Simple question - was the offense better with Thrash and Pinkston (aka "Trash & Stinkston") or with Terrell Owens?

And as for "getting a team over the hump", last year's Eagles are the example. That offense worked better with T.O. on the field, he was truly a guy that affected opponent's schemes even if he did not catch a ball.

McNabb was more comfortable in the pocket, Westbrook had better lanes, Greg Lewis was running wide open, LJ Smith looked like a star with all that space since teams rolled safety help to guard T.O. We actually got the plays in on time. Well, maybe not that last one.

For the first time in my 25 years of fandom, offense carried the Eagles. Opposing defenses walked out for the coin flip scared to death. The attitude of the Eagles and the fans was taken from T.O. & Trotter - whereas previously it had been the laid-back McNabb & Reid approach. THAT is what took us to the Super Bowl.

In the preseason games, McNabb looked like he's never looked since. On target. In command. Hitting T.O. seemingly at will.

Every single Eagle started underperforming after T.O. left. What? Did they all just start to stink at the same time? Defenses had no respect for the running game, and can easily cover what we are throwing out there.

Yes, there was a steep price for that one season. It can be argued if it was worth it. But you cannot say that a WR - and T.O. specifically - cannot make a difference.

We're seeing it every Sunday at "The Linc" (aka "The Stink").

This saga was not about race, but I think the point of the article was (in part) that for some reason that entered into the equation. For no real reason. Contrary to the character of the fans. Despite the history of the team.

Look at the comments of J. Whyatt Mondesire, that McNabb somehow let down the fraternity of black QB's by becoming a pocket passer. This has entered the realm of absurdity. That's more extreme than anything Owens said about the subject.

If you live in Philly, you know that this fan base has been trauamtized by this season. And I do not think that description overstates it at all. Fans who go too far are trying to deal with pain the likes of which we have not felt from an Eagles team in quite a while. I mean, did we really lose 42-0 to the Seahawks on MNF!?!?

My guess is that the race-sports topic fades into the background come next season. Anything dealing with the 2005-2006 Eagles defies logic, reason, or sanity.

Look, I'm not sure where some of this is coming from. I was born and raised in Northeast Philadelphia (think Staten Island or Middle Village Queens for you out of towners). There was NEVER any Cunningham-McMahon controversey. Randall was out for the year with a blown out knee, and while we all loved the spunk of McMahon he was a wreck by the end of the season. No one ever thought that he was a long-term solution, not Brad Goebel either.

As for Allen Iverson, I never felt that in this market - that was a national thing. Iverson survivied the "practice" rant, the "wife incident" and many others without ever having race brought in by 95% of people. He remains one of the city's most beloved athletes. His passion for the game is going to get him a statue in this city when his playing days are over.

Like I said, I grew up in a neighborhood that was all Irish / Italian Catholics, full of cops and firemen. It was, unfortunately, not a very racially tolerant neighborhood. But it seemed like everyone had a Cunningham or Reggie White jersey. Eagles fandom was above race issues. And, years ago, WIP would never have taken and aired some of the calls that they did during the saga.

I keep hearing the MSM talk about how we would have lower prices if all the liberals and tree huggers would just let the oil companies build new and better refineries.

Because, after all, what industry would not want to accelerate the production and delivery of a non-renewable resource? What is more natural than throwing down huge sums on an investment that would substantially lower the selling price of one's product?

I know that the oil companies are so concerned with the health and well-being of the common man...the huge profits must be eating away at their souls! If only we would help them help us.

And has anyone noticed that there is always a "Scoobie Doo-esque Mysterious Problem" at a "big refinery" right before the start of the summer driving season. For several years now? Wow, that is very convenient!