There’s always next year. It’s The Phrase. You know, the one you don’t want to ever hear from your fellow fan. It’s the refrain of the losing fan and the taunt of mean-spirited friends, in both cases not good for you. The Phrase has a long tradition in some cities. Here in Red Sox Nation, for example, it’s a yearly mantra. Sometime around August or September, it’s clear that the Yankees have bought their next division title, and Sox fans start, quietly at first, mumbling The Phrase.

Today, The Phrase was uttered by thousands of fans in Philadelphia, and by at least one fan sitting in a small room in Brookline. With about 4 minutes left in the Bucs/Eagles game, before I realized it, The Phrase escaped my lips. The moment I heard myself say those words, I realized that it really was over. No comebacks, no hope, no nothing. Nothing left to do but accept the loss, take stock, and start thinking about next year.

Thanks for a great season, Eagles. We’ll see you next year.