'Voice of the Philadelphia Eagles' Merrill Reese Talks Playoffs
By Dan Wing
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Just like every other Eagles' fan in the city of Philadelphia, the team's radio voice Merrill Reese is excited to see Nick Foles and company take the field this Saturday night for a playoff game against the New Orleans Saints.
It was a packed house at Chickie's and Pete's on Packer Avenue Monday evening for 94WIP's 'The Howie Roseman Show', hosted by Merrill Reese and Anthony Gargano. Fans were decked out in Eagles' jerseys, hats, and even one fan in a green and white mask, usually found on a pro wrestler. While fans are all smiles after a great win, things could have easily been different. With Dallas threatening, down only 2-points, Reese says even he was fearing the worst.
"Over the years, we are conditioned to having our hearts broken, and everyone expected that that was how it was going to end. With a Dallas field goal. Except for the players on the field," Reese said.
That win sets up a meeting with the New Orleans Saints this Saturday, a team that has had the Eagles' number in recent years. But Reese thinks the team has what it takes to get the job done.
"They have to play as they played against the Bears. If they do that, they'll win. If they play against the Saints the way they played against the Cowboys, I don't think that would be good enough," he said.
An NFC East Title is something that many fans couldn't picture before the season, or when the team was 3-5. But Reese disagrees with the notion that whatever happens from here on out is a bonus, or that it doesn't matter.
"You have got to make it count. You can't say 'well this year we made it this far, next year we'll make it further,' because you never know in this sport. There could be key injuries, there could be bad breaks. This team is in the playoffs. We saw a Giants team a couple years ago that made the playoffs on the last day of the regular season, and won the whole thing," he said.
But if they don't, he says fans have a team that they can be proud of. They've shown a lot of heart. They also have a bright future.
"They have a team that has a coach who is very, very smart. And a team whose front office has really acquired top-notch talent through the draft and free agency the past couple of years," he said.
