The Philadelphia Eagles fan base is undisputedly the most hated throughout the NFL and all of sports.

Sports Illustrated confirmed this with a survey of some NFL players in July, who admitted they most despise the men and women standing in the crowd at Eagles home games. Every team has fans known for the minority of unruly acts they have committed over time, but Philadelphia fans have always been stamped for their rowdiness in the stands worst of all.

Back in 1968, attendees of a game at Franklin Field decided to hurl snowballs at a man dressed as Santa Claus on the field due to the team winning too many late-season games. Fans wanted to tank (even in those days) for a top pick and the opportunity to select star USC running back O.J. Simpson. 

Simpson would go first overall to the Buffalo Bills in the 1969 NFL Draft, and the Eagles were stuck with halfback Leroy Keyes (don't recall that name, huh?) at pick #3. To make matters worse, the Pittsburgh Steelers snatched "Mean" Joe Greene a pick later.

Both Simpson and Greene ended up in the Pro Football Hall of Fame while Keyes busted as a running back and saw a glimmer of success at the safety position before leaving the league after just six seasons. He scored 3 touchdowns over the totality of his NFL career.

That chain of unlucky events in Philadelphia Eagles history has shaped the attitude of the franchise and its fans over the last half-century. The desperation of the tens of thousands every Sunday at the Linc is driven by the lack of a Super Bowl ring, and as a result of that frustration, it gets pretty nasty to be an opposing supporter at an Eagles home game.

A team with a fight song like the '60s-esque "Fly Eagles Fly" would seem practically harmless, until they throw excessive snowballs at Santa, boo opposing players down on the field with injury (remember the Michael Irvin incident in 1999?), and fight so much that a prison and court have to be installed under the stadium.

What makes outsiders despise even more of Eagles fans is their up-and-down loyalty to the team. One year, Andy Reid and Donovan McNabb make a Super Bowl run only to be halted by the Tom Brady-led New England Patriots, all fans in unmatched support, while the next, the team finishes last in the NFC East and people in the crowd are booing the team, asking for the firing of Reid and McNabb and donning paper bags "of shame". 

Dwelling on something that happened 50 years ago does seem unreasonable, but when you consider the fact that Eagles stadiums have had law enforcement in the basements of their venues since the jail and judge at Veterans Stadium in '98, there is room to expand on all that has happened through the years.

Whether you like it or not, Philly will be known for their violent and drunken fans (which is not to say that any other stadium lacks those), Seattle and Kansas City will be known for their deafening crowd noise, and other franchises like the Oakland Raiders will be known for poorly-maintained stadiums like the O.co Coliseum (SI's most hated).

Regardless of any reputations at stake, Eagles fans show up and exercise Brotherly Love, as their city name suggests, as long as you only consider fellow Philly fans to be brothers. Until the team finally brings home a coveted Lombardi Trophy, the ambiguity of support and home-field advantages will continue to reign over Philadelphia and their crazed fans bleeding green.

The Eagles have won seven of the last 14 division titles, so they shouldn't have too much to complain about now, right? Having either Sam Bradford or Mark Sanchez at the helm of the offense may eradicate all positive thoughts of Philly's potential for a good playoff run. Only a Super Bowl win is acceptable to these diehards.

Coach Chip Kelly is under a lot of pressure, as will any coach that so dares to run things in the Cradle of Liberty.