Forgetful Fool

From the Desk of Eagles Outsider Barry Bowe

Dear Chip, you forgetful fool, as you can see by the date-stamp, I sent you this message last September 29 – that would be September 29, 2014. It’s a diagram on how to score from the Red Zone.

I learned this play when I was somewhere between the age of ten and twelve.

In case you forgot, you forgetful fool, that was the day you lost to the San Francisco 49ers – 26-21 – because you refused to punch it in when you were in the Red Zone.

Instead of getting Nick Foles under center and handing off to – say Chris Polk, who would run it straight into the end zone – you kept Nick in the shotgun and had him hand off to Shady McCoy deep in the backfield.

The 49ers, of course, pre-predicted you were going to do that and stuffed the play in the backfield. That decision cost you the win. That decision – plus similar decisions against the Arizona Cardinals four weeks later – cost you a 24-20 loss. Those two losses by themselves – in case you forgot, you forgetful fool – cost the Eagles a Playoff appearance.

By the end of the year, you finally got my message and starting sending Chris Polk straight ahead in the Red Zone and winning games. But by then it was too late to save the season.

Reversion

So here we are, eleven months later, and you’ve reverted to your old ways, you forgetful fool.

Last night against the Green Bay Packers, first quarter, you’re already ahead 6-0, and you’ve got the ball third and goal and about a foot from the goal line. That’s exactly where you should be running the play I diagrammed for you and scoring an easy touchdown.

But instead of putting Sam Bradford behind the center and calling for a straight-ahead handoff, you’ve got him in the shotgun. And the Packers, of course, pre-predicted you were going to do that and stuffed Ryan Matthews in the backfield for a loss.

Chip Kelly, you’re not just a forgetful fool – you’re a stubborn forgetful fool. It seems to me that – like Andy Reid – you’d rather lose doing it your way than win doing it the right way.

It’s easy to become elated with the success the Eagles have displayed in the first three preseason games thus far. They look to be a scoring machine. It’s easy to jump on the bandwagon and see victories and a possible progression toward the Super Bowl. It’s not so easy for most people to offer criticism under the current circumstances. But I’ve never been one to take the easy way out of anything.

I see you – and you stubbornness – as being the prime impediment that will prevent the Philadelphia Eagles from winning the Super Bowl under your tutelage – ever.

Pardon my French, Chip – but you gotta get your head outta your ass. Wake up and smell the pay dirt.

Like most Eagles fans, I want to see my team win the Super Bowl.

In addition to being an official Eagles Outsider, Barry Bowe is also the author of: