The Philadelphia Eagles remind me of my first car.
During winter break of my sophomore year at Appalachian State University in the late 1970s, I bought a used Chevy Vega. I then spent the next couple weeks learning how to drive a stick shift on deserted Beach Drive in Cape May before driving it back to Boone, North Carolina.
The car ran great for the first few weeks, then the troubles started piling up. It started leaking oil, which eventually led to me to carry a case of Quaker State in my back seat.
Later that spring, the clutch burned out during a trip to spend Easter with my roommate at his parents’ home in Thomasville.
A few weeks after that, while driving back with another friend from Charlotte, the windshield wiper blades fell off during a rain storm. Because it was Sunday, every store was closed. My brilliant solution was to wrap towels around the wipers in an effort to keep the windshield clear enough to drive back to campus.
The Eagles’ bandwagon is currently experiencing similar transmission and engine problems.
Retirements, injuries and other troubles have contributed to four straight losses that have left fans feeling disappointed and frustrated about the rest of the season.
The latest quandry involves quarterback Jalen Hurts.
Hurts missed last Sunday’s 25-14 loss to the Carolina Panthers after doctors discovered a blood clot in his leg.
A day later, it was determined that Hurts is actually dealing with deep vein thrombosis, as well as blood clots in his lungs. He will be treated with blood thinners and will likely miss the rest of this season.
Hurts’ situation is the latest in a series of unfortunate events that makes one wonder if Lemony Snicket is the Eagles’ general manager instead of Howie Roseman.
Over the course of the last six weeks or so, they’ve been hit with one setback after another.
All Pro tackle Lane Johnson decided to retire to attend to personal and family matters. Starters such as standout running back Saquon Barkley, guard Landon Dickerson, tight end Dallas Goedert and linebacker Zack Baun have missed games with injuries.
In addition, new offense coordinator Sean Mannion has yet to figure out a way to get the offense running smoothly. The defense has been better, but is also not the dominant unit of past season.
And coach Nick Sirianni is under fire for his inability to steer the team through the adversity.
They have lost four straight for the first time since the 2020 season. A loss to Dallas on Monday night would mark their first five-game losing streak in 32 years, when the Birds closed the 1994 season with seven straight losses under coach Rich Kotite.
The latest troubles have left Roseman and company with a dilemma.
Despite their 2-4 record, the Eagles are still contenders to win the NFC East. They are tied with Dallas for second place in the division behind the New York Giants (3-2-1).
Do the Eagles hope backup quarterback Tanner McKee and lead the team to the playoffs, even though an early exit appears likely?
Or do they trade key players such as Barkley, Baun and Goedert and start to rebuild?
There is also a decision to be made regarding Siranni. Owner Jeffrey Lurie has never been opposed to changing coaches.
Kotite was fired at the end of the ’94 season.
After that, there was 1998, when they struggled to a 3-13 record under coach Ray Rhodes. Lurie parted ways with him after that season.
Andy Reid’s distinguished tenure ended after the team slumped to a 4-12 record in 2012. A 2-7 swoon late in the 2015 season prompted Lurie to show Chip Kelly the door. Doug Pederson followed him after a 4-11-1 campaign in 2020, just three seasons after he guided the team to its first Super Bowl victory.
Sirianni will likely keep his job through the rest of the season, but it’s tough to keep the bandwagon rolling when you’re leaking oil and have towels wrapped around the wipers.
It could be worse, however.
My wife’s first car was a used Opel. The gas gauge was broken, so she had to use a yardstick to measure if she needed to stop for fuel.
Talk about running on empty.
Local NFL update
Jacksonville Jaguars running back LeQuint Allen, Jr. (Millville) gained 1 yard on one carry and also made a tackle on special teams in a 34-31 loss to the Houston Texans.
Dallas Cowboys safety Markquese Bell (Bridgeton) and Green Bay Packers wide receiver/kick returner Max Melton (Cedar Creek) faced off against each other in the Packers’ 23-13 win. Bell ranked second on the Cowboys with six tackles. Melton had one tackle on special teams and also played a few snaps on offense.
Arizona Cardinals cornerback Max Melton (Cedar Creek), Bo’s younger brother, had six tackles in an 18-16 win over the Los Angeles Rams.
Local boxing update
Three local fighters will be in action as part of boxing cards in Atlantic City over the next two weeks.
Atlantic City light-heavyweight Christian Figueroa (2-1, 1 KO) will be fighting at Showboat Hotel on October 31. He will face Cody Davis (1-0, 0 KOs) of Dallas in a four-rounder.
Figueroa’s brother, unbeaten super-welterweight Justin Figueroa (14-0, 11 KOs) of Atlantic City, will be the main event of Margate promoter Larry Goldberg’s show at Tropicana Atlantic City on November 13.
Justin Figueroa will take on Puerto Rico’s Luis Carabello Ramos (8-10-1, 8 KOs) in an eight-round rematch of a fight held on March 7. That bout was declared a no-contest when Ramos was unable to continue after being slammed to the canvas by Figueroa in the third round.
Pleasantville super-lightweight Julio Sanchez III (5-1, 3 KOs) will also be on the card at the Tropicana against an opponent to be named.
David is a nationally recognized sports columnist who has covered Philadelphia and local sports for over 40 years. After 35 years with The Press, he has served as a columnist for 973ESPN.com and created his own Facebook page, Dave Weinberg Extra Points. Send comments to weinbergd419@comcast.net.
Photo credit: Philadelphia Eagles Facebook
