Skip to content
Eagles
Link copied to clipboard

Ranking the Eagles behind the Phillies, Flyers

ESPN The Magazine released its annual Ultimate Standings last week, ranking every franchise in the four major sports, based on a number of factors.

Here's the criteria:

Bang For The Buck (BNG): Wins during the past three years (regular season plus postseason) per revenues directly from fans, adjusted for league schedules.

Fan Relations (FRL): Openness and consideration toward fans by players, coaches and management.

Ownership (OWN): Honesty and loyalty to core players and local community.

Affordability (AFF): Price of tickets, parking and concessions.

Stadium Experience (STX): Quality of arena and game-day promotions as well as friendliness of environment.

Players (PLA): Effort on the field and likability off it.

Coaching (CCH): Strength of on-field leadership.

Title Track (TTR): Championships already won or expected in the lifetime of current fans.

So where did the Eagles come in? The middle of the pack. They were ranked 51st out of 122 franchises. Here's the write-up:

Behold the Michael Vick Experience: a six-TD performance vs. the McNabb-led Redskins on MNF, a 28-point comeback in the final 7:28 vs. the Giants and the most points scored in franchise history. Not bad for a guy who was on SpikeTV's Pros vs. Joes eight months earlier. So how come the Eagles only nudge up one slot in our standings? Despite average tickets at Lincoln Financial Field priced more than $40 cheaper than their NFC East brethren (Giants $111.69, Cowboys $110.20), fans aren't any happier than when McNabb was under center. That's probably because while the 2010-11 squad had its moments, its playoff run lasted all of 60 minutes. And that's because nine of the starters on defense against Green Bay were either undrafted free agents or seventh-round picks. Note to the suits: This ain't Madden Football; Vick can't do it alone.

Last year, the Birds came in at No. 52.

The categories they fared best in this season were Bang for the Buck and Players. The categories that hurt them were Affordability, Fan Relations and Stadium Experience.

While the Eagles ranked 51st overall, they were 10th in the NFL and first among NFC East teams. The Giants were 17th; the Cowboys 27th; and the Redskins 31st (ahead of only the Bengals).

Among Philadelphia teams, the Birds came in third, behind the Phillies and Flyers. The Phillies were 24th overall and sixth in MLB; the Flyers were 41st overall and 12th in the NHL; the Sixers were 58th and 15th in the NBA.

In case you missed it on Friday, I rounded up Osi Umenyiora's responses to LeSean McCoy.

You can follow Moving the Chains on Twitter or become a fan on Facebook.