Bidding farewell, and thanks
When I first started back in 2008, in my introductory post, I tried to lay out exactly what this blog would be about. But the truth is, I really had no clue. And that was part of the fun.
Bidding farewell, and thanks
Sheil Kapadia, Philly.com
My phone rang at about 7 p.m. on a Friday evening in late February 2009.
On the line was a reporter from the San Francisco Chronicle, David White. Hours earlier, he reported that Brian Dawkins and the Denver Broncos had agreed to terms on a new contract.
It seemed strange for a San Francisco reporter to be breaking news that mostly involved the Broncos and Eagles, but White, who couldn’t have been nicer, explained to me that he had a rock-solid source. He said he had been receiving angry e-mails from Eagles fans, who were in disbelief that the franchise was letting one of its all-time greats get away.
There have been plenty of memorable moments during the last four years, but that night when I left my then-girlfriend (now-wife) waiting in a Center City restaurant for over an hour while I tracked down the Dawkins reports really stands out.
When I first started back in 2008, in my introductory post, I tried to lay out exactly what this blog would be about. But the truth is, I really had no clue. And that was part of the fun.
I guess that’s a long way of getting to the point here: This will be my final post on MTC.
The Eagles have been a lot of things over the last four years, but boring is not one of them.
There was the final Sunday of the regular season back in 2008 when the Bucs, a 12.5-point favorite, somehow fell to the Raiders to keep the Eagles’ playoff hopes alive.
Easter Sunday, when the Birds dealt Donovan McNabb within their division to the Redskins and moved on to the Kevin Kolb era.
Andy Reid surprising everyone by first signing Michael Vick and then handing him the starting job over Kolb a year later.
And of course, last summer’s spending spree.
There are countless others that have made this job such a blast.
Bill Walsh is known to have said that no football coach should stay in the same place for more than 10 years.
I don’t know what the proper expiration date is for a blogger, but it’s been a great run. I want to thank everyone who has read, commented, e-mailed, Tweeted, etc. You let me know when I was off-base and when I had stumbled upon something worthwhile.
I also have to thank my great colleagues at Philly.com. I was an avid reader of the site before I started working here, and that will continue now that I’m moving on.
So, keep in touch, get ready for training camp, and remember: Never call a run-pass option down by the goal line.
Kevin Kolb era? That phrase should only be used by Phil Sheridan who is still crying in his beer over the departure of Kolb. Kolb's selection was one of the worst the Eagles ever made...actually worst that Mike Mamula.— dapmman- Give poor Mike Mamula a break. He was a lot better than Brandon Graham and countless other slugs that the Eagles have thrown in there.
— SteveS11 - I always enjoyed your writing. Best of luck to you Sheil.
— ANDY-IS-FAT - You will be missed!!— lhstauffer
- For those interested, he will be blogging all about the Eagles on Philly Mag with Tim McManus. It sounds like what he does here but bigger. Seriously, this paper just lost the entire relevant football section. Check out John Mitchell compared to Kate Fagan on the basketball side and you will see the dreck that is on its way. Going by his columns, he thinks a blog is like twitter, 140 characters or less, no reporting necessary. — UncleStosh
- OMG! Sheil - you are my favorite Eagles reporter/blogger! I can't believe this! Best of luck on you life travels and I hope you will be back some day.— ej610
- Now here's a writer I'll miss. Sheil did a great job at putting useful and factual information( and charts!) in his articles to support his opinion rather just prattle on about nothing, or attempt to belittle the players on a personal level which so many "journalists" do these days. Also, great job on the classy farewell! Don McKee, who is many years your senior, could have learned something from you about the right way to say goodbye.— drbob1
- will miss the blog greatly - it literally might have been the last good thing about being an Eagles fan, sigh. where are you headed next?— yatpatel
- I've always enjoyed your column, well done. Best wishes in your future endeavors.— johnnyvegas
- Sheil leaving? I feel like Vick just got traded for future draft choices! Man if you gotta move on, go with my great respect & appreciation.— rad205
- Thanks Sheil. The Tonner was a big fan. You know that. The Tonner will have a Genny Cream Ale to toast your future success!!— hunglikeaton
- I'm devastated. This is the best, most objective source for Eagles news and analysis, bar none.
Hopefully our loss is Sheil's gain. Best of fortune to you, Sheil. I'll be rooting for you.— Falkirk - You'll surely be missed. I think you're the sanest voice on this site. All the best to you!— eaglefaninAZ
- Good luck, you'll be missed around here.— PhillyIsHome
- Sad news, Sheil. I loved your column. I'm going to miss Man Up and the Vick analysis.
If you're writing somewhere else, let us know, and if it's something in a different direction altogether (i.e. none of our biz) - best of luck!— jabostick
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