Start the New Year with change, why bother, when after all, an 8-8 finish is not a losing season. As Eagles owner Jeffery Lurie remains committed to his man, head coach Andy Reid. The announcement confirms many of the Eagles faithful worse fears.
The news of Reid staying another year has added to the frustration of the Philadelphia fan base. After 13 failed attempts to bring home a Super Bowl, the fans were hoping for a change at the helm.
Lurie felt this season was a major disappointment, basically his, “All in,” statement was more about the money he has deposited into his bank accounts from the resurrection of Eagles football in this city than the actual winning we are all talking about.
The man most responsible for lining the pockets of Lurie, you guessed it, Andy Reid. Big Red is the most successful coach in Eagles history (126-81-1). He has taken this franchise to heights only experienced by a handful of NFL elite organization.
Reid also owns the Eagles’ record for the number of playoff appearances (19) and wins with ten. So, why give up on Reid now after 13 seasons of profitable football.
Plain and simple, you don’t. Despite the fact Reid hasn’t won a postseason game since 2008. In that season, Reid led the Eagles’ to a 9-6-1 record, losing to Arizona in the conference championship.
Ironically enough, that followed Reid’s only other 8-8 season as head coach. In his corner as well, after every sub-par season Reid has suffered – 1999, 2005, 2007 - his teams have rebounded the next season to qualify for the playoffs.
With a winning percentage of well over .600 against poor teams during his 13 seasons as Eagles head coach, Reid has made a living out of beating bad teams. This season he could not do that, suffering crucial losses to Buffalo, Arizona, and Seattle.
With all that said, Reid shouldn’t deserve to be back as the Eagles head coach. It is time for a change of philosophy. Reid is a horrendous general when leading his troops in big games. He has an overall 34-50 record versus teams with winning records.
Reid’s teams lack discipline. The Eagles, again in 2011, committed 107 penalties, as they were once again one of the NFL’s most penalized teams. They have averaged eight penalties a game over the last three seasons, totaling a loss of up to 70 yards a game.
Reid has an impressive resume and would not have a hard time finding a new job in the NFL. In 2002 Tampa Bay replaced Tony Dungy with Jon Gruden after three consecutive trips to the postseason. The result felt almost immediately as the Bucs won the Super Bowl the next season.
Dungy brought his winning ways to Indianapolis. Taking over for Jim Mora, Dungy would get his Lombardi Trophy in 2006. Even the NFL’s most successful head coach, Don Shula, received a pink slip.
The teams that make the tough choices usually come out on top. Lurie fumbled this one as we all await Reid 14.
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