In Banner's Wake: Andyworld or Howieworld?
The Philadelphia Daily News - Eagletarian
In Banner's Wake: Andyworld or Howieworld?
Les Bowen, Daily News Staff Writer
Some final thoughts on the departure of Joe Banner as Eagles president:
As others have noted, the idea that Banner just got tired of running the Eagles is absurd. If there is one thing I've been sure of over the 10 years that I've covered this team, beyond the certainty that every Monday morning news conference was going to begin with the listing of injuries, it's that Joe Banner lived to carry the Lombardi Trophy down to the WIP studios and invite Angelo Cataldi to kiss it. And maybe kiss something else, as well.
(His Super Bowl ring, of course. What did you think I meant? Geez.)
Why would Banner abandon that quest? I'm stunned that he would, but I can think of a few reasons. One, the ascension of his one-time protege, Howie Roseman, left Joe with a much more circumscribed role than he enjoyed several years ago. That part of Banner wanting a new challenge rings true. And I do believe that Andy Reid moved to further limit Banner's power, as Reid grew weary of dealing with the locker room fallout from Banner's negotiating style. I absolutely believe Reid felt the DeSean Jackson debacle of 2011 was less of a reflection on Jackson than on the Eagles.
Even with all that, I'm still surprised that Banner stepped aside, given that Reid doesn't have a contract beyond 2013, and is thought to need a really good 2012, if not a Super Bowl title, to get another deal. Leaving after 18 years because you lost a power struggle with someone who might not be here come next February doesn't make much sense.
Which leads me to a thought that is strictly my own, wasn't whispered by anyone down at NovaCare. What if Banner doesn't think Reid is going away anytime soon, AND doesn't think the Reid-Michael Vick nexus is ever going to win the Eagles a Super Bowl? As I noted the first time I wrote about this, we are more that three years down the road from Joe's weary "definition of instanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results" speech in a hallway in Arizona after the January 2009 NFC Championship Game. It was an ambiguous statement, widely applied to Donovan McNabb at the time. I'm not at all sure he was just talking about Donovan.
It was Joe, and only Joe, who indicated last year that Reid needed to win a Super Bowl to get a new contract. What if he came to realize that Roseman and Lurie were more reluctant than Joe might have been to spin the coaching wheel? There is no obvious savior waiting in the wings, no hotshot young assistant ready to take over. John Harbaugh got away a long time ago.
Right now, in the wake of the Banner departure, we don't really know if we are living in Andyworld or Howieworld. If Reid gets any kind of contract extension between now and the end of the season, we'll have our answer: It's Andyworld. If no Reid deal is forthcoming, and it becomes apparent that Reid's 2012 outcome will indeed determine whether he gets that new contract, welcome to Howieworld. The next coach will be Roseman's guy.
Remember, Jeffrey Lurie, in his anguished postseason address, sounded almost ready to fire Reid, but when reporters asked about Roseman -- who certainly had a lot to do with all the silly Ronnie Brown and Steve Smith-type signings last summer, not to mention some poor draft decisions -- Lurie got indignant. He made it clear that Roseman was not in any sort of trouble.
That's why I kinda think it might be Howieworld. And I'd love to know what Howie really thinks of Reid.
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Reid's FOURTEENTH consecutive year and with all this dream team talent plus COMPLETE POWER, needs to finally win a SUPER BOWL (not just another 10-6 record) but finally win a SUPER BOWL...or Reid should be immediately fired after this season.— phil500
While not ignoring the dynamic that was Banner/Reid for many years that brought modest success (and I'm NOT making light of what they've accomplished so far, and I've not been a big fan of Reid of late), I sense that with the added benefit of a happy locker room, the cleansing of the front office and a realization by the players that Reid's guidance will nurture a vast improvement in the play on the field (barring injuries), even some nay-sayers will be shocked by what they see. Reid's influence after last season in personnel, contract renewal input (lately)and subsequent expansion of duties (revealed recently) will project onto the field and in the mindset of the team to where there won't be any question as to who's "world" it is.- I've been bashing Reid for about 5 years, and rightfully so, I believe.
However, the stage is set for Reid's best qualities to shine through. We know he generally starts slow and ends fast, but he'll have to do better than a "slow start" to make this work.
As much as it hurts my fingers to type this, I believe we'll have a successful season of 12-4. If Reid fools me yet again, I'll chop off these lying fingers. - Okay then, Reid has got EVERYTHING THAT HE WANTS..so no more excuses after 14 years...SUPER BOWL this season or Reid needs to fired...period.— phil500
- Bring back Reno Mahe and this team will be complete.— tommy_the_k
- One of the Officers has abandoned ship...protect the women and Howie Roseman.— CharlieGarner25
- the eagles are in good hands with master roseman. he is both a wizard at college evaluation (nesheim t'eo, jaiqwan jarrett, curtis marsh, cornelius ingram, casey matthews) and at finding diamond-in-the-rough free agents (ronnie brown, vince young, steve smith)
time's yours— barry m goldwater - A super bowl or bust. Are you kidding everyone acts like you turn switch & win one. Reid will need atleast a few years without Banner to prove it.— Norm3
- Why will Reid need a few years?
Winning a Superbowl is difficult, undoubtedly. But have you ever wondered why certain coaches have won multiple Superbowls while others have none?
Allow me to clue you in. Some coaches are good enough, but many aren't. - Several reasons why you cannot confuse Lurie's protection of Roseman with Lurie's absolute comfort with AR: 1) whether or not the owner ever feels motivated to hire a football person as a GM, Roseman has shown Jeffrey that he (Roseman) can negotiate the deals and barter the trades that AR or some future real GM tells him he needs. In other words, Howie can move upstairs, while the GM and coach face the music. 2) Lurie does not believe it will ever come to that though, because, in Reid he believes he has a manager extraordinaire who can handle the press with his by-the-book non-answers, handle the locker room by keeping a lid on any and all disagreements, by not talking publicly about any of his players at all, and by winning more than he loses, which Reid has been able to do most seasons with relative ease. Let Reid have a couple more 8-8 seasons, or worse, let the revenue numbers drop, and this coach he has continually overestimated will become as expendable as orange socks— gnarlyscuzz
- FOURTEEN years with ZERO Super Bowls is way too much time for Reid....SUPER BOWL finally this season...or Reid should be shown the door like Banner.— phil500
- Reid's future with the Eagles will be determined by one factor---will Vick stay healthy enought to start every game?— farley
- Good post les
— sore richard - Howie Baby plus The Land Whale for Life equals no Super Bowl. All Hail the Whale!!— NM Eagle fan
- Come on in, and pull yourself up a chair. Let the fun begin, it's time to let down your hair! Pee-wee's SO excited. It will be cuckoo at Pee Wee's Playhouse.
— Astro Jones
