Eagles announce 75th anniversary team

QB Eagles · September 09, 2007, 08:03:14 PM

The irony is that, according to this list, the best Eagles PR of the last 75 years is currently on the team, and yet we still had today's debacle.

Don Ho · September 10, 2007, 12:15:50 AM

i didn't vote for d mac.

recount, i demand a recount!

Bristow · September 10, 2007, 04:11:04 AM

No quinton caver? what about Greg Lewis......

ice grillin you · September 10, 2007, 06:52:22 AM

Quote from: QB Eagles on September 09, 2007, 08:03:14 PM
The irony is that, according to this list, the best Eagles PR of the last 75 years is currently on the team, and yet we still had today's debacle.

ha

Fan_Since_64 · September 10, 2007, 08:15:04 AM

Okay, I think I'd rather comment on this than yesterday's game. $:-\$

I definitely have my share of disagreements with the list. I'll just start with the offense:

QB - Nothing against Donovan, but I would still choose Norm Van Brocklin, as I did in the Who Was the Greatest Eagles QB series.

RB - Yep, Steve Van Buren is still the obvious selection. I can't find the list I created back in 2003 ranking the Eagles running backs all-time (paging GF!

), but the case is pretty overwhelming.

FB - Keith Byars isn't a bad choice, but the problem I have is that the nature of the fullback position has changed so much over the years, it is difficult to place the selection in context.

WR - McDonald and Carmichael are the correct choices. I liked Mike Quick, too, and he would be on my all-time second team.

TE - No argument with Pihos.

OT - Um, Thomas and Runyan as the two best ever? With all due respect, how can anyone overlook Hall of Famer Bob Brown? Stan Walters and Jerry Sisemore are arguably better choices. But I would pick Brown and Al Wistert, a perennial all-pro in the 1940s who should be in the Hall of Fame.

G - Way premature to pick Andrews. Wade Key? Decent player, but one of the two best?? Bucko Kilroy and Cliff Patton, who were the picks in 1965 (the only other official Eagles all-time team I'm aware of) probably are still the two best choices. Ron Baker would get my vote over Wade Key.

C - Can't argue too much with Bednarik, but when the 1965 all-time team was chosen, at a time when Bednarik was a much more recent memory, the selection was Vic Lindskog from the 1940s. Jim Ringo or Guy Morriss are worthy of consideration as well.

Okay, have to get to work, will comment on the defense, special teams, and coach later.

Don Ho · September 10, 2007, 02:59:47 PM

excellent 64. agree with you totally on Van Brocklin.

I am more shocked people voting even knew who Wade Key is. Seismore and Brown for sure at OT. Seismore was a stud.

Remember Norm Buliach who we got from the Colts in 1973? Was he considered a fullback?

TE - man Charles Young was sure good. Ended up with the Rams and played in Super Bowl XVI with 49ers.

What the hell do i know? I voted for Bill Bradley at safety, my all time favorite eagle (followed by Carmichael and LeMaster).

Fan_Since_64 · September 10, 2007, 03:19:37 PM

Quote from: Don Ho on September 10, 2007, 02:59:47 PM

I am more shocked people voting even knew who Wade Key is. Seismore and Brown for sure at OT. Seismore was a stud.

Remember Norm Buliach who we got from the Colts in 1973? Was he considered a fullback?

TE - man Charles Young was sure good. Ended up with the Rams and played in Super Bowl XVI with 49ers.

What the hell do i know? I voted for Bill Bradley at safety, my all time favorite eagle (followed by Carmichael and LeMaster).

Agree with you on Wade Key. Maybe he has a lot of relatives?

Norm Bulaich was indeed a FB, and a good one.

The Eagles have definitely had some terrific tight ends over the years - Young, who I liked a great deal, too, and Pete Retzlaff, Keith Jackson, Keith Krepfle, and John Spagnola. Pihos was actually a pre-TE playing in the late 40s and early to mid 50s, but was used much like a modern TE and had a Hall of Fame career.

Super Bill was my favorite player when I was in high school. Definitely a sentimental favorite.......but I'd vote for Dawkins as the all-time greatest Eagles free safety.

Don Ho · September 10, 2007, 04:26:15 PM

Yes, this team has had some very good tight ends over the years. Great 1-2 punch in the early 80's with Big John Spagnola and Krepfle. Unfortunately my lasting image of Krepfle was when they introduced the offense during SB XV pregame he looked like he was going to puke. He looked totally spooked. I remember telling my father "Look how uptight the birds look! This isn't good.". Raiders looked like they were on their way to a luau at Don Ho's beach cabana. Not a worry in the world.

Fan_Since_64 · September 10, 2007, 06:29:33 PM

Yeah, my dad and I were having the same reaction prior to that Super Bowl....

And now, as promised, for the Defense and beyond....

DE - Reggie White is a pretty obvious choice, and I agree with Simmons, too. Honorable mention goes to Carl Hairston and Hugh Douglas.

DT - Again, hard to argue with Jerome Brown and Charlie Johnson. Johnson was actually a nose tackle in the 3-4 defense of the Vermeil era, and a terrific one.

LB - No question about Chuck Bednarik here. Tough choices beyond that, and while I can certainly go along with Seth Joyner in the one outside spot, Alex Wojciechowicz is a bit of an odd choice for the other - not that he wasn't very good in his day (he's in the Hall of Fame after all), but he was more of a reserve C/LB when he came to the Eagles. Maxie Baughan would be my pick. And it's tough to leave Bill Bergey off the team....not to mention Frank Lemaster, Dave Lloyd.....and yes, Phreak, Jeremiah Trotter.

CB - Certainly no argument with Eric Allen. Troy Vincent is a solid choice, too, although an argument could be made for Tom Brookshier.

SS - Andre Waters is another solid choice, and a sentimental favorite. Randy Logan would be the chief competition, IMO.

FS - Of course, Brian Dawkins. With honorable mention to Don Burroughs, Super Bill Bradley, and Wes Hopkins.

KR - Timmy Brown is the logical choice, and they could have combined KR/PR and given it to Timmy and that would have worked just fine.

PR - Westbrook isn't all that illogical of a choice, although I would agree that there have been punt returners in the past who were talented and returned way more punts. As mentioned, Timmy Brown would work here, and so would Steve Van Buren (34 returns, 13.4 avg.) or his contemporary, Bosh Pritchard (91 returns, 10.7 avg.). Might have been nice to find a spot for Brian Mitchell (117 returns, 11.7 avg.) as well.

P - Landeta isn't a bad choice, but there are others....like Joe Muha, still no. 1 for the Eagles in both all-time and season punting average.

ST - Another sentimental favorite in Vince Papale and hey, why not?

Head Coach - Sorry Andy, but Greasy Neale is still the greatest Eagles head coach ever.

Sgt PSN · September 10, 2007, 07:15:18 PM

Nice lists 64. Obviously ST guys don't get a lot of recognition and few spend more than a few short years with a team before either moving on to another team for more money/playing time or just not cutting it. But wouldn't Ike Reese make a solid candidate as well? I never saw Papale play and other than the few highlights they show of him in the movie, I don't really know what kind of impact he made on a regular basis. I do know that Ike was one hell of a ST player though. Thoughts?

Geowhizzer · September 10, 2007, 08:24:36 PM

Thanks, Grampa!

Seriously, thanks for taking the time to bring up some solid names that could easily have places on the all-time list.

Fan_Since_64 · September 10, 2007, 08:32:59 PM

Very good points, Sarge. I got to thinking about special teams players from over the years, and no question, as you point out, they are typically guys that come and go fairly quickly and don't distinguish themselves as position players. Papale was a favorite because of the way he made the team, but I can't say that he was more memorable than others who have come and gone. Ike Reese was terrific on special teams, and consistently so with some memorable hits. There was another Ike - Ike Kelley back in the 60s - a reserve LB who I believe was the first special teams captain for the Eagles and was pretty good for a time. You could probably pick any one of those guys and it would be hard to argue. Guess that helps the guy with the compelling personal story.

Fan_Since_64 · September 10, 2007, 08:35:12 PM

Quote from: Geowhizzer on September 10, 2007, 08:24:36 PM
Thanks, Grampa!

lol!

Yep, time for me to sit and listen to some Beatles tunes while tapping along with my cane.

ice grillin you · September 11, 2007, 07:58:09 AM

gizmo williams

PoopyfaceMcGee · September 11, 2007, 08:23:48 AM

Quote from: Fan_Since_64 on September 10, 2007, 06:29:33 PM
PR - Westbrook isn't all that illogical of a choice, although I would agree that there have been punt returners in the past who were talented and returned way more punts. As mentioned, Timmy Brown would work here, and so would Steve Van Buren (34 returns, 13.4 avg.) or his contemporary, Bosh Pritchard (91 returns, 10.7 avg.). Might have been nice to find a spot for Brian Mitchell (117 returns, 11.7 avg.) as well.

I agree. Gotta go with Mitchell.

By the way, Billick put Ed Reed back for a PR for the Ravens last night. He hadn't returned a punt in 3 years...

He took it to the house. Must be nice.