If you want the No. 1 reason the Eagles aren't living up to their aspirations and your expectations, refer to Reid's lead item: injuries.
You will not hear a coach or player at the NovaCare Complex pinning the losses on the field to the losses in the lineup. Safety Quintin Mikell said injuries were never an acceptable excuse.
"Not in my opinion," he said. "The way that I came up, if there's an injury in front of you, that's the only chance you're going to get to play. Those guys stepping in, they need to say, 'Look, this is my time to show what I've got. This is my time to make a name for myself.' You have to have that mentality, and there shouldn't be a drop-off. No, it's not an excuse."
That's the proper mentality and the kind of thinking Mikell used to go from an undrafted player to a second-team all-pro at strong safety. Every rookie and every reserve should think that way.
The reality in the NFL, however, is that when the injuries start piling up, the losses usually aren't far behind.
As the Eagles enter their 10th game tonight, against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field, they've already had enough injuries to destroy their season.
Consider this: According to research by Rick Gosselin of the Dallas Morning News, the Eagles' starters lost 53 games to injuries in 2005, the year they won just six times and finished with Mike McMahon at quarterback. The team also placed six starters on injured reserve that year, including quarterback Donovan McNabb, offensive tackle Tra Thomas, and cornerback Lito Sheppard.
Not counted in those games lost were the nine by receiver Terrell Owens, who was suspended by Reid for conduct detrimental to the team. If you count Owens, the total jumps to 62, which would have been the fifth most in the league that season.
