HELLO EAGLES FANS! FOOTBALL IS BACK! As this regular season quickly approaches many things are suddenly changing, some for the good, some for the bad but all these pieces are going to shape our 2017 Eagles.

Every time we lose a player I feel like I lose a little piece of myself. When you’re a Philadelphia fan you look at your team as family so when you trade a player it’s like saying goodbye to a brother.

When we lost LeSean McCoy, DeSean Jackson and then Jeremy Maclin it took me months to adjust and even to this day I still catch myself wishing we hadn’t let them go.

And as time has progressed we now have to say farewell to our one and only Jordan Matthews. I get it.

“Business is business.” But that doesn’t change how it effects the team or their fans.

I know that we have to adapt but I’m so bad with goodbyes and I can’t imagine how my team is feeling right now because we all know what a huge impact Matthews has had on our team, both on the field and off the field.

In 2014 Matthews joined our birds headstrong and ready to play and prove himself to his team and over the years he has developed into a very talented and loyal wide receiver. At that time, I feel like we were in a transition year and then all of sudden 2016 hit and the heavens above blessed us with Wentz.

It’s funny how we always think about the past when it’s time to say  goodbye and I can’t help but feel for Carson right now. Not only has he lost his most beloved wide receiver but also his very best friend. Wentz and Matthews have an undeniable chemistry on the field and I truly believe that their friendship is the foundation behind their success.

They trusted one another, they understood one another and they always had each others back. Since that first game against Cleveland you could tell that this dynamic duo was going to be a powerhouse together, and it’s just gotten stronger over this year.

From the start of last year we’ve watched our young franchise quarterback Carson Wentz bond with Jordan Matthews like most people wish their QBs and WRs did. Their relationship goes past football, which I love.

They both are very involved with outreach and their church and they recently went to Haiti together with the organization Mission for Hope where they painted houses and did other charitable works. I hate that such a strong friendship and teamsmanship has to come to an end.

It was November 9th, 2015. That was the day that Matthews truly won me over. It was a brutal game against the Cowgirls.

The game was tied 27 – 27 in overtime. Then, like a perfectly painted picture, good ole’ Sammy Bradford hits Jordan Matthews for a 41 yard walk off touchdown to end the game.

As I look at the player that he has transformed into over the past few years, I think that he will be nothing but beneficial to Buffalo. He’s obviously going to have to work on his close to non-existent relationship with Buffalo quarterback Tyrod Taylor however.

I understand the reasoning behind trading Matthews for Darby but it doesn’t make it hurt any less. As if being related to Jerry Rice wasn’t enough of a reason to love this kid, he captured our hearts with his talent, his mindset and his constant devotion to his team. I hope that he continues on with his promising career into this next season with the Bills.

With all of that said, I think I speak for Carson and all of us Philadelphians, thank you Jordan Matthews for everything. You will truly be missed. We wish you well wherever you go but you’ll always have a place in our hearts here in Philly.

P.S.  Howie,  you’ve worked your magic for two off seasons. You got us our cornerback by trading Matthews but just remember my friend, Jordan will be a free agent if he doesn’t resign with the Bills after this season. Word to the wise… As I tell my fiancé, the key to any great relationship – happy wife… happy life.

In football, happy quarterback….happy team. Fly Eagles Fly. Ashley Nicole Shafer Out!