With the start of the NFL season often comes the recirculation of some of our favorite classic WIP topics. Whether it's questioning play-calling, worrying about the Cowboys or critiquing the starting quarterback, some discussions sound the same way they did 20+ years ago.
94WIP's Jon Marks and Ike Reese began their show Monday with one of the aforementioned topics: whether Eagles fans should be worried about the Dallas Cowboys' impressive start.
In honor of that ageless topic, producer Jack Fritz decided to focus his Top 5 at 5 segment on his five favorite vintage WIP topics.
The list:
5. "Is Philadelphia a good place to play?"
The events of August at Citizens Bank Park have put this topic on the backburner for the moment. Not only did the city of Philadelphia take a victory lap after the Trea Turner ovation led to an instant season turn-around, but even the national perception started to change a bit.
The beauty is, we currently live in winning times with the Eagles and the Phillies. Just wait until the 76ers' season, where we might have to go back to well for this topic if Joel Embiid grows unhappy with the state of the franchise.
4. "Do the Eagles need to run the ball more?"
This radio topic goes hand-in-hand with what you hear during an Eagles game with your local neighbor in section 136. The funny thing is, our current question about the 2023 Eagles offense is whether the passing offense can come around so the team can run the ball less.
But whether it's "run the ball more" or "why do they run the ball so much," nothing beats a good postgame discussion about play calling. After all, the fix for any offensive issue can always be found in the run-pass dispersion.
3. "Do the Eagles need to play their starters in the preseason?"
This one is my personal favorite. And it was dead and buried as a topic after the 2022 Eagles went light at training camp, didn't play starters in the preseason and proceeded to reach the Super Bowl with the healthiest team I've ever seen.
But thank you to Nick Sirianni, who after the team's tight Week 1 win over the Patriots said to reporters that he would rethink his team's approach to the preseason. Now that the Eagles have looked sloppy despite their 2-0 start, get ready for this topic to make a triumphant return in August, 2024.
2. "Can you win a championship with _____?
This one seems to be on a never-ending cycle between the teams in town. In the early 2000s, those discussions were had about 76ers guard Allen Iverson and Eagles QB Donovan McNabb. Now, pick the year and it's a different athlete under this microscope.
Some recent examples: Joel Embiid, James Harden, Jalen Hurts, Carson Wentz, Ben Simmons and Bryce Harper (very briefly). Find me a playoff loss in any sport, and I'll find a postgame discussion about whether the team can win with its star athlete.
1. Every time a star player becomes available..."Should the Eagles trade for him?"
Think the Eagles are ever talented enough on one side of the ball that fans wouldn't call for a high-profile trade? Think again.
See: The 2023 Eagles offense. Jalen Hurts, D'Andre Swift, Devonta Smith, A.J. Brown, Dallas Goedert and the best offensive line in the NFL. Yet once WR DeAndre Hopkins and RB Jonathan Taylor became available..."should the Eagles make the trade?"
It's a great topic with Howie Roseman as GM, who always has a big move up his sleeve. After he makes the draft-night move to trade for A.J. Brown, who says any big trade can be labeled impossible?
Footnote: The best part of this discussion is when a star player becomes unhappy with his current contract situation (Jonathan Taylor, for example), and many call for the trade but don't care about the money because "he'll want to come to Philadelphia just to win." Unfortunately for that narrative, it is almost always about the money.
Editors note: I would also throw a few personal favorites into the mix including "why didn't *insert Phillies manager here* tell his player to bunt?," any postgame argument about the management of a pitching staff and, of course, the inevitable post-loss blame put on the Eagles' defensive coordinator.