Eagles face many more tough decisions
The release of Jeremiah Trotter is a clear sign that the Eagles have one eye on the future while they try to win in the present, writes Jeffri Chadiha.
The Philadelphia Eagles' decision to release middle linebacker Jeremiah Trotter shouldn't have been completely stunning. This team has given up on popular, aging players before, including long-time veterans such as Troy Vincent, Bobby Taylor and Hugh Douglas.
If anything, the painful part for Eagles fans should be the realization that the core of this team finally is starting to deteriorate. In fact, Trotter's departure is just the first indication that the Eagles are on their way to building a new foundation.
This is life in the NFL, by the way. The Eagles understand that as well as anybody because they quickly slashed the 30-year-old Trotter once they determined he truly had lost a step. Though I don't like the decision -- Trotter was undoubtedly the heart of that team -- I do understand the thought process of head coach Andy Reid and team president Joe Banner. Just as the late Bill Walsh once said, it's better to get rid of a player a year too early than it is to hold on to him a year too late.
| Tot | Solo | Ast | FF | Sack | Int |
| 113 | 88 | 25 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
The problem, however, is that the Eagles will have to face a few more of these decisions in the near future. They're getting older in a hurry and, to be honest, I really hadn't noticed until this season. One minute they were the undaunted, up-and-coming team that was continually fighting for NFC supremacy. Now they're a team filled with a fair share of thirtysomethings at key positions.
Take one look at their roster and you'll see that some notable players -- including quarterback Donovan McNabb, free safety Brian Dawkins, defensive end Jevon Kearse, recently added outside linebacker Takeo Spikes, and offensive tackles Jon Runyan and William Thomas -- have all left their 20s behind.
What this means is the Eagles are finally facing that same question that hounds every team at some point: How much longer can their window of opportunity stay open if they're going to win a championship with this bunch?
As Dawkins said earlier this month, "The older you get in this league, the hungrier you get. I really don't think much about my age [he turns 34 on Oct. 13] but I've also played 12 years in this league and we're still trying to win a Super Bowl. That part [winning a championship] is something that I do think about."
Dawkins had to be most rocked by Trotter's release, especially since they were the leaders of the defense. It's also hard to believe the decision didn't make all the older veterans ponder how much time they have left in Philadelphia. It's one thing to just say that this is part of the business. It's quite another to think that a team can just keep winning games without the same leaders who've been around year after year. Sooner or later, the changes catch up to you.
Now do I think that will happen to Philadelphia this season? No. The Eagles will find a way to replace Trotter because the truth is that second-year veteran Omar Gaither was going to split time with him anyway. The Eagles also have plenty of talent on defense, while the return of McNabb from knee surgery should reinvigorate an offense that succeeded in his absence last season. From the looks of things, they'll be right in the mix for a championship run once again.
But I doubt this team will be as strong once those other aging stars reach a point where their careers are in jeopardy. In fact, McNabb recently spoke about the importance of stabilizing the team when leaders like Trotter vanish.
"We're not the decision-makers, but as a player, when something happens, you have to make sure that the other guys understand that it could happen at any time, and that you'll be faced with a lot of different things in your career if you're still here," McNabb said.
"You'll see a lot of different things, but [you can] never lose confidence in what the task at hand is: to continue to work hard out at practice, push each other and try to achieve that common goal together."
Of course, it's easier to hear that message when teammates you care about are still lining up next to you. That harmony was what made the Eagles so intriguing during training camp. There was a definite buzz around them and Trotter exemplified that excitement as much as any player. Whether he was clowning around with Spikes, his newfound best friend, or exhorting younger players while standing on the sidelines, he generated a high level of exuberance that spread throughout the entire defense. You really got the sense that he couldn't wait for the season to start.
This week there was a different feeling coming from the Eagles. It was one of sorrow and disbelief and certainly a fair share of anger. It's difficult, but it's something this team has known before and had better get used to in the coming years. Trotter may have been the latest Eagle out the door. But Reid and Banner already have to be thinking about other tough decisions that will surely come earlier than many people would prefer.
Jeffri Chadiha is a senior writer for ESPN.com.
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