Andy Reid on Dawkins, McNabb
"We should be as strong, if not stronger, as we were the year before," Eagles coach Andy Reid says in an interview with the team's Web site.
Andy Reid on Dawkins, McNabb
Daily News staff
Eagles coach Andy Reid has been silent on Brian Dawkins' departure, opting instead to issue a statement through the team's public relations department. Reid, and all NFL coaches, are scheduled to meet with the national media next week at the league's annual meetings in Dana Point, Calif.
Before then, the coach expressed his point of view via an interview with Dave Spadaro on the team's Web site. This is the first of several portions of a 30-minute session that Spadaro indicates will be posted over the next several days.
Reid told Spadaro that offseason has gone according to plan, even with the departure of several longtime members of the team, including Dawkins and Tra Thomas.
"We made some changes with a few of the guys who had been around here for a long time and who did just a great job for us for a number of years, but we also feel like we have an influx of young guys that have been able to mature and that deserve an opportunity to play. In some cases, they might have to move a position or so to do that, but we should be as strong, if not stronger, as we were the year before."
A few excerpts, and then the link at the bottom:
DS: What is your account of Brian Dawkins and his departure?
AR: "What a great job Brian Dawkins did here. He was phenomenal over the years and he is a great person. His legacy is solid with the Philadelphia Eagles. He is a Hall of Fame player. It didn't work out. Those things happen. You see them throughout the league and you've seen them throughout the history of the league. I wish him nothing but the best of luck in Denver. On our side, we feel like we've groomed Quintin Demps to step in and fill that position. If that doesn't work out, we've signed a couple of free agents in Sean Jones and Rashad Baker that we think are good football players. Are any of them Brian Dawkins? Well, no, it's not fair to compare any of them to Brian right now. But they are young guys who have the opportunity to try and strive to be as good Brian has been."
DS: If they aren't as good as Brian, why not keep Brian before he gets into free agency?
AR: "That's a good question. We did make an attempt and it didn't work out. Obviously, he got a phenomenal deal from the Broncos. That is all part of this business and that's what Brian did and that's what we did. Like they say, the sun comes up every day and the NFL season comes around every year. Brian is getting ready to do his thing with the Broncos and we're getting ready to do our thing."
DS: Fans see a team that has enough room under the salary cap to do whatever it wants in terms of acquiring players. The approach seems to be more conservative. Can you explain the approach so far in the off-season?
AR: "You can say it's a conservative approach or you can just say it's smart. People are hesitant to say that, but … Because you have the money, you just don't go blow it on something that you don't think is good enough quality to put on the Eagles uniform. That can be perceived different ways. We're going to try to bring in the right people here and do the right things in free agency that we feel are best for this football team. That's the way we have approached and I think that's the way you have to approach it."
DS: Can you explain where the team is with Donovan McNabb and the reported meetings that you had and his contract situation?
AR: "I talk to Donovan often and I try to keep him informed of the things going on here. He's earned that right to know those things over the last 10 years. We're good. I think Don is just getting ready – he had been coming in every day since the season ended and working out and he just left recently for Arizona to continue his workouts – for a big season.
"We have talked to Donovan and we have kept open communication with him. I'm going to keep the content of that communication private."
To read the interview at philadelphiaeagles.com, click here.
To read Les Bowen's commentary on the interview, click here.
Hey Stephen...those NFC Championships are a little more enjoyable when you win the stupid things. I guess you will always be happy if when you have children, if you don't already have some, your daughter is always a bridesmaid but never a bride.— Bubby Q
you guys sound like you want ray rhodes back... maybe rich kotite will suit your whining needs. i've been a philly fan since i could see, but eagles fans are a mess these days. ever since 99, everyone just crys. sound like a bunch of redsoxs fans. move to cle or det, atleast they'll have something to cry about.— azguz
Comment removed.- Weaver isn't "good enough quality to put on an Eagles uniform"? He's better than any FB currently on the Eagles roster!— p-diddy
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- For the record, the Eagles have won the NFC once during Reid's tenure, not five times.— p-diddy
- One year in Denver and then WIP, hmmmm, some people are starting to catch on. It's out with the old and in with the new. Wake up people, you can't have a team with a bunch of 30 somethings in the NFL. Watch what happens to New England this year with there group of old timers. They will do OK, but trouble is on the way. Smart move Andy, time for some fresh NEW blood.— craig123
- Hey, don't confuse me with the WIP listeners. I am actually an Andy Reid fan. My anger is not at him, it is with the front office. I enjoy the Eagles making the playoffs but I just don't think that they are making wise decisions this year. Do you really want a rookie playing Left Tackle or another lineman playing out of position? Are you comfortable with Eckles or Klecko as your fullbacks because they did not want to spend a few more bucks on a proven FB from the Seahawks? There is a fine line between being thrifty and being cheap. What side are the Eagles on this year? A lineman coming off major knee surgery...The departure of a 13 year veteran Safety who redefined the position and could ignite the crowd and team like no other before him?...(he should have never been allowed to leave town to begin with)...The only thing that I can figure is that perhaps they are gearing up for some trades on draft day. If that is the case, and we do get the players needed, then I am wrong in what I have stated. It hurts me to write negative things about a team I have loved for so many years, but sometimes you have to take the blinders off and see what is really in front of you...— Bubby Q
- Reid issuing statements about the off-season through the team's press office?...he simply doesn't have the guts to address the fans directly - and with Lurie joining the ranks of billionaires, why the H doesn't he spend some available money on some studs and get this team over the hump? - Because he is as greedy as any AIG exec - and doesn't give a damn about the Superbowl, but simply what his bottom line profit margin is. With the mounting leadership losses that are happening right now, the Eagles in my eyes are no better than a 6-10 team next season as they have done NOTHING to fill any urgently needed and obvious gaps in the line up. Gold Standard? - pure PR BS!— CTL
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- The thing that this regime has done best is let older guys walk and bring in younger guys. That part is smart. Now, filling gaps like punt returner or fullback or clock management during the game - that could use some help.
- …" Because you have the money, you just don't go blow it on something that you don't think is good enough quality to put on the Eagles uniform." So he is saying that Dawkins isn't good enough to stay in the Eagles uniform? Why did Reid even make a comment? He was better off saying nothing!!!— Katharine
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- Every offseason, we collectively scratch our heads as fans when the Eagles and Andy do what they do. But in 70% of those seasons, Reid somehow gets this team into the playoffs, and they make a run. He makes some questionable personnel decisions, but he also sees things we don't behind the scenes, things that maybe aren't a good fit in the locker room, or in a workout or something. For all we know they're trying to pry Boldin out of AZ and nobody has leaked it. The point being, this head coach, no matter how infuriating, has never been one-and-done in the playoffs. And he has a 70% success rate of getting the team in. His job isn't to tell all his business and create drama and all like Jerry Jones. You, the fan, are important, and they want to win for us. But their business is their business. Some of the fans here cry and whine like Jay Cutler because the Eagles and the QB keep business business and personal personal. I don't get that. You don't have to be a rah-rah person to be a leader on an athletic team, you know.— thealphawolf
- Dawkins may be the exception where they could of overpaid to keep him and still keep the locker room in tack. But it is definitely smart to keep your spending inline with the contracts you already have. You see how cooperative Lito was with Samuels contract. If they get Samuel in here with a comparable contract (never would of got him but..) we have the best secondary in the league. Instead we had a top 10 cover CB riding our bench?— who123
