Is the "Dream Team" for real?

If the pundits are correct, the NFL might as well be playing with replacement players as if the lockout was still on. We all might as well bring the Lombardi Trophy to Philadelphia and begin polishing it now to avoid all that work later. In truth, the Eagles are about as stacked with raw talent as a team can be in the free agency era. Yet, there is always a sort of caution that I tend to exercise whenever the analysts anoint a team faster than Tavaris Jackson was anointed in Seattle.

With two of the four divisions in the NFC wide open (The west and north), it would make sense for the most talented team on paper to make a significantly deep playoff run... Right? Maybe. However, Philly fans might want to be more cautiously optimistic. In fact, there are several good reasons to be mindful of too much talent on one team.

Stage time...
One important road block for the Eagles this year might be the inability for today's NFL teams to keep all of the athletes happy. In many ways, Philly's roster brings back memories of such teams as the 2008 Indianapolis Colts, the 2010 new Orleans Saints, or even any of the San Diego Chargers teams over the last five years. The fact is that on almost every team that does well each year, there are two, maybe three, stars that carry the workload. I would argue that the only team that has been completely stacked with talent and has made consistent impact over the last decade would be the Steelers. Teams such as the Seahawks, Cardinals, Giants, Bears, and even the Saints and Packers had far less overall star power when they made their Superbowl appearances in recent years. In 2005, the Seahawks had the best O-line in the league and an above average running back/quarterback tandem in Shaun Alexander and Matt Hasselbeck. In 2006, the Bears got all the way to the Superbowl on the feet of Sir Hester and the horribly feeble arm of Rex Grossman!

History, it would appear, teaches us that teams with higher degrees of synergy and continuity will always prevail over an all-star cast. Again, with Pittsburgh being the exception. When the players and agents begin to plan their next moves toward the middle of the season, they will need to have amassed some decent numbers in order to properly leverage for contract extensions and other moves for the almighty buck. At around that time, coaches might feel substantial pressure from 20 or so players to be "more involved" in the team's success. Translation: I want more touches. The truth is that no team has the ability to share that much wealth, no matter how many stars are vying for it. I would expect some tension out of Philly this year.

Growing pains...
Why is it that the pundits always assume that previous trips to the Probowl somehow equates to an immediate ability to learn a new system on a new team and perform at their previous level? That is simply not likely 90 percent of the time. Teams commonly see a drop in production in almost every free agent acquisition of note in almost every position. NFL systems are complex and even a player moving to a new team with like offensive or defensive systems is likely to endure a tougher year than their previous one. Fans in the city of brotherly love might want to brace for some letdowns by several, even most of their free agency additions.

I would look for Philly to make the playoffs, but as no higher than the NFC's third seed. I am expecting a regular season record of 8-8 at the low end and 10-6 on the high end.