Let Me Tell You Why I Hate the Eagles as a Football Team

(Note: the following is a guest post by Jamie Mottram of Mr. Irrelevant fame, not to be confused with Enrico or myself, both die-hard Eagles fans...)

As a lifelong DC sports fan, I don't care about the Phillies, Sixers or Flyers, but I hate me some Eagles. Not so much because of their team or fans or successes, but because the NFL is just different: the rivalries are more intense, there's more at stake in divisional games and the fans will ruin your life for three solid hours if you show up at their stadium in away colors. I don't think it was always like this between the Redskins and Philadelphia though.

 

Back in the '80s and early '90s, pro football and my primary rooting interests focused on the NFC East. The Redskins, Cowboys and Giants combined to win eight of 14 Super Bowls while the Eagles and Cardinals never sniffed a title game. Now, admittedly, the Eagles were pretty good some of the time and the Cardinals were among the dregs of the league, but no one confuses the accomplishments of Buddy and Kotite with those of Gibbs and Parcells. More importantly, to me at least, is that Philly was an afterthought, just two more games on the schedule between and around clashes with Dallas and New York. That era is bygone now, and it was shortly thereafter that the tides changed.

 

In Washington, Joe Gibbs walked away and they've stunk ever since. Save for two 10-6 seasons -- one in '99 and again in '05 -- they haven't sniffed the postseason in 15 years. Meanwhile, just two and a half hours northeast, Philadelphia became the class of the NFC East. Andy Reid and his formidable FUPA took over in '99, and the Eagles have averaged 10 wins a season. As a point of comparison, neither the Giants, Redskins or Cowboys have averaged as many as seven. Yet something strange is happening here, because the venom I've always spat on New York and Dallas is saved on Philly.

 

When Sehorn took that INT to the house in the NFC Championship I almost vomited. And when Romo botched that snap in the Playoffs I immediately commenced celebratory chugging (and then almost vomited for different reasons). But when FredEx came down with 4th-and-26 I silently smiled. I'm not sure how or why, but somewhere along the line I'd come to begrudgingly root for the Eagles, if only a little bit. Maybe it was through Reid's steady hand and nightmarish personal life. Or perhaps it was McNabb's sympathetic leadership, Freddie's faux-hawk or Hugh Douglas' Badassadorship, but at some point the Eagles went from being the only Philly and NFC East team that I hated to the only one that I actually respect.

 

Jamie Mottram is the editor of FanHouse and blogs on Mr. Irrelevant. Pictured above is Mr. Mottram toasting McNabb's Madden Curse Year.

Comments

[BGN]

I've always felt differently about the Skins than I do the Giants and Cowboys. I can't stand those two teams, while I've always more or less been indifferent to the Skins.

Not exactly sure why. The rivalry has just never been the same as with those other teams. Frankly, I dislike most of the NFC South more than I dislike the Redskins.

[Rob I.]

I'm a lifelong Giants fan who has recently began to admire the Eagles. Maybe it's because my sister lives in Philly now or maybe because McNabb and Westbrook are so gosh darn likable. The last time I remember despising the Eagles was at that playoff game Mr. Mottram mentioned.

My ire has always been and will always be directed towards the Cowboys and Indi...err Redskins.

[sid]

Great Point, i have lived in or around philly all my life and i have to say i feel the same way. I f-ing hate the cowboys, giants, mets, yankees, knicks and nets, but the redskins, wizards and nationals don't bother me at all, i wonder why this is?

[T]

i hate boston, and the fact that if you're from there you are either a complete homophobe or incredibly flamingly homosexual, or tom brady

[gootman]

Washington teams and Philly teams are never good at the same time. Kinda strange.

I really hated the Redskins when Stephen Davis was running all over us, but even since Spurrier flapped his lips on MNF I haven't really given them too much thought.

[Nathan]

I have to agree- I hate the Giants and the Cowboys, but really don't mind the 'Skins. And I could watch that Steve Spurrier puffer fish face replay time after time and still laugh. That's not saying my feelings wouldn't change if Washington started clobbering our beloved Eagles twice a season. McNabb and Westbrook are likeable fellows- but I think everyone loves the Freak and Dawk

[Ben]

I went to school in DC and my roommate was a huge Redskins fan. Like most Eagles fans I didn't give the Redskins much thought and you're right, it is odd there is so little rivalry between the teams. I think as someone pointed out above that the Eagles and Redskins don't seem to ever be good at the same time.

Or maybe it's because they hate the cowboys, too.

[the Krisheim]

GAYEST POST EVER.

[Joe Manning]

I also hate the Redskins less that the Cowboys or Giants - not really sure why. I guess because we've handled them pretty handily for the past few years, so they haven't been an issue.

On a somewhat related note - I was at the game (and one section over) when Eagles fans threw beer on Clinton Portis' mom. Trust me, she had it comming.

Also, I would like to personally thank "The Krishein" for his substantial and thought-provoking contribution to this topic. Rarely do you find someone who is able to penetrate right to the core of an issue, and add something that not only showcases the authors intelligence, but provides the reader with an oppurtunity to look at things from a different perspective.

[the Krisheim]

joe -

no "n" in "The Krisheim," FYI.

xoxoxoxoxox

[Matt P]

Daaaaaaammmn! Joe! Buuurrrn! He's right, there's no N at all! serrrrved.

[the Krisheim]

creativity or humor are not strong points of this blog, so sad.

i like the teams as much as you guys do, believe it or not, i just don't take "writing" on an internet site as serious you guys do, apparently.

if you guys can't see the humor in a redskins fan writing about a "soft spot" in his heart for a division rival, you guys need to go out more.

[gootman]

Stop being such a douche and maybe someone will find the humor in your comments.

[the Krisheim]

i don't have any strong opinions on what division teams i have "respect" for, sorry.

i do know that i hate the giants much more now, than i ever did growing up, probably because randall and co. always had their number, even when they were walking away with the rings.

[Annie]

The only thing I took offense to in that post was Andy Reid's "FUPA". Do we really need to go there? It's ANDY. We heart Andy! He's like the new Vermiel! You can't hate on Andy.

Also, as a member of the Linc Tailgating Crew and game audience, I have to tell you, we ain't the punks we get made out to be. (disclosure: I work for Philly tourism)

A lot of us in the stadium are happy to have the opposing team fans there - we like to face the losers after a great iggles win. So don't believe the hype, yo.

[Gabe]

As a Skins fan, for years I have inexplicably hated the Eagles less than I hate the Giants and Cowboys. Much, much less.

I think it's because the Eagles rise in success coincided with the Redskins demise, and back when when the Skins were good, the Eagles were never a real threat.

That, or maybe McNabb is just a fraction as hateable as Jr. Manning or Romo.