GAMES- Good But Not Great, Andy Reid Era Nears End

Over 80 years of professional football, he is their 22nd and winningest head coach.
The longest tenured head man in the National Football League is in his 14th season on the sidelines after eight years as a college assistant and seven seasons as an offensive aide in Green Bay. Hired to lead the moribund Philadelphia Eagles on Jan. 11, 1999, Andrew Walter Reid has amassed 129 regular season and 10 playoff victories. Prior to the 1966 onset of the Super Bowl era, Philadelphia won NFL championships in 1948, ’49, and ’60. They are 0-2 in the ‘Bowl, including the end of Reid’s 2004 campaign, in which they went 13-3 in the regular season.
Under “Big Red,” the Eagles won the NFC East four straight times beginning in 2001. Reid’s teams qualified for four consecutive National Football Conference crowns beginning that same year. They were upended in each of the subsequent NFC title games except one, when they abused the Michael Vick-led Atlanta Falcons.
Over his 14 years, the team has finished with double digit victories eight times. Twice they were an even 8-8. His overall record is 139-96-1 including 10 postseason triumphs. The 54-year-old Reid is a three-time NFL Coach of the Year.
But all of it, every accomplishment, wasn’t good enough. And now, it must mercifully end.
The 1998 Birds finished 3-13 under the often foul-mouthed Ray Rhodes. Reid, while perhaps privately emotional, is usually stoic and calm when the lights are bright. He was a somewhat surprising choice as the second head coach hired by Jeff Lurie because he had not served as a coordinator. His ascent had reached quarterbacks coach for Brett Favre’s Packers.
A review of the Reid years brings these observations.
There must be karma to being associated with Philadelphia’s professional football team. After playing for 80 years, there are obviously outstanding individuals who have worn the winged helmet, but team success, ultimate success in the Super Bowl era, has proven elusive. NFC rivals Dallas, New York and Washington each possess at least three Super Bowl trophies each. Only their opponent from The City of Brotherly Love has yet to be sized for diamond-studded rings.
The karma reference is borne of the ease with which critics toss Philadelphia fans abuse. Consider the 1982 Robin Williams film, “The World According to Garp.” Co-star John Lithgow portrays Roberta Muldoon, a sex-change recipient, formerly known as Robert Muldoon. In one scene, Williams stares at Lithgow and says something like, “Pardon this line, but haven’t I seen you somewhere before?”
Lithgow, a fabulous actor, politely asks, “You like football?” Williams responds with, “Yes, I used to watch it quite a bit.” Lithgow delivers the crushing blow, with, “I was a tight end for the Philadelphia Eagles.”
Ouch.
Aside from fate, consider the grossly poor draft selections the team has continually orchestrated in this era. Great NFL organizations replenish and provide depth through sound judgment on unproven college players. Elevated to executive vice president of football operations in 2001, Reid has maintained sole personnel control over the franchise for more than a decade. His first selection in 1999 was a home run in Donovan McNabb. Two other serviceable players arrived in tackle John Welbourn at choice 97 and fullback Cecil Martin at choice 172.
In 2000 only tackle Corey Simon with the sixth pick made a significant impact, although Reid tried mightily to convince the fan base that 36th pick Todd Pinkston was a player. He was not.
In 2001, pick 63 was defensive end Derrick Burgess, an injury prone player who was given up on before starring in Oakland for several years. Correll Buckhalter became an injury-prone and a badly underused fullback after being taken with the 121st selection. A.J. Feeley, at 155, was a nice back-up QB.
The 2002 draft was Reid’s hallmark moment at selecting talent. Corner Lito Shepperd, safety Michael Lewis, corner Sheldon Brown and running back Brian Westbrook all arrived. At 238, defensive end Raheem Brock arrived from Temple, but was never signed and went on to perform for the Colts.
All you need to know about 2003 is the names Jerome McDougle and L.J. Smith. Ouch, again.
Tackle Shawn Andrews was the 16th pick in 2004 but injuries and immaturity derailed a potential Hall of Fame career for the “Big Kid” from Arkansas. Kick returner and defensive back J.R. Reed looked like a great pick at 127 but he suffered a non-football related leg injury and faded away.
Defensive tackle Mike Patterson was taken at 31 in 2005 but he’s never risen to star status. Tackle/guard Todd Herremans was a steal at 126 and defensive end Trent Cole was grand larceny at 146.
Only receiver Jason Avant, at 109, made a name for himself out of the disastrous 2006 draft. A year later linebacker Stewart Bradley arrived at 87 but injury cut his promise short. Tight End Brent Celek at 162 was a great pick, but that was it for 2007. In should be noted that Kevin Kolb was number 36 that year as the supposed QB of the future, but we’ll leave it at that.
Speedy DeSean Jackson was taken 49th in 2008 but that was about it. In 2009 receiver Jeremy Maclin was the 19th pick and at 53 the Birds swiped LeSean McCoy.
The 2010 draft was a giant miss with perhaps only Nate Allen, at 37, making an impact. Brandon Graham was the top selection but he has yet to establish himself.
The 2011 selections were very weak up top. At 120 the team picked center Jason Kelce. At 191 new kicker Alex Henery arrived. Serviceable fullback Stanley Havili was the 240th pick. It’s too early to compliment or criticize the 2012 draft class, but when you consider the annual draft includes about seven new players, that history is dismal.
Aside from poor drafts, Reid must be scolded for a relentless stubbornness to forgo the running game. No matter what the situation, the Eagles’ coach repeatedly ignored all pleas to balance the offensive attack with more rushes. The team is highly predictable and rarely physical at the point of attack and relies far too much on throwing the ball. How ironic that perhaps his two greatest draft picks were running backs Westbrook and McCoy.
This editorial cannot conclude without mention of the untimely passing of the great defensive guru, Jim Johnson. The master of the confounding blitz allowed Reid to focus solely on offense. Johnson’s towering presence allowed the head coach to take risks through the air because the defense could sustain poor field position. Reid found no one to assume Johnson’s vital role and that was another dagger for the era of good but not great.
I choose to sum up 14 seasons as products of bad karma, poor drafts, refusal to step outside the game plan and the tragic loss of a trusted and shrewd assistant. Andy Reid was a good coach, arguably and numerically the best in team history, but he wasn’t great.
Reach Rossi at joerossi61@comcast.net