Eagles' Head Coach Andy Reid Is Under Attack by Fans & Media but History Matters

It was predictable that a series of bad decisions and an already abysmal Eagles season have brought fans to the conclusion that Reid Must Go.  As a former GM of the Philadelphia Eagles, I have seen coaches come and go and know firsthand what it’s like to be on the receiving end of vocal Philly fans.

Yes—Andy Reid’s moves this season look more like those of a rookie coach. In his thirteenth year as head coach, he has won sixty percent of regular season games including seven division championships and one conference championship. http://www.pro-football-reference.com/coaches/ReidAn0.htm

Yes—this was touted to be the Eagles’ “dream team,”—a breakout year that would result in winning the Superbowl.

Based on all the free agent signings, management obviously went along with this fantasy and committed sixty million dollars to sign Nnamdi Asomugha, one hundred million to extend Michael Vick’s contract and millions more for other free agents.

In spite of good intentions, the coach's new strategy has failed to deliver wins.     

Yes—appointing offensive line coach Juan Castillo as the new Defensive Coordinator is at best unconventional and at worst ludicrous. Finding a replacement for former defensive coordinator—Jim Johnson—was no easy assignment.

Under Johnson, the Eagles developed several dozen Pro Bowl players; two of Jim’s assistant coaches have become head coaches and two others have become defensive coordinators.

Coach Johnson’s untimely death has severely impacted the Eagles defense—more than anyone in the organization wants to admit.   http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/dneagles/Jim_Johnson_dies.html

Yes—spending mega-dollars on free agents from other teams has an effect on team morale—especially when current players who are stand-outs and in the final year of their contract are being paid chump change.

Coach Reid should have seen that this would affect certain key players—players like DeSean Jackson.  Jackson would sulk and consider the multi-million dollar contracts a slap in the face because the Eagles refused to resign him at the start of the season.

Yes—Andy Reid has a guaranteed contract for millions of dollars—with two years left. Before you run Coach Reid out of town consider the consequences without a talented head coach like Andy Reid at the helm.

Take into account the 123 wins during 13 regular seasons that Andy and his assistants have already brought to Philadelphia.

Coach Reid deserves one more year to try to put Humpty Dumpty back together again. Let him do what he does well—Win!