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You’ve no doubt heard the most popular story around these parts of American freedom being declared in the smoldering heat of the Philadelphia State House in July of 1776. But what you may not have heard is that is what was happening around Philadelphia earlier in 1776. That story is one not just of a city — but that of a flourishing, modern metropolis.
Philadelphia was the second largest City in the British Empire by 1776. It’s importance was not only to North America commerce and trade — but to the whole world. If you lived in Philadelphia in spring of 1776 — you were local to a metropolis proudly full of potential. And showing every bit of it on a global stage.
The 2026 Philadelphia Eagles — who play not far up the River from Philadelphia’s brave defense of the cause of freedom at Fort Mifflin which saw the largest Naval bombardment of the Revolutionary War — can relate. This week — with rookie minicamps now complete — OTA’s began with a focus on the season ahead.
This season represents another chance to run back yet another chapter of what Howie Roseman and Nick Sirianni have built here together over the last five seasons. It’s another chance to prove that a championship is only another season away after a disappointing NFC Wildcard exit last January at the hands of the 49ers — because this team is steered by one of the finest NFL organizations in the NFL.
It’s also a season to make another statement. That this nucleus of one of the most expensive rosters in football can rebound and win without players like Nakobe Dean, Jaelan Phillips, Reed Blankenship — and soon — AJ Brown. That Sirianni can adjust without Jeff Stoutland and Kevin Patullo. That typical NFL turnover isn’t a crack in the calibration of Eagles plans— but rather expected, and more importantly — compensated for.
But amid all that — 2026 means something else as well for this team. It’s another campaign of an Eagles squad that is not only aging at its core — it’s now also more expensive. When they lost Super Bowl LVII but a hair — a piece of yellow laundry on the field like a midwest clothesline hit with a wind storm — time for this group together once seemed infinite. Now — with the demand for a long-term contracts growing — the Eagles may overall still be a young team but with aging players at key positions — are running out of time to add more hardware to that pristine display case at the Novacare Complex. The Eagles were lucky to have Lane Johnson and Landon Dickerson return for 2026. They may not get that lucky again.
Despite the capture of the City in 1777 by the British — Philadelphia’s promise of freedom did come to fruition. In 1781 — a combined British and American force marched from Philadelphia and cornered Lord Cornwallis and the English Army at Yorktown. With the help of the French Navy — America would finally win it’s independence.
And will the Eagles return to Super Bowl form in 2026 and erase the past season and reinforce the +1500 odds in Vegas? Only two things are certain — the saga has begun.
And betting against Philadelphia? I sure wouldn’t want to.
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