To Andy Reid, Coach Of The Eagles: An Open Letter From His Last Loyal Fan

Dear Andy,

This is your friend Justin. You remember me, right?  I'm the extremely loyal fan who has stuck with the Eagles through thick and thin.  I'm the one who has stuck up for you, year after frustrating year.  It's been 12 years, so where is the Superbowl you promised me?  You were a quarterback coach who had worked with Brett Favre, winning a Superbowl.  You came over from Green Bay with a three-ring binder full of ideas, an outline of how to win the Superbowl here in Philly, step by step.

Which step are we on now?  We are still going up those stairs, right?  Sometimes it feels like we are going back down the stairs, like we've given up before we reached the top.  Please tell me that's not the case right?  A lot of my friends have given up on you and the team, Andy.  I don't really know where I stand anymore.

I have watched you over the years and I don't know if I like what I'm seeing lately.  When you were new in town and still mildly trim, your ideas seemed fresh.  That's why I put up with guys like Doug Pederson, because I trusted that you knew what was best in the development of Donovan McNabb. 

I trusted you when you rolled out stiff wide receivers like Todd Pinkston and James Thrash, wasting valuable draft picks in the process.  I figured that with your offensive schemes, the players didn't matter as much as the big picture.  You said that you could just plug and play with inferior players. 

We came close, but didn't win with those guys.  Now we have fresh also-rans on the team, guys like Stew Bradley, Ellis Hobbs and Dimitri Patterson.  Do you really think they're good enough? 

I can't stand your press conferences anymore either.  Why do you even show up, when all you do is say the same thing over and over and over again?  Do you think I'm stupid enough to still believe your reasons?

Andy, why do you refuse to run the ball?  Is your scheme really that good that you don't see the need to?  We had guys that gave 110% every week, guys like Duce Staley, Correll Buckhalter and Brian Westbrook.  Brian was one of the best players in the league for a few short years there, but you wasted that window of opportunity. This year was no different, as you wasted a golden opportunity with an explosive Mike Vick and Co. on offense.

I want an explanation for the lack of commitment to the run!  You've become predictable.  There have been so many times when I predicted the failed play you would run.  If I can do that, don't you think other teams can?

What happened in 2001-2005?  Why were we so good but never able to close the deal?  Why do we always have to be second place? 

I think you owe me an apology Andy.  I spent a lot of my time watching, only to be disappointed.  I also think you owe some others an apology.  Guys like B-West, Donnie Mac, Dawkins, Trotter, Vincent, Jim Johnson, the list goes on and on. 

Why do you have to be so stubborn Andy?  Why can't you make in-game adjustments?  Why do you have to waste timeouts and challenges?  Why can't you run a two-minute drill?  How come your players never know the rules of the game?  Why are you satisfied with the way things are?  How many more chances?

This is my last letter Andy.  This will be the last season I watch.  This is your last chance to make amends.  I hope you do Andy.  I really do..

Your last loyal fan,

Justin