Let’s address the elephant in the room (no pun intended)…
Andy Reid still runs the show.
Don’t ever doubt a Punt Pass & Kick winner who took everything the sport had to offer at the age of 13…
The Los Angeles Times reported over the past weekend that two anonymous NFL sources said Reid had threatened to walk away from the Eagles if he was not given more control over personnel matters. The story also hinted that the Eagles seriously considered pursuing Manning once he was released by Indianapolis.
Balderdash.
Dave Spadaro won’t touch this story. But now, with the facts and innuendo exposed, we will…
“We look into everything, as all teams do,” Reid said in a statement. “And I have the highest regard for Peyton Manning. But as I said publicly last month, that wasn’t the direction we were heading on. Michael (Vick) is our guy…”
“As far as the personnel control, I have had final say on personnel matters for quite some time and that’s never been an issue or a point of contention. Our front office works very well together and that’s one of our strengths.”
The Eagles have maintained for years that Reid, who is entering his 14th season as their head coach, has the last word on personnel matters as it pertains to free agency and the draft. President Joe Banner and general manager Howie Roseman also play major roles, but Reid determines whether a potential newcomer is worth signing or drafting.
When it became clear that Peyton Manning would not return to Indianapolis, ESPN analyst and former Eagles quarterback Ron Jaworski speculated that almost every team, including the Eagles, were expected to at least explore the possibility of adding the future Hall of Famer.
But the Eagles were never contenders. Manning made it clear early in his recruitment process that he had no interest in competing against his younger brother, New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning, twice a season. Jaws for whatever reason fell into the trap of “Andy Reid hunting season”…
“The Eagles will never admit, but I’d bet they had that conversation,” Jaworski said earlier this month at the Maxwell Club awards at Harrah’s Atlantic City. “I think (Vick) will play much better next season after he’s had a full offseason to study the offense, but the Eagles and almost every other team would be foolish if they didn’t at least consider Peyton.”
I think this is just another case of the media piling on a fat guy. “Fat Guy in a Little Coat…” Everybody likes to take a two-by-four to Chris Farley… and have a laugh wartching the Tommy Boy character’s display of resilience to stupid pain… But in the end, Andy Reid is still calling the shots for the Eagles… and the mainstream media needs to deal with it. I guess the majority of the media does not watch the NFLN “Sound FX” series… if they did, they’d realize how much Andy’s players love playing for him…
Shoot, the deceivingly intelligent and well-paid goddam Mormon knows football… and he knows personnel… end of story. Let him coach long enough, and he’ll bring you that ring…such is life. Just ask John Elway…
Sorry…done ranting… let’s get back to business:
Catching up on the notable transactions in the league:
—Arizona re-signed CB Greg Toler to a 1-year, $1.26 million contract….
—Atlanta re-signed C Todd McClure to a 1-year contract, terms undisclosed…
—Detroit re-signed RB Kevin Smith to a 1-year contract, terms undisclosed…
—Tampa Bay re-signed OT Demar Dotson to a 1-year, $1.26 million contract…
—Arizona re-signed ILB Reggie Walker to a 2-year deal, terms undisclosed…
—Arizona re-signed LS Mike Leach to a 3-year contract at age 35, terms undisclosed…
—Vikings re-signed CB Zackary Bowman to a 1-year contract, terms undisclosed…
—Patriots released FB Lousaka Polite…
—Patriots signed FB Tony Fiammetta (Cowboys), terms undisclosed…
—St. Louis Rams signed WR Steve Smith (Eagles, Giants) to a 1-year deal, terms undisclosed…
—St. Louis Rams signed TE Matt Mulligan (Jets) to a 2-year contract, terms undisclosed…
—St. Louis Rams re-signed FB Brit Miller to a 1-year deal, terms undisclosed…
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