2015 Flashback: Five Worst Moments in Philadelphia Sports

May 1, 2015; Nashville, TN, USA; Tennessee Titans first round draft pick Marcus Mariota (C) stands with executive vice president and general manager Ruston Webster (L) and head coach Ken Whisenhunt (R) during the press conference at Saint Thomas Sports Park. Mandatory Credit: Jim Brown-USA TODAY Sports

2.) Eagles Don’t ‘Do the Deal’

When the Tennessee Titans drafted Marcus Mariota with the 2nd overall pick and it became clear that they would be holding on to him, there were a unique sequence of emotions for Eagles fans. It was not the feeling that normally accompanies a devastating loss or seeing a horrific injury. In reality, there is a world where the Eagles had no control over whether or not they could even pry a pick from either the Titans or Tampa Bay Buccaneers to acquire who many see as the perfect quarterback to run Chip Kelly’s offense. What was so painful about seeing Mariota end up in Tennessee was just how much hope was invested in the prospect of him winding up in Philadelphia.

Going back to when the Eagles hired Chip Kelly, Eagles fans kept an eye on the 2014 Heisman Trophy winner as his college career wound down. Nick Foles proved to be a temporary blinder, but ultimately could not satiate the thirst for what Mariota could bring to the table. When it became clear that Foles was not the guy to orchestrate Kelly’s offense, the Mariota-watch shifted into full swing.

The entire 2015 offseason seemed to trend towards the Eagles positioning themselves to put together the type of package that could allow them to move up in the draft. Winning the final game of the season made that task even more difficult, but Chip Kelly seemed like the type of guy who would spare no expense to get the player he wanted. When he usurped personnel control from Howie Roseman early in the calendar year, the wheels were officially in motion.

As Philadelphia went through the hypotheticals of how the Eagles would land Mariota, he sparkled in regards to his pre-draft preparation. The supposed system quarterback quelled any concerns over his ability to make all the necessary throws, take snaps from under center, and command a huddle. His workouts were stellar and his combine performance solidified him as one of the top prospects in the class. Many figured it would take a package that included several NFL players to go along with high-end picks to get Tennessee to make the move.

When the Eagles traded Nick Foles to the Rams, the speculation hit a fever pitch for all of about a half hour. NFL Network had reported that the trade would include a swap of first round picks that would land the Eagles a more attractive 2015 pick for the Titans. It turns out that the Eagles were actually making a move to acquire a different quarterback: Sam Bradford.

The dream did not die that day, however. There were reportedly other teams interested in the former first overall pick and some figured that the Eagles saw him as a chip that could net them enough bullets to move up when draft day rolled around. The initial disappointment with the Foles trade gave way rather quickly, and the weeks leading up to the draft were jam-packed with Mariota coverage.

National football reporters had come off their stance that there was no way that the Eagles could land a high enough pick for Mariota, and some even predicted Chip Kelly would end up with his man. When the day finally arrived, Kelly addressed a crowd of Eagles fans at Lincoln Financial Field raining down chants of ‘Do the Deal!’ before the coach slipped off the stage and into the war room. With Mariota in his native Hawaii, Eagles fans waited with bated breath for the video of their new quarterback reuniting over the phone with his former college coach. Instead, in a flash, the dream was dead and the numbness of disappointment arrived like a wave.

Nelson Agholor might end up being a competent NFL wide receiver. Frankly, there was not going to be a prospect in the 2015 class that could fill what Mariota had become to Eagles fans. Making matters worse was the 2nd overall pick injecting energy into a Titans franchise that had become notorious for its inability to garner excitement. Mariota has looked all the part of a superstar in the making. Meanwhile, the rumored pieces that would have been required to land the 2nd overall pick have done nothing to keep the Eagles from becoming a losing football team.

The name itself brings about pain for Eagles fans looking back at how much was committed to the idea of Marcus Mariota arriving in Philadelphia. There are still even those that think the possibility of Chip Kelly winding up in Tennessee at some point is quite real. Meanwhile, the Eagles could have yet another starting quarterback at the beginning of 2016 and are still searching for the franchise player that has eluded them since Donovan McNabb.

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