An intriguing list that was recently released ranked the NFL's organizations from No. 1 all the way to No. 32 and the Eagles came in fifth on the list.
Adam Schein did the rankings for FOXSports.com and took into consideration six different criteria - ownership, quarterback, head coach, front office, coaching staff and intangibles. The Eagles were topped by the previous three Super Bowl champions in chronological order - Green Bay was first, New Orleans second and Pittsburgh took the bronze. The only other team to rank ahead of the Eagles on Schein's list was the Patriots. The next-highest NFC East team was the Giants in seventh place. Dallas was 15th and the Redskins were 22nd.
Here's what Schein stated about the Eagles.
"Andy Reid, Joe Banner, Howie Roseman and Jeffrey Lurie are excellent and united," Schein wrote. "Reid scored a coup when he hired Howard Mudd to coach the offensive line and Jim Washburn to coach the defensive line. The Eagles' public relations staff just gets it when it comes to the media, fans and players."
The Eagles had an overall score of 53.5 out of a possible 60. First, the Eagles got its highest score for ownership - a 9.5. The Eagles under Lurie have a greater winning percentage, have made more playoff appearances and won more playoff games than any other ownership group in team history. In addition, the Eagles have opened one of the league's premier training facilities in the NovaCare Complex as well as a state-of-the-art stadium in Lincoln Financial Field. Off the field, Eagles Youth Partnership was founded during Lurie's tenure.
In terms of head coach, coaching staff, front office and intangibles, the Eagles scored a 9 in each of those categories. Reid's success during his tenure of the Eagles – six division titles, five NFC title game appearances - speaks for itself. Roseman's ability to balance the youth and experience on this roster while keeping this team among the league's elite is the reason for the high grade.
The one surprise is the grade for quarterback Michael Vick - a very good but not excellent score of 8. It was the same grade the Giants received for Eli Manning and a lower grade than Vick's former team, Atlanta, got for Matt Ryan. If Vick, the NFL's Comeback Player of the Year and runner-up in the Offensive Player of the Year vote, got one more point, the Eagles would have been tied with New England for fourth place.
Maybe another spectacular season will increase Vick's grade, but nonetheless, it's evident that it is truly a team effort that allows the Eagles to be one of the best franchises in all of the NFL.
