Best Secondary in the NFL?

I recently saw a post on another site, and many people were debating about which team has the best secondary. I tried to keep an open mind about things, but someone made a statement that set me off. This is my response to the post. I'd love to see where this debate goes from here.

Okay, so I usually don't let myself get to amped up about these message boards, but since someone decided they would mention the Green Bay Packers secondary, mainly their cornerbacks, I decided it was time for me to intervene. Not only do the Packers have average, at best, corners, they have one by the name of Al Harris, a former Eagle. I dare anyone who ever saw Harris play for Philadelphia to tell me that he can possibly be considered a shutdown corner. He has been burned more times than anyone I can remember, including Mr. Cowboy Roy Williams. Harris commits more stupid penalties, and keeps more drives going because of them. With that said, it's now time to defend the Eagles secondary. If, and that remains a large if, they somehow retain Lito Sheppard, and do put him at corner, moving Sheldon Brown to strong safety, the Eagles will have the strongest secondary in the entire NFL, not just this season, but possibly over the past five, maybe ten, years. Sheldon Brown is an elite corner, who does not get the recognition he deserves because he does not make a large amount of interceptions. However, it is rather difficult to make those plays when balls aren't being thrown your way, simply because the coverage is too tight. The addition of Asante Samuel only solidifies the fact that Sheldon Brown will no longer have to worry about covering the only receiver that has given both him and the Eagles fits in recent seasons. Of course, as you all know, that would be Plaxico Burress. The seven inch difference in height between the two players is something that Brown cannot control. If you look at a few years back, when Sheppard, Brian Dawkins and Michael Lewis all made the Pro Bowl, the argument could have been made that Brown was the best defensive back the Eagles had. Last season, the only player to score a touchdown against the Eagles, while being covered by Brown was Burress. Sheppard was only beaten one time, and Dawkins was only beaten twice. For those of you who don't feel like doing the math, that equals five times that, minus Samuel, the Eagles potential starting secondary was beaten for six points. The Eagles defense as a whole allowed 16 passing touchdowns all of last season. For a little more quick math, that equals exactly one passing score per game. I'm sure that a lot of coaches will be more than satisfied with that output. After all, only the Seattle Seahawks allowed less than sixteen, coming in at fifteen. These nearly league leading numbers were put up by a secondary that had injury problems all season long, not to mention a lack of serious pass rushing, and a strong safety whose coverage skills are lacking to say the least. With a secondary consisting of cornerbacks Sheppard and Samuel, and safeties Dawkins and Brown, there is almost no arguing that Philadelphia has the best secondary in the league. With Donovan McNabb returning back to his high level of play, as evidenced by the final five games of the regular season last year, the Eagles have to be considered one of the favorites to go deep into the playoffs this season, if not being the NFC representative in the Super Bowl. Just think, all of these points that have been made, and all of them without a single mention of possibly the biggest threat in the NFC, and nearly the biggest in all of the NFL, Brian Westbrook. Philadelphia fans should have a lot to look forward to this season, despite the fact that their desires of a big time receiver have not yet been fulfilled. However, the only thing that needs to be done is a little reminiscing, and thinking about how McNabb carried the Eagles to four NFC Championship games, with James Thrash and Todd Pinkston.

No offense meant, but this was done during a time that the NFC East was fairly weak, excluding Philadelphia.  I believe this is why the Eagles haven't returned to the NFC Championship game in a few years.

Back to your point about Philly having the strongest secondary.....................this MAY be true, but it is on paper only for the moment.  I have no doubt that they will have one of the stronger secondaries in the entire NFL this coming season.