Andy Reid pre-game 2012 making a tribute to his son Garrett Reid.
Extra Extra! Read all about it! Andy Reid is no longer the head coach of the Philadelphia Eagles, but that is no surprise...according to the media and the Philadelphia fans.
It is no secret that the Philadelphia Eagles have been such a disappointment the past two seasons and ever since the tough loss in Super XXXIX, it seems the Eagles could never get over the hurdle to bring home the prize Lombardy trophy.
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Despite the end of this story, we must assess the beginning of Coach Reid's tenure at Philadelphia as well as his successes and failures.
Andy Reid took over the Philadelphia Eagles in 1999 where he took a rookie quarterback into star status-Donovan McNabb. In his first season as a coach, the Eagles record was 5-11. In the 2000 season, the Eagles turned that 5-11 season to 11 and 5. In 14 seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles, Andy Reid has only had 3 losing seasons (1999, 2005, 2012); two .500 seasons (2007, 2011) totally 37 wins above .500, one conference championship, and 7 division titles. There is less than a handful of times when the Eagles have not made the playoffs. The past two seasons is the first time in his coaching years that he has had back to back losing seasons. Philadelphia fans and ownership have called it quits, but why?
In the past decade, the Philadelphia Eagles have been the most successful team in the city by the having the highest winning percentage (Philadelphia Phillies were second highest, followed by the Flyers, and Sixers). With so much success there is no wonder the city and fans want a fresh start and new identity...but what coach could be more successful than Andy Reid who has the most wins in Eagles history? Yes, he did not lead the team to win the Super bowl, but a coach can't play for his players. The mistakes the Eagles make are especially physical-i.e. the players are careless with the ball, not mental where the players make mistakes due to a lack of execution or lack or preparation. I have never seen a team rally around a coach who has had his worst season of his career.
That last sentence is ironic. A coach is fired for wins and losses, yet a coach cant predict how the team will preform, nor does he have a say in any players that are brought into the system, so how can a team succeed when a coach does not have a say who shall be traded or picked for his team? Andy Reid is known to be heavily involved in his team and he always takes the blame for the failures, yet he praises the success of the players when victories are glorious. What a coach...but what is a coach these days?
What is his responsibility? Fire a GM, Fire the players!
The NFL lately has made football become more of a business and less of a sport. Trading for the best players does not mean the team will succeed, and just because a team has unknowns mean it will fail. The past few seasons have been great examples of how the right players, aka those who play for a paycheck versus an egotistically contract tend to be the more successful team. For instance, the 49ers last year were a surprise to the NFL, the broncos this year have had a resurgence, and the Seahawks are winning due to the impeccable play of a rookie QB. Are these teams winning because of talent alone, coaches, or having the right talent for that system?
Herb Brooks had the right idea-he wasn't looking for the best players for the 1980 Olympic team, he was looking for the right players. If the talent meshes into a system already in place by the coach that can lead to success. Talent alone cannot bring a championship and sadly thats what the Eagles tried to do in the most recent years. The downfall is not with Andy Reid, it was when the organization decided to release, Brain Dawkins, Brain Westbrook, Jon Runyan, and David Akers. All of these players were no longer in 'prime' shape, but they had heart, character, desire, and knew how to lead the team to win games, that is why Andy Reid was successful. He took these players and maximized their talent in his system. (Ex. Donavan McNabb).
Now, the team is dealt with players who have been imported to be leaders, many players have a huge ego, and there seems to lack a solid team chemistry. If talent alone won games the Eagles would have been 12-4 not 4-12, but when its a team effort their record reflects the lack of togetherness.
Coaches cannot play for their players, they can only prepare them for the next weeks game, and honestly I think Reid has done a solid job in Philadelphia and his record reflects his success. Overall, he has come up short of the success Philadelphia fans have envisioned for the city and with as a result if its time for him to leave. I just wished it ended in positive terms. I am sad that media and fans are willing to just throw him aside without giving the praise he rightly deserves. I would like to see him at least one more season in Philadelphia because of his record, but I understand it is a business. I wish him the best, and am thankful of all those great seasons fans had cheering for the birds!
As one era ends, a new one begins and I cannot wait to see what is in store for the Philadelphia Eagles organization.
