyan and Tra Thomas, who the Eagles drafted in the first round in 1998, have been the bookends of the offensive line for the last eight years, but with guys like Max Jean-Gilles, Nick Cole, Todd Herremans and Winston Justice gaining knowledge and experience, both Runyan and Thomas could be sent packing.
In the next two games, these four Birds won't be playing for a playoff spot, but they will be playing for pride and more importantly, a chance to solidify their rightful place in our memories.