Kevin Durant’s trade to Phoenix marked the end of one of the most disappointing super teams in NBA history. But the Brooklyn Nets aren’t the only organization to put together a roster that looked a lot better on paper than it did in reality.
Brooklyn’s failure with Durant, James Hardin and Kyrie Irving brings to mind one of the biggest super team disasters in NFL history — the 2011 Philadelphia Eagles, who flamed out after adding big names in the offseason.
In 2010, Eagles head coach Andy Reid engineered one of the league’s more electric offensive attacks with QB Michael Vick, the Associated Press Comeback Player of the Year.
In 2011, Vick headlined an offense that also included running back LeSean McCoy and wide receivers DeSean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin.
In free agency, the Eagles added former 1,000-yard running back Ronnie Brown and receiver Steve Smith (not to be confused with Carolina WR of the same name). Two seasons earlier, he had 107 receptions, 1,220 yards and seven touchdown catches with the Giants.
The biggest additions came on defense, where the Eagles added defensive tackle Cullen Jenkins, edge rusher Jason Babin and cornerbacks Nnamdi Asomugha and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie.
Babin made the Pro Bowl in 2010 after posting 12.5 sacks with the Titans, and Asomugha was coming off three consecutive Pro Bowl appearances and All-Pro honors with the Raiders. With Arizona the previous three seasons, Rodgers-Cromartie had 13 interceptions.
A reporter asked Eagles backup QB Vince Young, the former third overall pick, what he thought about the high-profile additions. He didn’t hesitate.
“Aww, Dream Team, heh, heh, heh, heh,” he said. “From Nnamdi to Cromartie, to Jason to myself, you know they are going to do some more things. It’s just beautiful to see where we’re trying to go.” (h/t: Bleacher Report).
Entering the season, Philadelphia had the third-best preseason odds (+800) of winning the Super Bowl and an over-under win of 10.5 games.
But Philadelphia faceplanted with an 8-8 record and failed to make the playoffs.
Two years later — in 2013 — guard Evan Mathis was the last player remaining from the class of offseason additions. He was cut in 2015.
The Eagles and Reid chased the bad taste of one of their biggest failures with greater success much later.
Philadelphia won the Super Bowl in 2018 and will play for another title Sunday against Reid and the Chiefs. In 2020 with the Chiefs, Reid won his first Super Bowl as a head coach.
But the nightmarish season of Philadelphia’s Dream Team lingers in the minds of millions of Eagles fans.
