Eagles keep lowering the bar

By John McMullen

(Phan Magazine) - The Eagles are ballsy, I'll give them that.

This is the organization that fired a handicapped game-day employee for criticizing the club over the Brian Dawkins fiasco. When the employee, who happens to love the team so much he refuses to bad mouth it, apologized, he was met with no compassion or empathy by the club, just disdain.

At one time, I could actually defend the Birds for axing Dan Leone, a likeable fellow who is always there with a greeting and a smile when I am down at the Wachovia Center.

Sure it was classless but I've dealt with the Eagles over the years so I know going in, class is off the table. What Leone did was against team policy so if the organization was practicing zero-tolerance they had every right to let him go.

However, the Eagles' brass lost the few shreds of credibility they had left with the media when they signed Michael Vick and had the nerve to cite the ever-convenient, second-chance policy. A policy Leone certainly knows nothing about.

Let's see, handicapped usher who called the team "retarded" for letting go of its most popular player or the talented quarterback who viciously murdered dogs for six years...Hmmm, who deserves the second chance?

I'll let you be the judge.

The Eagles lowered the bar even further late last week when the right hand told its fans to ignore what the left was doing.

The head of the Eagles Youth Partnership penned a letter to previous donors in an pathetic effort to address concerns over the Vick signing.

"Since the announcement that the Philadelphia Eagles have signed Michael Vick, I have spoken with some of the Eagles Youth Partnership’s supporters. We hope you know ho important your support is every day for the more than 50,000 children we serve each year who face daunting odds, EYP executive director Sarah Martinez-Helfman wrote in the letter. "These children encounter dangerous circumstances and decisions daily in their neighborhoods that can land them in jail or worse. Our impact on these children is made in the winter, spring, summer and fall, when the football team is on the field, and when they are off. Regardless of who became the Eagles’ last draft pick, which trade the team made recently, or which player was cut, the Eagles Youth Partnership’s mission is steady and unwavering."

(Translation: We know Vick is a scumbag. Don't let the local kids fall into the same trap. )

"This was a complicated and personal issue for the Eagles, Martinez-Helfman continued. "Before signing Michael, many opinions were considered, including those we deeply value, from NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, former Indianapolis Colts head coach Tony Dungy, and the president and CEO of the Humane Society of the United States, Wayne Pacelle. Each of these individuals has spoken about their belief that Michael is truly remorseful. But more importantly, Eagles’ leadership has spent a considerable amount of time with Michael himself and believe in his potential to perform well on the field and do good in the community.

(Translation: I had to include this paragraph so Joe Banner wouldn't Dan Leone me.)

"For now, we want to make sure you know that Eagles Youth Partnership is very sensitive to the issue and remains committed to providing the children of the Delaware Valley with eyeglasses, books, playgrounds and other programs that will help ensure that those youngsters will grow up to have every opportunity to fulfill their true potential. We also want you to know how much we have appreciated your support."

(Translation: Please keep giving us your money so we can play both sides of the fence. Kids need glasses!)

Vick is not the villain in this story. Like many athletes, he's a narcissistic fool that was given a free pass his entire life and was likely so skewed, he didn't know the difference between right and wrong.

The Eagles are playing the bad guy better than Heath Ledger in Batman and it's a role that suits them.

Finally, Jeffrey Lurie and Company are truly "The Gold Standard."