Blast From The Past - How Close The Eagles Were To Moving To Phoenix

PhillyPhreak54 · February 17, 2006, 08:59:23 PM

A poster on the Philaphans board posted this. Its archives of the NY Times back in 1984 when the Birds were being talked about moving to Phoenix. I was only 5 at the time so I don't remember any of this, but I'll say this...for those people who rip Jeff Lurie just think about what types of owners this franchise has had. Especially the two people before Lurie. So rip him for being arrogant and rip him for the Gold Standard comments but just remember that he is responsible for this franchise being turned around.

NY Times archives

QuoteAlthough the Philadelphia Eagles continued to insist that no final decision had been made, there were strengthened indications yesterday that Leonard Tose, their owner, was prepared to move them to Phoenix, perhaps in less than a week. Senator Dennis DeConcini, Democrat of Arizona, said from his suburban Washington home that the move was virtually assured and that the announcement would probably be made Monday, the day after the Eagles finish their season in Atlanta. ''I have a very reliable source who says that that is going to happen,'' the Senator said. ''I'll be very surprised if the move doesn't take place.''

QuoteThe Philadelphia Eagles confirmed today that they were considering a move to Phoenix, an action that their owner, Leonard Tose, had recently said would be taken ''over my dead body.'' Ed Wisneski, the Eagles' director of communications, issued a brief statement saying, ''Leonard Tose is considering a move to Phoenix, but nothing has been signed, and no final decision has been made.'' At a news conference earlier in the day, after reports of a possible move had begun circulating, Mayor Wilson Goode said that a group of Philadelphia businessmen, in an effort to assure that the Eagles remain here, was prepared to match any offer Tose received from Phoenix interests.

Just think about it....what would've happened if the Eagles left? Would the NFL have given the city a new franchise ala the Browns? Would the name "Eagles" have gone with the franchise to Phoenix?

Wingspan · February 17, 2006, 09:08:47 PM

the next logical question would be, would the Philadelphia expansion team had won a superbowl by now?

DH · February 17, 2006, 09:21:25 PM

Leonard looks so much more like a football guy though...

Geowhizzer · February 17, 2006, 09:32:12 PM

Hard to believe it was that long ago.

I turned 14 at the end of that year, and I can remember this story. I was really upset for awhile. {robably shot out a new pimple in my teenage face. bastich Tose.

At the time, Norman Braman was considered a savior.

BTW- Would it have been the Philadelphia Rams?

Sgt PSN · February 17, 2006, 10:11:25 PM

Quotethe next logical question would be, would the Philadelphia expansion team had won a superbowl by now?

QuoteBTW- Would it have been the Philadelphia Rams?

MDS · February 17, 2006, 10:18:21 PM

That woulda sucked, huh?

Fan_Since_64 · February 17, 2006, 10:29:53 PM

This definitely brings back bad memories! I was really certain for a few days that the Eagles were on their way out of town, and very upset.

And had they gone, IMO we would have ended up with the Philadelphia Cardinals.

MDS · February 17, 2006, 10:32:59 PM

Look on the bright side, we would have had Timm Rosenbach and Johnny Johnson.

Sgt PSN · February 18, 2006, 12:58:05 AM

QuoteAnd had they gone, IMO we would have ended up with the Philadelphia Cardinals.

At least our reciever problems would be solved.

PhillyPhreak54 · February 18, 2006, 08:49:25 AM

Quote from: MDS on February 17, 2006, 10:32:59 PM
Look on the bright side, we would have had Timm Rosenbach and Johnny Johnson.

And Cuba Gooding Jr. too!

Wingspan · February 18, 2006, 11:13:34 AM

Quote from: Geowhizzer on February 17, 2006, 09:32:12 PM

BTW- Would it have been the Philadelphia Rams?

most likely it would have been the cardinals, since they moved next.

boy would THAT have sucked.

but the next question. if the eagles had moved. would you still be rooting for the arizona eagles? or the philadelphia cardinals?

Geowhizzer · February 18, 2006, 11:30:06 AM

Quote from: Wingspan on February 18, 2006, 11:13:34 AM
Quote from: Geowhizzer on February 17, 2006, 09:32:12 PM

BTW- Would it have been the Philadelphia Rams?

most likely it would have been the cardinals, since they moved next.

boy would THAT have sucked.

but the next question. if the eagles had moved. would you still be rooting for the arizona eagles? or the philadelphia cardinals?

Those alive at the time would have probably hurled themeselves off the Walt Whitman Bridge.

Rome · February 18, 2006, 02:18:58 PM

I agree about the Lurie comments.

Don Ho · February 18, 2006, 09:47:45 PM

Quote from: Geowhizzer on February 17, 2006, 09:32:12 PM

BTW- Would it have been the Philadelphia Rams?

So we would have won a Super Bowl. Sounds like a plan to me.

PhillyPhanInDC · February 19, 2006, 11:25:39 AM

Quote from: Sgt PSN on February 18, 2006, 12:58:05 AM
QuoteAnd had they gone, IMO we would have ended up with the Philadelphia Cardinals.

At least our reciever problems would be solved.

And that J.J Arrington kid is going to be a beast!