Gonzo: Birds leave fans woozy

Feeling a little queasy? Maybe a little foggy in the head, like you've been infected with a bad case of déjà vu? You're not alone. Happens to a lot of people at this time of year.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is reminding everyone that bird flu is nasty stuff - particularly the wildly virulent Eagles strain. Just when you start feeling better, it comes back to double you over in pain - usually when a division opponent is in town or the Birds need a critical win.

The city ought to be immune to this by now. Each year it's the same thing, isn't it? They're up, they're down, they "need to do a better job," as Big Red might say. The fans go crazy when they win and even crazier when they lose and we still don't learn anything until January - if then. With the exception of the Super Bowl season a few years ago, nothing is ever easy for the Birds or the fans. Instead, each year we're treated to a heaping serving of "who knows?" If nothing else, it's a testament to that most vile NFL catchphrase, the one that turns my stomach most of all - parity. Hooray for everyone, including the Birds, being average.

And so it continues. The Eagles squeaked out a win last week in Chicago, and they were lucky to do so. As a quick aside, someone at the NovaCare Complex ought to send Jay Cutler a nice fruit basket, or at the very least a thank-you note for gift wrapping that win for the Eagles and freeing them from the crushing yoke of a 5-5 record. They always say it's the thought that counts around the holidays.

The Eagles are 6-4 now, but anyone who tells you they know for sure how this season will end is either dim-witted or lying or both. There's a group out there that thinks the Eagles are better than some give them credit for since they're still above .500 after suffering so many injuries. For sure, the Eagles haven't stayed healthy this year, but injuries don't make Asante Samuel allergic to tackling or Andy Reid vomit at the idea of running the ball with regularity. Some things aren't their fault - but some are, and we shouldn't pretend otherwise.