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The cars will line up again Monday on those thin roads that coil through Lehigh University. They’ll be filled with people like you—like me—talking about the Eagles’ prospects this season, about the need for a wide receiver, about Brian Westbrook’s contract squabbles with the team, and the ongoing Lito Sheppard saga.
And about Andy Reid, about to embark on his 10th season as head coach of the Eagles. It will surely be mentioned in more than a few conversations about how Reid has failed to win a Super Bowl in his long tenure here, how his stubbornness tunes out fans and the media alike.
Sure, Philadelphia sports fans are demanding. Hell, Philly fans get reminded every day that they haven’t won anything since 1983 and the Eagles since 1960. But I challenge Eagles’ fans, sports fans in this city to take a step back and look at the complete body of work Andy Reid has done as Master and Commander of the Birds.
We have something good here. It’s time we realize that.
Let’s start with the facts:
Since the Reid era began in 1999, the Eagles are 96-62 overall, including playoffs—that’s a pretty impressive .608 winning percentage. In nine seasons under Reid, the Eagles have made the playoffs six times. The Eagles have reached a Super Bowl under Reid, they’ve been much more successful than any of Reid’s four predecessors, Rich Kotite, Ray Rhodes, Buddy Ryan and Marion Campbell.
Ask yourself this: Would you replace Reid with any of those three?
Yet people—fans and media—will carp about Reid, and the many things he hasn’t done, which would cover pretty much 99.9-percent of every other head coach in the NFL. What’s conveniently left out is all the good and the position to win Reid places the Eagles in each year.
No, I don’t like Reid’s public demeanor, his boorish, demeaning press conferences. But if you look at the whole picture, all Reid has done is win. His success built the NovaCare Complex, it built Lincoln Financial Field, and it has caused thousands upon thousands of anxious fans to wait each season to obtain Eagles’ season tickets. It’s caused those long lines along those thin Bethlehem roads to be blocked for miles, and he’s stirred the local media into such a frenzy that they don’t know after nine years whether to hug or curse out the round red head.
If it wasn’t for what Reid has built here, would the Eagles demand the clamor they’ve received every year under him. The prospects of hope won’t cause you to get into your car and take a hike to Bethlehem when gas goes for $4.10 a gallon.
Success does.
My prediction is that under Reid, it will happen one year and the Eagles will break through and win a Super Bowl. I don’t know about this season, which right now I look at as a successful 10-6 record and a trip to the NFC championship game (stop everything and don’t bother watching the Eagles until January, because that’s what’s going to happen).
The most successful coach in Eagles’ history isn’t going anywhere.
But I do see a window gradually closing on the player that’s been responsible for that success—Donovan McNabb. McNabb is in a proving season. He’s on barrowed time right now. Another flop, another season in which he misses an inordinate amount of games due to another injury will spell the end of Donovan McNabb as an Eagle.
This is it for him. Reid won’t admit that publicly, but the signs are certainly there, with the team shifting to Westbrook’s capable feet, and a defense now that will be relied on to win games. The Eagles no longer look at McNabb as the playmaker he used to be.
I’d like to see the old McNabb back. Some people close to the Eagles say that it can happen. But I still would like to see it, over a whole season, not just three games at the end of a year that don’t mean much other than reaching an 8-8 mark.
My fear is that a great relationship ends ugly. The signs are there.
Baker Time
Want a ballpark feel in a nice settings, check out Chickie and Pete’s in South Philly on Phillies’ away games and hear the great voice of Phillies announcer Dan Baker, one of the city's class acts, introduce each batter, like you were sitting behind home plate at Citizens Bank Park.
I had the pleasure of taking in Baker’s show Friday when the Phillies beat the Marlins to open their weekend series with a victory. It adds something to the broadcast, hearing Baker’s voice. It's something worth checking out.
Joseph Santoliquito is an Emmy Award-nominated writer based in the Philadelphia area who can be contacted at Jsantoliquito@yahoo.com.
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