I can’t do it. I can’t rest the 2008 Eagles’ season on an untested rookie who’s barely bigger than I am. I just can’t. I know what some of the so-called experts are saying about DeSean Jackson, and I’d really like to believe he’s the next coming of Steve Smith. Hell, I’d even take Will Smith—in Hancock.
 
Jackson is a rather slight 5-foot-10, 175 pounds. He moves like the wind, but he seems so small a good breeze can also blow him off the field, not to mention a kamikaze safety, like say the Cowboys’ Roy Williams.
 
Jackson will be a help, as will a healthy Donovan McNabb. The Eagles’ defense will be better, with a young, aggressive linebacking corps and a sound Brian Dawkins. Jackson could put them in good field position, and David Akers looks in fantastic shape.
 
The Eagles, in fact, look in great shape. But not good enough to surpass the reigning NFC East Division champion Dallas Cowboys. The Cowboy simply have too much talent to be held down anymore.
 
This will be Tony Romo’s breakthrough season (T.O. can shed tears of joy in January over his quarterback). Marion Barber and Felix Jones are going to cause a lot of problems for every defense the Cowboys face.
 
I’m not being a hater. I’m just simply stating facts. And anyway you want to flip it, turn it sideways, any lame argument about Romo and trysts off the field are trivial. They don’t matter. Dallas will win the division, but the Eagles will make it fun.
 
Here’s how I see the NFC East:
 
1. Cowboys—12-4
2. Eagles—10-6
3. Giants—8-8
4. Redskins—7-9
 
I’ll go one step further. I can see the Eagles and Dallas meeting in the NFC championship game, with the Cowboys winning, 28-21. I can further see Dallas winning the whole thing, beating San Diego in the Super Bowl.
 
Say I’m blinded by Hard Knocks. There is a major difference in what Cowboys’ owner Jerry Jones puts into his team and the needs he addresses, as opposed to the rest of the owners in the NFL. Yes, Jeffrey Lurie has built a winner here. He has a fantastic fanbase, as he should be awarded.
 
But Jones has built the makings of another dynasty in Dallas. And that dynasty (make all the Dallas sucks chants you), starts this season.
 
Facts are facts.

I wonder if my Emmitt Smith jersey still fits?

Joseph Santoliquito is an Emmy Award-nominated writer based in the Philadelphia area who can be contacted at Jsantoliquito@yahoo.com.