Spike Eskin: Keeping Andy Reid Means Philly Sports Armageddon
By Spike Eskin
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – I don't believe it's at all likely that Andy Reid will remain head coach of the Philadelphia Eagles for the 2013 season.
I'm not entirely certain that this belief isn't caused by my refusal to accept the consequences if it does happen, or my actual belief that it won't, but it feels like the latter.
Two, well respected, Philly sportswriters (Bob Ford and John Smallwood) have suggested that Jeffrey Lurie's silence on the matter, paired with Reid's recent moves (Foles, Babin, Washburn), mean that it's possible that Reid remains coach. His contract does run through next season, and Lurie has already shown a propensity to believe in Reid more than most people in Philadelphia do.
Bringing Reid back as coach would be the worst front office decision in modern Philadelphia sports history, and is only possible if you believe that Jeffrey Lurie is capable of making a decision that not only doesn't make any football sense, but would cause an uproar within a fanbase that is capable of roaring more loudly than any in the country. It would be Philadelphia sports Armageddon. I would fear walking the streets.
As for football, it's hard to believe that a coach could have done a worse job than Reid did with the 2012 and 2013 Eagles. From personnel, to preparation, to execution, the Philadelphia Eagles have failed on the field as much as any team could. They are undisciplined, untalented, unmotivated, and unsuccessful.
A coach who once created a culture that was conducive to winning, has lost all control of his team on and off the field.
Eight consecutive losses on the field while off the field, LeSean McCoy questions Nick Foles' decisions, and Jason Kelce starts arguments about gun violence during Sunday night's loss on Twitter. Rewind a decade, no matter what you thought of Reid, you could never imagine eight straight losses or out of control players.
An owner shouldn't make decisions based on public opinion, but man, this would be legendary. It's partially the current media climate, where Twitter and Facebook allow fans and media to blow almost everything up to massive proportions. But more than that, it would signal that Lurie is completely and totally unaware of how Eagles fans feel. He'd be ignoring almost every sign possible, including an emptying, apathetic crowd, which is happening right before his eyes at Lincoln Financial Field.
Worse than signing Michael Vick.
Worse than bringing Reid back for 2012. Worse than "gold standard" or "definition of insanity."
Worse than trading Charles Barkley for Jeff Hornacek and Tim Perry, and worse than giving Sam Dalembert a billion dollars.
Worse than letting go of Brian Dawkins.
Worse than trading Cliff Lee.
Worse than lying about Andrew Bynum's knees or Chris Pronger's concussion.
Worse than anything Norman Braman, Rich Kotite or Ray Rhodes ever did. Worse than whatever Harold Katz could muster.
There are four games left in this awful season, and not too many compelling stories on the field. It's natural for our minds to wander.
Idle hands are the devil's playground, and here's to hoping the idea of Reid returning is the work of idle hands building a jungle gym.
