After years of watching the Eagles, I've learned about more than just football.

Loyalty is everything.

Although most of my time is spent in New England these days, the Philadelphia Eagles will always be my team. For better or for worse, I am bound for life. Regardless of how bad things get (looking at you, 2012), I, like all true fans, will defend my team no matter what. We could lose every game of the season and I'd still fight anyone who tried to tell me the Eagles are anything but the best.

The City of Brotherly Love isn't for wimps.

Take everything I said about loyalty and flip it on its head. We love our Birds one Sunday, and rip them apart the next. Like the brother you love to hate, we'll collectively punch you in the gut and take you out for a beer all in one foul swoop. But don't call us fickle, this passion is all in the name of love. Those who can't handle it never last long....

Football and family go hand-in-hand.

The Sutherlands don't mess around when it comes to football. To me, Sunday means food, football and family. Although I didn't always appreciate it growing up, I know now that there is nothing better than an afternoon spent screaming at the T.V. with the people I love most. I may not be able to be with my family each and every game day now that I am older, but I still put on my Eagles green no matter what; knowing that they are back in Pennsylvania doing the same brings me a little closer to home.

You are never too busy to do some good.

Whether they are lending a hand to clean up the community, or reading to children at local schools, the Eagles players are connected to this city. Through theEagles Charitable Foundation and Eagles in the Community programs, the organization strives to bring more than just great football to Philadelphia and the surrounding communities. If these players can dedicate time in their busy schedules to do some good, so can I.

Good things come to those who wait. (Hopefully).

Although the Eagles haven't brought home that Super Bowl title yet, we'll never give up hope. Each year we say "This is it, this is our year!" and someday it will be true. If it's not this year, it will be the next...or the next...or maybe the next. But when that day finally comes, it will be even sweeter than we could have imagined.