building for a superbowl?

[Beemnseven]

Originally Posted by Longtimefan

The poster makes some excellent points, the results of which demonstrate why the Eagles have maintained long term success within the division and our course of action has been the reverse. They continue to infuse the team with young talent and develop it. There's nothing to develop when you build with older players, when they're done the only alternative is to procure more older players.

As to building for a super-bowl......I'm convinced Shanahan came here to win, he's void of a thirty year plan. So, with a GM and HC both embracing "the future is now " doctrine, I would say the team is currently being constructed towards making that the ultimate goal in a short period of time.

Len Pasquarelli basically said the same thing just after the trade for Donovan McNabb:

Owner Dan Snyder has failed before in trying to buy a title. He might employ a new general manager and a new coach, but they appear to have fallen for the same ill-advised approach that derailed their predecessors . . . The Redskins ... would prefer to buy talent rather than take the time to develop it.

I've been thinking about this, because for a long time I've wanted to see this organization build from a foundation of young, promising players, stockpile draft picks, and essentially tough it out for a season or two while the young guys learn even if it means sucking it up with some losing seasons.

Clearly though, Shanahan and Allen don't see it that way. But then I thought, who really does anymore? When was the last time you saw a team truly blow everything up, start from scratch ? The Colts with Peyton Manning come to mind, back in 1998. They had an awful season in '97, wound up with the first overall pick, but put together a long term winner with Polian built mainly with draft picks and had a long, slow climb to the top.

I just don't think you see that anymore. The Saints brought in a free agent QB in Drew Brees that got them to pinnacle, and the Cards had to do the same thing with Kurt Warner. With free agency, and now especially with the end of the salary cap, nobody seems to want to wait for two to three seasons for a slow, plodding build-up to championship status.

When you stop and think about it, we're doing what just about everyone else is trying to do, the only difference is that we haven't been successful.