Let me get this out of the way first: The Philadelphia Eagles are my favorite NFL team. Okay? I love them, simple as that. I watch them every Sunday (or Monday or Thursday) and follow everything that they do. Because of all of that, I have also developed a deep loathing for the entire front office, much of the coaching staff and a select few of the guys who suit up in the midnight green and run out of the giant helmet onto the field. I don’t want this to be the typical “Fire Andy” or “McNabb Sucks” post, but I am afraid that there may be some of those elements emanating throughout, so, my apologies if that happens, but I’ll try my best to avoid it.
You cannot say that Andy Reid is a terrible coach, because he isn’t. Since coming here in 1999 as a relatively unknown commodity, he has developed into one of the most consistent coaches in the league and you can always pretty much pencil him and his squad into the playoffs each year, give or take. However, as a game day coach he is awful. Flat out awful. He is a stubborn man who refuses to change his game plan no matter what the playing conditions are or what the opposing team is doing to the Eagles out on the field (Hello Cincinnati and Oakland!).
We also cannot forget to mention that he is the creator of football and knows every single thing about the sport, well aside from having a running game, a full back, a kick/punt returner and an undying faith in Reno Mahe. Now granted, he has addressed many of these issues (except for that pesky running attack) but it is always a season too late. But seriously, Andy did invent the sport and scoffs at your press conferences and stonewalls you from questioning him. I know, I get it, who cares about what he does at press conferences? It’s just that it is so infuriating to hear him clearing his throat, coughing and having to “put the players in a better position.”
And it doesn’t look like Andy is going anywhere either, at least not for the foreseeable future. If I understand correctly, I think that as the team's executive vice president of football operations, he is basically in charge of his own employment status meaning that he has a bit of the ability to determine if he should stay or throw his own ass out on the street. What? That is just a microscopic part of the entire problem with the front office of the Philadelphia Eagles.
Jeffrey Lurie and Joe Banner are the ones who are most deserving of this seemingly endless tirade. Their pomposity, sensitivity and general arrogance are so off putting that it is hard to root for these guys. I understand that the NFL is a business and that being a cut-throat is viewed as a positive attribute, but the Eagles are like Gordon Gekko’s even eviler twin brother.
There is no loyalty and there’s a Pacific Ocean’s worth of disconnect with the fans, you know, the people who are giving them their money. Hey Jeff, you are not the “gold standard.” Salary cap wise, sure you’re the kings of staying under the cap, but championship wise, you have nothing.
Now, the Eagles had their chance for the better part of this decade and while they have gotten close and sniffed the Lombardi Trophy in 2004/05, they have always failed to deliver. They had Eagles fans salivating and obsessing over a parade down Broad Street and establishing themselves as one of the all time great teams in recent memory, but sadly I think that window is closing.
They’re not even the Buffalo Bills, at least those losers got to the Super Bowl four times instead of losing to the Rams, Bucs, Panthers and Cardinals. I love that the Phillies are on the verge (that is, if they haven’t already) of taking the throne from the Eagles as the city’s most important and favorite team. Although they would never admit to it, it must have killed the Eagles when the Phils won the World Series in 2008. And to pour some Mortons on that gash, they allowed the men and ladies in red into Lincoln Financial Field to watch the WFC’s victory speech from the ballpark. Aside from the sting of watching the team in pinstripes from across the street win a championship, one that the Eagles were supposed to do, the idea of Phillies fans storming the Linc to see a victory speech must have killed them. That parade down Broad Street was a giant, red middle finger to the Eagles, which was delightful in all regards.
I know what’s going to happen to, the Eagles will go on their typical late November/December tear, either winning the division or at least a wildcard spot in the playoffs, only to lose in either the divisional round or the NFC Championship game (again!). You can count on this every year; it’s like the rising tide. They become more and more unlikeable by the week and they really make it hard to get behind them. So yeah, I’m hypocritical in the sense that I will still watch them and pay for their merchandise, which only adds to the problem, but what other choice do I have?
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