Andy Reid enters year ten with the Eagles

by JasonB on Jul 18, 2008 9:27 AM EDT in News

It's almost crazy to think. Andy Reid has been the coach of this team for a decade. Les Bowen reminds of what it was like before he arrived

Immediately before Reid's arrival, the record books reveal there was a time when the Eagles made the playoffs just twice in 6 years and won a total of one postseason game. Somehow, evoking the contrast between this era and Reid's six playoff appearances in 9 years, with a postseason record of 8-6, does not elicit a similarly passionate response.

Since Jeff Lurie decided to hire a no name guy that had been not even been a coordinator at the NFL level, Andy has went on to become the winningest coach in team history and this year will surprass Greasy Neale as it's longest tenured.

This is why it's so odd to read these stories in the offseason asking whether Andy is "on the hot seat" and if he doesn't win this year could it be his last? Honestly, it's gotten hard to imagine the Eagles without Andy. But is that healthy? Has Andy already done enough to lose his job but instead hung on because everyone is so familiar with him? I don't think so, but it does raise an interesting question. What would Andy have to do to lose his job?

Considering we did not make the playoffs last year would a second straight year out of the postseason be enough? Would he get one more shot after that? Let's do an informal poll. There's no set choices, I just want you to tell me what it would take for you to say bye to Reid. Maybe you're already there...

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Andy's okay with me

I too don’t understand the articles out there claiming Big Andy is on the “hot seat”. He’s done a fine job over the past 9 years here, and shouldn’t be blamed for the fact that the front office has had a lot of misses in the draft (Jerome McDougle, anyone?) and free agency (see Howard, Darren and Kearse, Jevon) and his quarterback can’t seem to stay out of the trainer’s room for a full season. He had a lot of off-the-field problems to deal with last year and McNabb had nagging injuries, so I think he’s earned a free pass for last year. If McNabb is healthy and things don’t go well this year, then we might be talking more seriously about looking for a new coach. But at this point I’d have to think McNabb’s seat is infinitely toastier than Andy’s right now.

Moss

Check out my blog at adisgustingact.blogspot.com!

by Moss on Jul 18, 2008 1:10 PM EDT 0 recs

I'm not there ...

I’m a huge Andy fan and I don’t think his time is up. If he were to get fired he could probably pick his next head coaching job teams would be lining up to grab him. The good thing about him is he has kept this team young when you keep players around for awhile and you get to the super bowl and lose and you continually get to the playoffs and lose the players can start to feel like the coach and system are flawed. Andy has kept his key leaders but rotated the rest of the team pretty well so guys are buying into his scheme for the first time constantly.

by Whodie126 on Jul 18, 2008 1:14 PM EDT 0 recs

I agree with Moss

Donovan Mcnabb will go way before Andy does. Honestly, I think if we don’t make the playoffs for another two years, AND kolb turns out to be a gigantic failure, Andy may be out. But I have high hopes for both Andy and Kolb in the coming years. It’s been a rough couple of seasons since ‘04, but no one said it would be easy. I think the new eagles are shaping up to be something that could potentially go very far. I don’t think they will be dominating this season, but I think they are young, and we have very capable people in key positions. Here’s to hoping the eagles go far this year.

by CMax on Jul 19, 2008 4:35 AM EDT 0 recs

Great point about Kolb

I think Andy’s future beyond McNabb is very much tied to how good Kolb is.

Bleeding Green Nation - Philadelphia Eagles Blog

by JasonB on Jul 21, 2008 9:31 AM EDT up 0 recs

1. Andy Reid is absolutely in no danger of losing his job. I honestly think if the Eagles were to miss the playoffs for the next three seasons, then the Eagles would let Reid go. But I truly believe it would take that kind of prolonged failure. I would have to agree with the Eagles on that.

2. Andy Reid is part of the front office that has missed on several draft picks. He definitely has had part in personnel decisions that haven’t worked out.

All that said, I have a hard time warming up to Big Red. His refusal to improve his clock management, refusal to run the ball more, and some of his questionable personnel decisions and play calling decisions frustrate me. While Terrell Owens is a total numb-nuts I don’t believe Reid helped the situation at all. Topped off with Reid’s absolute arrogance, I am a bit neutral on him.

Don’t get me wrong, I think he is a good coach and I do not think he should be fired. But I think he is flawed and a weak NFC has been a factor in his success. The Eagles lost two NFC championship games at home that they absolutely should have won. As head coach, Reid deserves a part of the blame for under achievement in those situations. Until Reid wins a Super Bowl, I am not willing to give him legendary status.

by Baron Dainer Von Tresvant on Jul 19, 2008 9:38 PM EDT 0 recs

Eagles fans, man I never get tired of it

Eagles fans care about one thing, winning and it’s all about what have you done for me lately. They will boo Andy Reid, they will boo Donovan McNabb, they boo anyone that can’t make a play.

One more season like last and Andy and Dono are outtie, when the Linc heats up with boos no one is thinking about how long Andy has been there and what he has done for this franchise. Eagles fans are consistent, I’ll give you that.

=====Curly R: The Redskins Blog=====

by thatguyben on Jul 21, 2008 12:45 PM EDT 0 recs

While Reid has been one of the top three Eagles coaches of all time (He’s behind Greasy Neal and Buck Shaw because they actually WON an NFL championship), until he wins a Super Bowl fans will never be forgiving of playoff misses and losses. To say Philadelphia is unique to this, remember coaches like Tony Dungy, Dan Reeves, and Marty Schottenheimer have had winning records and were fired. Tom Landry and Bill Belichick were fired and they actually won Super Bowls. Pittsburgh fans were calling for Bill Cowher to be fired before he finally won a Super Bowl. I seem to remember Tom Coughlin being on the hot seat before he finally won a Super Bowl. I love it when people act like pressure on a successful coach only happens in Philadelphia. Winning and current success are priorities for fans in cities of all sports.

That said, I do think Reid should not be fired. But I do recognize that there is valid criticism for Reid and I have been critical of him. While I think Reid is the Eagles best option as coach RIGHT NOW, I’m not sure if he can ever win a Super Bowl. A part of me feels like he has gone as far as he will go with the Eagles. Why? Because I don’t see an ability to change and improve on his weaknesses, despite the fact that Reid claims he has a binder full of stuff he has learned since he became a head coach in the NFL. I think a large number of fans feel this way too and would prefer to move on to the next head coaching era to see if someone else can win a Super Bowl instead of continuing to come close, but not quite win it with Reid.

by Baron Dainer Von Tresvant on Jul 21, 2008 9:45 PM EDT up 0 recs