The Eagles are one of only three teams to have made the playoffs in each of the past three seasons, along with Baltimore and Indianapolis.

While team president Joe Banner is proud of that, he understands that fans want a parade down Broad Street. And Banner wants that as well.

"We are trying to win a championship every year. We honestly haven't gone into any of the recent years without thinking we had a reasonable chance to win," Banner said. "Next year won't be any different. We have a very good team. We think it will get better between now and at the beginning of the season. We're not setting the bar any lower than going all the way to win a championship. We don't have a problem with people holding us to that.

"That is what we're here for."

The Eagles applied the exclusive franchise tag on quarterback Michael Vick and the transition tag on kicker David Akers on Tuesday to retain the rights of two Pro Bowl players who were pivotal to the team's success in 2010.

Banner also believes that Andy Reid, yet another pivotal piece, is the coach who can take this team to its first Super Bowl championship. The one trait that stands out more than anything else for Banner is Reid's leadership capabilities.

"Andy's leadership skills and his ability year after year to rally the players to play hard, play selflessly, it's such a difficult challenge," Banner said.

Even though it's difficult to improve the team in the early months of the offseason, Banner thinks the Eagles have done just that by adding two of the consensus top position coaches in the league in offensive line coach Howard Mudd and defensive line coach Jim Washburn. The chance to work with Reid should indicate how respected how much the head coach is respected.

"We attracted a group of coaches here who would have never come here if it wasn't for somebody like Andy," Banner said.

-- Posted by Chris McPherson, 4:30 p.m., February 15