I only wanted to see two things in last night's exhibition opener with the Eagles hosting the Steelers: A standing ovation for Andy Reid, and Michael Vick not get hurt.
I went one for two.
Attention national media: Yes, that was those heartless Philadelphia fans who take such delight in booing everything that moves who rose in unison last night to honor the head coach as he returned to the sidelines just days after burying his oldest son.
Philly fans can often be blunt. Those who don't know us mistake our passion for a simple mean streak. As usual, it's not that simple.
We demand effort. We question those who don't give it. We boo those who appear to be going through the motions, that includes sub-standard Santas.
No one has felt the wrath of the Philly fans more than Reid, who just happens to be the winningest coach in Eagles history. Reid's problem is not that he does not win - it's that he does not win the biggest game. Or at least he hasn't as yet. Reid has taken two Eagles teams to the Super Bowl, and come up short both times.
None of that mattered last night. Eagles fans put a meaningless preseason game on the back burner and instead filled Lincoln Financial Field - then filled the atmosphere with their voices chanting 'Andy' as a way of telling their coach they appreciated what he was doing.
On Tuesday, Reid buried his oldest son Garrett, who had been working as a strength and conditioning assistant with the team. Garrett's body was discovered Sunday morning in his dorm room at Lehigh University, where the team holds its summer training camp. The family acknowledges he "lost the battle" with his longterm drug addiction.
Fans barely had a chance to wipe the tear out of the corner of their eye when there appeared to be reason to shed a few more.
This Eagles team will go exactly as far as Michael Vick carries them. It will not help if he's trying to do that with an aching thumb on his throwing hand.
So there was a collective gulp in the stands when Vick grabbed his thumb after banging it off the helmet of center Jason Kelce.
The team says X-Rays turned out negative.
The Eagles rallied late to win the game, 24-23. But their first-team offense and defense looked overmatched against the Steelers. No one will remember any of that.
They will remember their burly coach standing on the sidelines acknowledging the outpouring of love from the stands.
And their quarterback's left thumb.
Garrett Reid could provide an inspiration for the team all season. Hopefully Vick's thumb will soon be forgotten.
I went one for two.
Attention national media: Yes, that was those heartless Philadelphia fans who take such delight in booing everything that moves who rose in unison last night to honor the head coach as he returned to the sidelines just days after burying his oldest son.
Philly fans can often be blunt. Those who don't know us mistake our passion for a simple mean streak. As usual, it's not that simple.
We demand effort. We question those who don't give it. We boo those who appear to be going through the motions, that includes sub-standard Santas.
No one has felt the wrath of the Philly fans more than Reid, who just happens to be the winningest coach in Eagles history. Reid's problem is not that he does not win - it's that he does not win the biggest game. Or at least he hasn't as yet. Reid has taken two Eagles teams to the Super Bowl, and come up short both times.
None of that mattered last night. Eagles fans put a meaningless preseason game on the back burner and instead filled Lincoln Financial Field - then filled the atmosphere with their voices chanting 'Andy' as a way of telling their coach they appreciated what he was doing.
On Tuesday, Reid buried his oldest son Garrett, who had been working as a strength and conditioning assistant with the team. Garrett's body was discovered Sunday morning in his dorm room at Lehigh University, where the team holds its summer training camp. The family acknowledges he "lost the battle" with his longterm drug addiction.
Fans barely had a chance to wipe the tear out of the corner of their eye when there appeared to be reason to shed a few more.
This Eagles team will go exactly as far as Michael Vick carries them. It will not help if he's trying to do that with an aching thumb on his throwing hand.
So there was a collective gulp in the stands when Vick grabbed his thumb after banging it off the helmet of center Jason Kelce.
The team says X-Rays turned out negative.
The Eagles rallied late to win the game, 24-23. But their first-team offense and defense looked overmatched against the Steelers. No one will remember any of that.
They will remember their burly coach standing on the sidelines acknowledging the outpouring of love from the stands.
And their quarterback's left thumb.
Garrett Reid could provide an inspiration for the team all season. Hopefully Vick's thumb will soon be forgotten.
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