Joe Banner reflects on 2008

by JasonB on Jan 27, 2009 12:00 PM EST Comment 8 comments

There's only one guy in this Eagles' organization(other than the owner) with more power than Andy Reid. That's team president Joe Banner.

Banner is Jeff Lurie's right hand man in the organization. He controls the money, he manages the cap, and more than a few Eagles fans think he's the real guy saying who comes and goes... So when Banner speaks, it's important to listen. This week he sat down with his own staff at PE.com to talk about the season.

First reaction always is that we didn't hit our ultimate goal, which is to win a superbowl. It continues to be dissapointing to not be able to check that off and work on number 2. On the other hand there's just a lot of positive things to feel about the 2008 season. Once again the fact that character matters, chemistry matters, getting people that have a good work ethic and care deeply about winning has been the foundation of our philosophy since Andy got here. I think it was proven again to be the right foundation.

I will remember it as a year that was kinda up and down. I started the season very optimistic. Came out and played really well the first few games then had a litte bit of a dip. Then got back on track and had another dip. Then obviously had to get a little bit lucky to get into the playoffs and then had another little run going. The season ended kinda the way it had gone. I felt like the arizona game was a microcasm of the whole season. We dug ourselves a hole, managed to get out of it but in the end couldn't quite cross the finish line that we'd hoped for.

He went on... but that's the gist of it. The Eagles' website promises more sitdowns with Banner in the coming weeks.

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Things I would like the PE.com staff to ask Banner:

1) How do you feel about a formal rookie pay scale, with a rookie salary cap being implemented? Do you feel it has a chance of passing either before or after the NFLPA leadership gets sorted out? In the new CBA?

2) More and more pro athletes are interacting with fans directly on the web. Do the Eagles have an official policy for their players regarding this sort of thing? If not, do you encourage them one way or another?

SportsDork.com

by BFH on Jan 27, 2009 12:13 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

They have a segment...

…where you can send Banner questions and he answers them in writing on the webpage. Or at least they used to do that.

by ajay on Jan 27, 2009 12:46 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

No good WR's?

This chump said that lately the teams who win the superbowl don’t have a premiere #1 WR…… Well moron lets take a look:

2005 – Patriots – Deion Branch (Ok maybe not elite, but better than what we have)
2006 – Steelers – Hines Ward (Tough, dependable #1 WR)
2007 – Colts – Marvin Harrison and Reggie Wayne (I state both because at this point neither was #1 or #2 clearly, but both were studs that needed coverage over the top)
2008 – Giants – Plax (Hole in leg or no hole in leg, that guy was a #1 at the time)
2009 – Steelers or Cardinals – Ward or Boldin or Fitz…….(No arguements can be made here)

I don’t want to sound like a guy harping for a #1 WR, eventhough i probably am. BUT, it enfuriates me when this guy makes up numbers or reasons that dont exist just to justify the way the eagles run their team.

Build the lines, then get the QB and RB, then TE and WR (possibly draft or FA as these can be busts quite often in the draft), on offense. Well too bad we never decided on the last portion of this, now our OL, QB, and RBs are getting too old, and our one chance at WR (DeSean how i love you) will get to learn to play on a team that will be rebuilding…yippee

by PierrEagles on Jan 27, 2009 1:05 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Not sure you can say Deion Branch is any better than DeSean or Curtis.
That said, I’d like someone – anyone to ease up the load on Westbrook. Hopefully Jackson takes a step forward and Curtis is healthy next year, but 1 more guy would be tremendous.

by cavortingEagle on Jan 27, 2009 1:13 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

DeSean cold use someone older

to guide him

"This world extends way beyond this little field of dreams we're dancing in and I want to see that world"

by exitfare on Jan 28, 2009 12:53 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

i’m sure he still talks with Jerry Rice alot…

"I tried to run him over but Eli had his big boy pads on and he kind of stopped me from getting in the end zone. The next time I’ll try to jump over his head.’’ - Asante Samuel

by foos05 on Jan 30, 2009 10:29 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Agreed

I’m not sure that I can say with certainty that Hines Ward was a #1 WR either. But, I can say with certainty that Banner should know the difference between a want and a need. It doesn’t matter who won the Super Bowl with who, it matters that you have not.

Can he really be saying that after making a bid for Randy Moss and Fitzgerald last season?

by Matt Millz on Jan 27, 2009 2:00 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Banner looks like he’s trying to take one hell of a dump in this picture and just can’t squeeze it out…

"I tried to run him over but Eli had his big boy pads on and he kind of stopped me from getting in the end zone. The next time I’ll try to jump over his head.’’ - Asante Samuel

by foos05 on Jan 27, 2009 5:28 PM EST reply actions 0 recs