Confidence Problem - Friday, June 13, 2008
359 Views :: 0 Comments :: :: Michael Bradley

   There he was, Mr. Gold Standard, standing on the turf at the NovaCare Complex, and he was equivocating.

   "I don't want to say a headline, 'This is a Super Bowl-caliber team,'" Lurie said. "That's not a good thing to say."

   No, Jeff, it's a GREAT thing to say. It means you have the talent, experience and confidence to go the distance. It means you think the efforts of your coaches, executives and players will add up to big things. It means you believe in your club.

   Lurie wasn't even hiding from a brash prediction like "This is a Super Bowl team." He didn't want to say his squad was "Super Bowl-caliber." In a 16-team NFC that includes the Falcons, Cardinals, Lions, Bears and Panthers, disqualifying yourself from the "caliber" role leaves you pretty short of success. Lurie wouldn't have made headlines if he had said his team was Super Bowl-caliber, and even if he did, that's what the fans want to hear. Was he afraid that he would be fried if his squad fell short of that assessment? Well, here's a little news for you, sir: You're going to get criticized if the team doesn't make the Super Bowl, anyway, prediction or no prediction.

   It's time for this organization to let the people of this town know what its goal is. If the Eagles want to be good every year, sell a pile of tickets and host playoff games two out of three seasons, then say so. At least fans will be able to adjust their expectations, as distasteful as that may seem. But if Lurie wants to have his team be a true contender, then he must be more aggressive in his spending and drafting. He must seek playmakers at every position. And he must stop trying to look for a hiding place when things don't go right.

   Lurie doesn't want to make headlines with brash predictions, but he had better hope his team can generate some front-page, bold type, or he'll have more problems than just living down a wayward proclamation.