I no longer expect answers from Andy Reid. I know now that is too much to ask.
And I know that the men who run the “gold standard” that has yet to produce a Super Bowl title have no intention of doing anything about it.
Why should they. Andy Reid was at the helm when Jeff Lurie’s investment skyrocketed into the stratosphere. Joe Banner counted all those nickles and dimes. They hit the jackpot. Jeff Lurie is now worth more than $1 billion. Thanks, Andy. And keep paying for those tickets, and concessions, and parking, and gear, all you loyal Eagles fans. Just don't expect any answers.
Of course, there are those who believe that Jeff Lurie doesn’t “own” the Eagles; rather he is merely a steward of a public trust. Yeah, right. Remind yourself of that the next time you’re sending in that deposit for your season tickets, or forking over $25 to park before the game.
Reid’s act is now beyond tiresome. It’s an affront to every fan who puts his or her heart into the team. Oh, by the way, these are the same people who by and large supported Reid during his personal turmoil.
Now he’s back to gruff Andy, belittling media members and bullying them every time they try to raise a legitimate issue. That’s what Reid was doing when he tried to cut off a writer with an acid “then don’t ask the question” response as a query was being prefaced. That’s what he did yesterday with radio guy Mike Missanelli.
Reid apparently doesn’t view media as a portal to the fans. He sees them as a doormat.
So don’t expect any answers any time soon on whether making his offensive line coach – who had not played or coached defense since his college days – was a good choice as his defensive coordinator.
Don’t expect Reid to suddenly start placing any value on linebackers, especially in a defense that creates huge gaps in the trendy “Nine Wide” formation that creates a need for sturdy ‘backers to fill them.
Don’t expect any answers as to the wisdom of heading into the season with two rookie kickers.
Don't expect an explanation on the last-minute shuffle of the offensive line the week of the season opener. Or whether the Birds' new reliance on Howard Mudd's like for smaller, more agile linemen handicaps them in short-yardage situations.
Don't expect an answer to when the Eagles actually will try to line up and beat someone, as opposed to running some kind of exotic gadget play that screams of the mad scientist Andy crowing, "see, I'm smarter than everyone else."
So how about just one answer, to a legitimate question concerning Reid’s strategy in the second half of that embarrassing come-from-ahead loss to the 49ers.
With a 23-3 lead, Reid said after the game that the Eagles took their foot off the gas pedal, that he detected his team believing a win was a given. I disagree. I think the Eagles failed to do what most winning franchises do.
Up 20 points in the second half, your opponent becomes the clock, not the Niners. Yet there was Reid, passing on play after play, and stopping the clock with every incompletion.
How exactly is it that the team with the top rusher in the NFL entering the game managed to run the ball exactly six times in the second half. And why is it that a budding superstar touched the pigskin nine times in a miserable loss.
Oh, I forgot, Andy Reid doesn’t do questions. He does smug. He does arrogant. He does, “let’s not go there.”
Whatever you say, Andy. Nothing is going to change.
On to Buffalo. And the likelihood of a 1-4 start.
And I know that the men who run the “gold standard” that has yet to produce a Super Bowl title have no intention of doing anything about it.
Why should they. Andy Reid was at the helm when Jeff Lurie’s investment skyrocketed into the stratosphere. Joe Banner counted all those nickles and dimes. They hit the jackpot. Jeff Lurie is now worth more than $1 billion. Thanks, Andy. And keep paying for those tickets, and concessions, and parking, and gear, all you loyal Eagles fans. Just don't expect any answers.
Of course, there are those who believe that Jeff Lurie doesn’t “own” the Eagles; rather he is merely a steward of a public trust. Yeah, right. Remind yourself of that the next time you’re sending in that deposit for your season tickets, or forking over $25 to park before the game.
Reid’s act is now beyond tiresome. It’s an affront to every fan who puts his or her heart into the team. Oh, by the way, these are the same people who by and large supported Reid during his personal turmoil.
Now he’s back to gruff Andy, belittling media members and bullying them every time they try to raise a legitimate issue. That’s what Reid was doing when he tried to cut off a writer with an acid “then don’t ask the question” response as a query was being prefaced. That’s what he did yesterday with radio guy Mike Missanelli.
Reid apparently doesn’t view media as a portal to the fans. He sees them as a doormat.
So don’t expect any answers any time soon on whether making his offensive line coach – who had not played or coached defense since his college days – was a good choice as his defensive coordinator.
Don’t expect Reid to suddenly start placing any value on linebackers, especially in a defense that creates huge gaps in the trendy “Nine Wide” formation that creates a need for sturdy ‘backers to fill them.
Don’t expect any answers as to the wisdom of heading into the season with two rookie kickers.
Don't expect an explanation on the last-minute shuffle of the offensive line the week of the season opener. Or whether the Birds' new reliance on Howard Mudd's like for smaller, more agile linemen handicaps them in short-yardage situations.
Don't expect an answer to when the Eagles actually will try to line up and beat someone, as opposed to running some kind of exotic gadget play that screams of the mad scientist Andy crowing, "see, I'm smarter than everyone else."
So how about just one answer, to a legitimate question concerning Reid’s strategy in the second half of that embarrassing come-from-ahead loss to the 49ers.
With a 23-3 lead, Reid said after the game that the Eagles took their foot off the gas pedal, that he detected his team believing a win was a given. I disagree. I think the Eagles failed to do what most winning franchises do.
Up 20 points in the second half, your opponent becomes the clock, not the Niners. Yet there was Reid, passing on play after play, and stopping the clock with every incompletion.
How exactly is it that the team with the top rusher in the NFL entering the game managed to run the ball exactly six times in the second half. And why is it that a budding superstar touched the pigskin nine times in a miserable loss.
Oh, I forgot, Andy Reid doesn’t do questions. He does smug. He does arrogant. He does, “let’s not go there.”
Whatever you say, Andy. Nothing is going to change.
On to Buffalo. And the likelihood of a 1-4 start.
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