When you work in sports, you learn very quickly that criticism and discussion of everything you do comes with the territory. You don't survive with the Eagles if you don't completely understand the passion the fans have for this football team, if you can't comprehend the scrutiny and standards to which this franchise is held by the local and national media, you will not survive.

Eagles fever lives 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. It is everywhere -- throughout the expansive media in Philadelphia, around the world right here on PhiladelphiaEagles.com on our Discussion Boards -- and every morning brings a new conversation, a new topic of debate.

All Eagles, all the time. I love that.

Even in that context sometimes things seem to cross the line. It isn't about wins and losses and in which direction the Eagles are taking in free agency. That is fair game. It is a personal attack on the integrity of the men, who runs this organization. Jeff Lurie, Andy Reid, Joe Banner and Tom Heckert are four of the more honorable people I know. They all dedicate their working lives to trying to win a Super Bowl.

Reports surfaced in Monday's Philadelphia Inquirer that Eagles wide receiver Donté Stallworth was in the league's substance-abuse program. The whens and the wheres and the hows were not identified at the time, only the fact that Stallworth had entered the program and there was speculation it was a reason for the relative lack of instant interest he had in free agency.

Since that time, speculation has been rampant about who leaked the information to Inquirer reporter Bob Brookover, who wrote the story. Many fingers have been pointed at the Eagles, despite Brookover's repeated insistence that the Eagles were not the source of the story.

Joe Banner and the Eagles do not deserve the accusation of leaking confidential information

So why are there fingers continuing to be pointing? Why are talk shows whispering the same accusation and directing criticisms of the Eagles and their front office?

The Eagles didn't leak the information. Brookover said so himself. I also know the people here well enough to not believe they would do that.

I write this because I am deeply disturbed that their individual character is being questioned in this way.

It is one thing to criticize Jeffrey Lurie and Joe Banner and Andy Reid and Tom Heckert over the team's won/loss record or any decision for that matter. That is part of the game. They all and we all know that is just a reflection of the passion people have for this team, and we love and appreciate that passion.

Attacking the integrity and credibility of these men is what feels so wrong.

The organization itself can't comment officially on the story. NFL rules prohibit such a thing. Teams are subject to steep fines for violating the confidentiality rules within the Collective Bargaining Agreement.

I can't help myself, though. Nothing bothers me more than the suggestion that the Eagles break rules or treat players poorly or run anything less than a first-class organization. From the time Lurie and Banner took over the team and announced that they wanted to make the Eagles an enviable sports franchise, they have done more than back up their words with actions. The Eagles have a top-rate practice facility, a world-class stadium that bring top-shelf sports and entertainment options to the city. The football team itself has been knocking on the door of winning a Super Bowl. It is difficult for everyone that the team has yet to bring home the Lombardi Trophy, but it will happen. I know it. I feel it.

More than that, the Eagles have run an exemplary organization. The players treat their status as role models seriously. The team has deep, deep roots within the community. The player-organization relationship has never been better; the Eagles are known around the league as a team that treats its players with class and dignity.

It is a great organization.

So let me say this: The Eagles did not leak the information on Stallworth, which, for your information, is known around the league and was apparently discussed at length at the league's recent NFL combine. The Eagles don't want to hurt Stallworth's reputation or his market value for the simple fact that they may still be interested in bringing him back as part of the organization.

Criticisms of player moves or play calling or salary cap management are all fair. Questioning these peoples integrity isn't right. We all want the same thing -- you and me and Andy Reid and Joe Banner and everybody. We want to win the Super Bowl and we want to do it the right way.