Giants Dump Eagles, Eagles Dump Reid
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A blowout loss to the Giants brought a fitting end to the season and to Andy Reid’s tenure as the Eagles head coach.
The gentle defense put an exclamation point on its season-long incompetence by allowing 5 TD passes, failing to force a turnover, and displaying what has become typically atrocious tackling in the 42-10 loss.
Michael Vick further damaged any chance he has of another team viewing him as a viable NFL starter. He seems to start every game by committing a turnover on the first possession, and did so again on Sunday, throwing an interception.
This always-deflating and momentum-killing routine is one of the cardinal sins of football, undermining the Eagles special-teams recovery of an onside kick on the opening kickoff.
Any Eagles fan who continued to pay attention to the train wreck the 2012 season became has seen Vick regress to his pre-prison status. He is unable to put points on the board. He turns the ball over at a staggering rate, and since he has lost his once-otherworldly speed and quickness, his weaknesses as a passer are even more evident. His future success in the NFL is doubtful.
Vick made comments after the game indicating he is still an elite QB and that if half his teammates had as much heart as he does, the Eagles would be going to the playoffs. This delusional self-evaluation furthermore betrays his lack of leadership—a weak effort to save himself by deflecting blame for a consecutive embarrassing season.
Vick is gone and, more importantly, so is Andy Reid. Reports are circulating confirming what everyone already knew: that Andy Reid would be fired as the Eagles head coach. Just short of a decade-and-a-half is a long time to remain an NFL head coach, much less with the same team.
Reid presided over what has to be considered the Golden Age of Eagles football. Playing your way to 5 NFC Championship Games in 12 seasons is an accomplishment; that they only yielded one Super Bowl appearance—a loss—is a glaring failure.
Now, with this Eagles team having fallen to depths fans have rarely experienced in the last 35 years, Reid had to go. His firing, however personally unfortunate, is a relief for all involved from a franchise perspective.
It will be interesting to see where Reid lands, but that is an aside. All the focus of the organization and the fans now turns to hiring the right guy to take over the reins from Coach Reid.
A number of candidates have been mentioned: John Gruden, Bill Cowher, Chip Kelly, Bill O’Brien and Mike McCoy. Cowher’s square-jawed toughness and emphasis on defense would work well with the Philadelphia fan base, but it seems like a longshot. Kelly and his gimmicky, college offense would be a terrible mistake.
The holiday season often brings with it a great deal of excitement for Eagles fans, watching their team jockey for playoff position and playing postseason games. When that excitement and the chase of elation is replaced with relief that your team’s season has mercifully come to an end, dramatic change is necessary.
As fans, we all need to hope the right change is made. If history is any indication, the analysis of the new Eagles head coach should start in less than two weeks.
Mr L
12:32 am on Monday, December 31, 2012
So Long Mr Reid, It was the best of times and it was the worst of times with you as head coach of the Philadelphia Eagles.
Mike Diviney
3:07 pm on Monday, December 31, 2012
Well said. Never thought of using Dickens to describe Andy Reid and the Eagles.
Mike Shortall
10:32 am on Monday, December 31, 2012
With the current state of the talent on this team, including several wasted high-round draft picks, I fear that Eagles fans are going to be wandering in the "football desert" for a few NFL seasons while this team rebuilds WITHOUT the benefit of highly-paid free agents. After all, Lurie's not going to spend the money on making a bad team mediocre.
If you're interested, my take on the Andy Reid Legacy: http://crankymanslawn.com/2012/11/28/andy-reids-eagles-legacy/
Mike Diviney
3:06 pm on Monday, December 31, 2012
I kind of disagree. We've seen in the present-NFL that quick turnarounds are possible. There's not a complete dearth of talent. The chemistry and lack of heart are the biggest problems. It's become a sour situation. The right leader can fix that in 2 years.
Mike Shortall
11:57 am on Tuesday, January 1, 2013
Well, that's the REAL issue, right? Finding the "right leader". Lurie and Roseman are going to have to get real lucky in successfully finding the right guy. As we all know, they don't grow on trees.
We don't really disagree since you recognize the possibility that it could take "2 years". I said "a few NFL seasons". Of course, The Braintrust could get real lucky and find that gem that could turn this around pretty quickly.
My point was more to the possibility that they won't find the "right leader" in their first, second, or third post-Reid coaches. And that goes right back to my blog post about the Eagles early history of abysmal coaching failures.
No, I'm not sounding all that optimistic; and certainly that's my long Eagles-fan history speaking. I'm just convinced it will MOST LIKELY be a much tougher job replacing Reid, since the personnel issues at critical positions like QB, cornerback, safety, offensive line are a real mess right now.
It has the real potential to discourage a top coaching choice from picking Philly when there are at least 6 other openings - e.g. Chicago, San Diego - to pick from.
We'll see ...
Mr L
10:38 am on Monday, December 31, 2012
http://www.philly.com/philly/sports/eagles/Andy_Reid_fired_after_14_seasons_as_Eagles_coach.html
It's finally official: The Andy Reid era in Philadelphia is over.
Reid was fired Monday after 14 seasons at the helm of the Eagles. His dismissal comes one day after an embarrassing 42-7 loss at the New York Giants which put the finishing touches on a 4-12 season.
Phil McConkey
11:06 am on Monday, December 31, 2012
I don't think the Eagles need to completely rebuild. 2 years I don't think it's crazy to actually think they will make the playoffs. NFL is different now then 20 years ago. And I don't think the next coach will be a big name. Tennessee didn't do it after Fisher, Steelers didn't do it after Cowher. I still think a name like Zimmer will pop up more to concentrate on the defense. Pay him a alot less then a big name HC and get a better OC to help groom Foles or any other young QB.
Matt Skoufalos
1:23 pm on Monday, December 31, 2012
Indy went worst to the playoffs with Andrew Luck; not saying Foles is that answer, but our D looks as bad now as theirs did last year.
Mike Diviney
3:09 pm on Monday, December 31, 2012
I agree with you on the timetable, if not on Zimmer. Not saying I wouldn't consider him, but he's only 1 option. Pitt got it right, Tenn got it wrong, so it can go either way. A strong offensive guy to mentor Foles or whomever else is a must. The NFL is all about the QB.
Phil McConkey
11:01 am on Tuesday, January 1, 2013
I agree. If i were an owner of a team in a business sense i think Zimmer is the easiest safest choice. Business side only. He's been talked about for a couple of years so you can sell that and Sunday I heard an announcer say the Cincy has "one of the best pass rushes in the game" (not sure I agre but was said). Zimmer is a smart business decision for owner and can calm the fan base of fans who think they know the game who want Kelly, Gruden, etc. This is owner side only, not thinking like a fan
Mike Shortall
11:18 am on Monday, December 31, 2012
I'm curious as to how Howie Roseman keeps his job, given the horrid draft picks the Eagles have made and the ineffective free agent signings.
Does he really get a pass because Reid had the final say?
Mike Diviney
3:13 pm on Monday, December 31, 2012
Well, yeah. I think that's what Lurie said. He said he kept voluminous notes and Roseman was the best talent evaluator in the building. However, does any other NFL team have a 30-something year old attorney as their GM? His heavy involvement is a little too similar to Banner's. Not impossible that he can do the job, but seems like a stretch.
Jack Walden
2:01 pm on Monday, December 31, 2012
Just heard Lurie's press conference. It is disengenuous of him to completely absolve Howie Roseman from the porr performance by the Eagles over the last two seasons. He seems to have a real blind spot here. I hope this doesn't keep the Eagles in rebuilding mode forever.
Andy is a good man who made bad decisions. Hope he rests himself and finds a new coaching position in a year.
Mike Diviney
3:15 pm on Monday, December 31, 2012
Jack, echo your opinion on Andy wholeheartedly. I also agree on Howie, but Reid and even Banner before that bear more responsibility than Roseman does. Again, he doesn't fit the mold of an NFL GM, ie, someone who has experience in football?! Guess we gotta give him a chance since Lurie is obviously going to.
Bo
7:55 pm on Monday, December 31, 2012
Roseman, a Reid minion, just like Heckert was, is the roadblock now, not Reid or Banner. He made the two worst free agents signings in franchise history with Bell and Nnamdi. You had to make a clean sweep to go forward correctly.
Phil McConkey
10:58 am on Tuesday, January 1, 2013
Happy New Year everyone. Here's looking to another Eagles season just like 2012 in 2013!!!
Bo
11:32 am on Tuesday, January 1, 2013
Happy New Year to you too Phil and here's hoping for another Giants season in 2013 just like they had in 2012.
Mike Diviney
2:55 pm on Wednesday, January 2, 2013
Kind of agree with you Bo, but you can't put all the blame on Roseman- no one knows who was making that decisions in that muddled mess of a situation. Also, those guys are both unbelievable bad, but they were both considered the best available at their positions- can't imagine how that happened. At least there's ONE guy now who's clearly responsible for talent eval. I don't like a Lurie minion/ 30- something lawyer being our GM, but we have to give him a chance because we don't have choice.
Bo
9:16 pm on Wednesday, January 2, 2013
Wasn't placing all the blame on anyone, it goes w/o saying that the blame is shared by those we've already mentioned here. That said Laurie all but absolved him by not mentioning these 2 specific FA signings, and only mentioning Howie wasn't to blame for the '10 and '11 drafts. Bill O'Brien, I thought he'd be a good HC for this team, but it's gonna piss a lot of people off if it happens.
Mike Diviney
2:58 pm on Wednesday, January 2, 2013
I appreciate Phil's ascerbic sarcasm as much as the next guy, but I will keep my eye out for a guy prancing around in a 3 sizes too small Bavaro jersey in hopes of addressing him in person!
Mike Diviney
10:07 pm on Wednesday, January 2, 2013
Bo, plenty of blame to go around. I'd be willing to bet Banner was behind those signings more than Roseman. Plus, we were all jumping for joy when those signings we were made- then again, not out job to know. We'll see how he does.
Bo
10:33 pm on Wednesday, January 2, 2013
San Diego owner Dean Spanos did a very smart thing by hiring ex Packers GM Ron Wolf to be a consultant in the hiring of a new GM and coach there. Jeffrey would be wise to do the same with Bill Polian or someone of near his stature, thus Roseman would be under evaluation by an unbiased and knowledgeable football exce, and not Lurie.
Mike Diviney
10:47 pm on Wednesday, January 2, 2013
Agreed. I guess at 74, Wolf is not looking for a full-time job, but I'd love to have that guy's input on personnel on a consulting basis. He built that Favre Packers team.
Bo
10:56 pm on Wednesday, January 2, 2013
Exactly Mike, at the very least this consultant could help improve Roseman as a GM and all in the Eagles scouting and player personnel department and how they do their jobs. In a sense the Phils did the same with Pat Gilick, and he's still on the Phils payroll today as a consultant. Attracting and communicating with the best people for these same jobs is another plus of hiring someone like Ron or Bill.
Mike Diviney
11:07 pm on Wednesday, January 2, 2013
I don't know for a fact that Roseman can't do the job. I do know he's the youngest GM in the NFL at 37. That, coupled with the fact that he joined the team as a STAFF ATTORNEY, just makes NO sense. He's said to be a cap wizard. A Lurie buddy who's a cap guy all of a sudden being in charge of football personnel? Haven't we been down this road before in the form of Joe Banner?
Bo
11:56 pm on Wednesday, January 2, 2013
Mike, Banner started the 'City Year,' program and I think he was a sports reporter at one time. I am sure Roseman has some good qualities, one I am certain of is his work ethic, wherein he worked his way up to said position at such an age. All that said some one with the exp of Bill Polian can only make him and those around him better, specifically how they evaluate players.
Mike Diviney
12:00 am on Thursday, January 3, 2013
Banner was men's clothing store owner for many years as a career while he was doing the City Year thing is a charity. He was very successful, but how that translates to player evaluation is beyond me. Howie does have a great work ethic from what I hear. Therefore, given his education, he'd probably be a good lawyer. I don't mind him in the room, but how is he qualified to be the guy making the final call?
Bo
8:27 am on Thursday, January 3, 2013
City Year was and still is a huge program, but neither here nor there, as the point is none of these guys are football guys per say and were stuck with Roseman and somehow have to find a way to work with him.
Bo
11:22 am on Thursday, January 3, 2013
this is good, must read Ron Wolf's biggest regret ..Q/ On which head coaching candidate previously knocked his socks off and he was too foolish to not hire:
A/ “At that time it was Andy Reid.”
www.chargers.com/news/article-1/Listen-to-and-Read-Ron-Wolfs-Conference-Call/cfd3df7d-99dc-4a8c-ac94-27b9fa4ee2cd
“At that time it was Andy Reid.”
Mike Diviney
4:22 pm on Thursday, January 3, 2013
Interesting. That's what I was saying Bo. Why are we trying to do it in a more difficult way? Hoping these guys from other lines of work can do the GM job. He may be able to and we'd better hope he can because he's going to get that chance.
Bo
5:34 pm on Thursday, January 3, 2013
That is what I was also saying, but we are stuck with the lawyer, right. So we can't move forward properly, with a clean sweep, which we all know is best! A consultant could improve what we're stuck with. It seems Andy has weaved us a web of incompetency, that we're still a bit stuck in till Howie's contact comes close to expiring.
Bo
5:38 pm on Thursday, January 3, 2013
That comment is funny in that he stated, "at that time." It surprises me how Andy is perceived by everyone but we, the perceived uber tough Philly fan-base.
Mike Diviney
5:46 pm on Thursday, January 3, 2013
Yeah, he had to add that, though I hear the Chargers now want to interview him. KC is a wasteland- I wouldn't want to coach there if I was Andy. How is Andy responsible for Howie Roseman? He's not.
Bo
6:56 pm on Thursday, January 3, 2013
We'll he is responsible for empowering Heckert and Banner just fired him. That now makes me wonder how good any of those three were. Our scouting and player personnel depts were never any good. We had a lot of bad drafts, it wasn't just the two Lurie noted.
Mike Diviney
3:02 pm on Sunday, January 6, 2013
Mike, regarding your earlier post- I can see some of your points, but I disagree with your assessment of the Eagles talent relative to other teams with openings. The O-line should be a strength- remember 3 starters went out with injuries- Peters, Herremans, Kelce and you have to figure they'll all come back. Rosters are liquid in the NFL. Yes, it can take a year or 2 to turn them over, but the Eagles have comparable talent to those other teams. SD is a mess, Chicago is stuck with a loser at QB and other than Brandon Marshall and sometimes Forte, they have nothing on offense. Incoming coaches don't look as much at the current roster as they do facilities, an ownership that spends money and strong market. The Eagles have all of those. Their major need is to get their personnel evaluation process in order- something on which any incoming coach will have a strong influence.
Mike Diviney
3:06 pm on Sunday, January 6, 2013
Regarding their inability to hire coaches?? This owner had Richie the K when he came in and hired Ray Rhodes. He had 2 successful seasons despite a dearth of talent. Then it all fell apart. Reid followed and however one wants to judge his tenure, that was good hire. 6 division Championships, 5 Title Games, 1 superbowl. Ultimately they didn't get it done, but it was a sage hire. No reason to assume they'll be unable to do it again.