The Winds of Change

For the first time in eleven years Philadelphia is bracing itself for a new season without the benevolent smile of number five. For years he was the one constant for us, the one “untouchable” player in all of Philadelphia sports. We have watched Westbrook, Dawkins, Runyan, Trotter, Owens, Thomas, Douglas and even Hank Baskett leave with varying amounts of dignity, but at the end of the day the status quo was always the same, always five. Four NFC championship losses, one heartbreaking Super Bowl loss, and seventy-three wins later we find ourselves without Number five, and with only one question. How should we feel? The spectrum is broad. In the days since the trade fear, relief, bitterness, gratitude and nostalgia have all swept over. The tides of the sea of emotion has risen and fallen in our city, they have washed the fresh wounds of two straight Cowboys losses, and left us a city divided. Some will remember Donovan only as the man who could not win a Super Bowl, the quarterback who could not propel us to that ultimate pinnacle of greatness. Others will only remember his ever-present smile, warm demeanor, and abounding grace in the face of adversity. Donovan was the stable force around which we could rally, in both positive and negative ways. The winds of change swept away our stability, our unity, and our identity.

But we must press on; Philadelphia must re-invent itself. And for the first time moving from five to four is not a step down, but rather a step forward. Today Eagle’s brass has given us a quarter back who can mature, not age, with our young roster. Kolb brings the swagger that represents our city, and a confidence around which the young Eagles and we as a city can rally. Kevin Kolb will usher in a new era of success and fill the shoes left for him, because he sees no other option. Kevin is determined to win, determined to show us all that he is the next great quarterback in a city that demands excellence. We as a city should share in Kevin’s passion and rally around him. He is turning a new page for our city, ushering in a new age where we can exceed the status quo and fly to new heights. As five rides off into the sunset, he left us with not only questions and emotions we cannot fully understand. Donovan has left behind the answer, his successor, Kevin Kolb. Green Nation can rest assured that the hard working, determined, youthful QB can be everything his elder was, and more. So as we turn the page, I encourage you to have faith and to believe. We cannot survive the winds of change by scattering, we must rather rally around the new age and become even stronger than we were before.