Eagles hope superstar formula works.(Knight Ridder Newspapers)

Byline: Bob Brookover

BETHLEHEM, Pa. _ On Sunday morning, the 2004 Eagles will come into public view for the first time on the practice fields at Lehigh University. The metal bleachers will be crammed, and the standing-room areas figure to be at least six or seven fans deep.

Excitement over the start of all Eagles seasons in recent memory has been intense, but this year, it's off the charts.

Defensive end Jevon Kearse and wide receiver Terrell Owens have arrived and given both the fans and the players reason to believe that the Eagles' NFC championship barrier will be hurdled and a Super Bowl title finally secured.

The two superstar additions have turned the disappointment and despair of three straight NFC championship losses into renewed hope and untamed optimism. The pair have combined for seven trips to the Pro Bowl, and each is considered among the premier players at his position.

History, of course, tells us that adding superstars doesn't always translate into winning titles. The Washington Redskins, for example, have made a bad habit of ...