The Philadelphia Eagles have done a poor job of hiding their intentions to fire Andy Reid. As such, it is fitting that the Eagles are denying it right to the end. Nevertheless, sources for the Associated Press alleged on Dec. 30 that the decision has finally been made after all.
After the Eagles’ 42-7 loss to the New York Giants on Dec. 30, it didn’t take long for reports to surface that Reid had been fired. He and owner Jeffrey Lurie will meet on Dec. 31, and the official announcement that ends Reid’s 14-year career in Philadelphia will likely come soon after.
However, Eagles spokesman Derek Boyko still claimed that the reports are “absolutely, 100 percent untrue.” Yet an Associated Press source claimed that it hasn’t been made official because “a final agreement” hasn’t been reached. That source even alleges Reid could stay with the organization in “some capacity.”
Still, that capacity likely won’t include head coach, no matter how much the Eagles want to keep it a secret. Ever since Lurie announced in the preseason that the Eagles had to do better than last year’s 8-8 record, and ever since it was clear that they wouldn’t, the writing was on the wall for Reid.
But despite the decline on the field and the scorn of Philadelphia fans, neither Lurie nor Reid has spoken about the Eagles’ coaching prospects for 2013. However, that may finally end in a matter of hours, if the AP sources are right and the Eagles’ public denials are wrong, as everyone suspects.
Philadelphia has probably lived in denial about their future with Reid for a few years now, which is partly why it finally hit rock bottom in 2012. But after 14 years and more patience than any other organization would have shown, the Eagles are close to finally cutting the cord with their coach.
In any case, if it turns out they were telling the truth and Reid doesn’t get fired, the fan base will likely rail against Lurie and company all offseason. Yet if the Associated Press is right and Reid is put out of his misery on New Years Eve, the Eagles will literally begin 2013 with the fresh new start that most fans have starved for after all.
Comments