What's the Plan Here?
The morning after Andy Reid's amazing quarterback flip-flop, I still can't get past one thing.
What's the Plan Here?
Les Bowen, Daily News Staff Writer
The morning after Andy Reid's amazing quarterback flip-flop, I still can't get past one thing.
Here it is: The Eagles aren't winning the Super Bowl this season, with or without Michael Vick. They won't say that, of course, but the defense has given up the most points in the NFL through two weeks and the o-line is a sieve.
No way, no how.
And they don't have Vick under contract past this season.
So, what the, uh, heck?
What is the benefit of this move, to an organization that prides itself on always thinking of what's best in the long run? How can this possibly be the best long-term move? Are they now going to try to do an extension with Vick, figuring that at 30, he can play at a Pro Bowl level three or four more years? (If so, all that Andy talk Tuesday night about Kevin Kolb's time coming and maturation was just more lies, or as Reid called it when speaking with the team'sWeb site, him "buying time.")
Another remote possibility is that Reid suddenly sees Kolb set up for colossal failure behind this o-line, and to avert that larger shipwreck, has engineered a slightly smaller one, hoping he can still salvage Kolb when Vick moves on in the offseason.
Can you imagine what that would be like, the stories we would write. "Kolb's Ascension: This Time It's For Real (Unless Andy Changes His Mind Again).
Reid is scheduled to talk to us again in a little while here. Why we should listen to anything he says is a very good question. Your Eagletarian is not the sort of reporter who gets all self-important about the way the people we cover treat the media, but Reid's manner in these situations is incredibly insulting. A few weeks ago, when reporters brought up scenarios like the one that eventually unfolded, he scornfully asked us if he was not speaking proper English as he kept insisting Kolb was the starter.
He demands that we take him at his word, then makes fools of us when we make the mistake of doing that. Basically, he fends us off any way he can, and doesn't worry about having to sit down in front of us again after doing that, because we -- and you, the people on whose behalf we are asking these questions -- don't matter to him.
Stay tuned for more.
Good point Les. Andy Reid is getting to be a tired act. His press conferences are as entertaining as professional cycling he has lost all credibility with his content. I miss the days of Buddy Ryan!— SouthJerseyRob- I have to give Andy credit on this one. Usually, he digs his heels in even in the wake of all the evidence pointing to the opposite conclusion. Stubborn is a word I would have used to describe Andy prior to this Flip-flop. But I think he, like the rest of us who watched Kolb look like a deer caught in the headlights of an oncoming automobile during the first half of the Packer game, realized he couldn't really justify sending Kolb back out there with an offensive line that allowed six sacks on Vick and at least three more he got away from. That means Kolb would have gotten creamed and his confidence shattered before he has even got out of the gate. This is a very smart move. One that will at least guarantee the Eagles see some post-season action. And, who knows, if the O-line starts to gel and the defense picks it up a few notches, these Birds could make a run for the whole thing.— insider
- Andy changed his mind and made us look bad...WAH WAH WAH!— pyleiton
- jamesiri, He did lie several times, straight out. Can't argue it. You can agree or disagree with the decision but you can't disagree that Reid treats the fans and the media like garbage.— jaybatt79
- who gives a you know what
the Phils are playing for history the Eagles are playingfor BS— jbcanoe - Yo, Les:
You folks are not asking questions on my behalf.— Sinjin11 
Carcharios: Sell tickets? SELL TICKETS? Seriously? Eagles home games are VERY MUCH SOLD OUT and have been forever. Even so, who would argue a few months ago that putting a convicted felon dog killer etc etc etc in as the starter would be how the Eagles sell tix?! That's an argument worthy of the third-string QB's surname . . .— Leegles- Wow. I'm glad the press is not interested in analyzing and second-guessing every move I make at work. And I'm glad that I can change my mind without being drug out on the carpet by the press. It took nerve and a clear conscience for Andy to make and announce his decision. Vick has demonstrated that he is the better QB, and has in fact improved over where he was in his previous stint in the NFL. He is showing more pocket presence (when he has a pocket to work with), and is a more accurate passer than McNabb. Yet his ability to run allows him to make something out of nothing. Reid made the right choice, as painful as it must have been for him to reverse a Reid decision.— dlscholt
- Well, now you are lying Les. You have had it in for Reid since he chastised you at a news conference for asking a stupid question. If you don't believe me, go back and read your own articles. Be a man and admit it, there is nothing wrong in disliking someone and admitting it. I think you suck as a sportswriter. I saw you accuse Greg Cosell of racism for giving his opinion on running QB's when you simply didn't understand what he was saying. So maybe you can understand why andy thought your questions were stupid, and that he has a reason for playing games with you.— mmonahan
- Okay HATERS...this is your chance to turn in all your tickets and turn off your TV sets........but alas, you are hypocrites and frauds.....YOUR BLUFF HAS BEEN CALLED......Now step up nad turn your tickets in or shut up and root for the Birds......and for the record I am in no way an A Reid fan....he did this as HIS o-line is a disater and Michael gives him a chnace to win.......now what canhe do to solve HIS defensive front four and secodary issues.....HIS ball club....and a Donovan like style made him a winner (until he stopped running) and he is now tying to do it again...Step up hypocrite haters....I will take your tickets.....you fruads...— nuggett
- I'm with insider: the new Andy isn't afraid to move guys, bench guys or otherwise hurt any players' feelings. They only have this year to look at Vick and he is a former Pro Bowler. Maybe he's learned to be more of a QB and less of a runner. Watching Kolb so far has been like Bobby Hoying deja vu. It's hard to say if he has it or not at this point. It looked like he'd be snapped in half in short order though. I'm not so sure about Kolb starting later though. If Vick plays well I'd expect the Eagles to give him an extension. At that point Kolb's career as a starter may be over. Again, hard to say but not many starters get going in their late twenties. He's really got nowhere to go at this point other than to another backup role. As a former QB coach I have to think Reid saw things on film and inside the game that we can't see that influenced this decision. If other players were lobbying for Vick that might also be a factor. And forget the old "rebuilding" stuff. Teams have to stay competitive. No one really tears their team down and starts over any more with free agency. And there's no point spending 2-3 years rebuilding with pieces that may be mistakes then trying to start over again. You just keep mixing and moving pieces until it works.— s
- Playoffs??? All these pipe smokers coming out of the kennel.Reid's EGO has went into orbit.A 7-9 record will be a a good season by Reids standards.— tulsaphil
- 5 years is a lifetime in the NFL. Les, how do you know the Eagles won't challenge for a Superbowl in the next two years. There are a lot of good players in place on this team. The defense will improve.
The way Vick plays can make up for a lot of shortcomings.— Drew777 - When did Reid ever say he didn't like the fans. He just doesn't like you. AND YOU DON'T SPEAK ON OUR BEHALF, OR FOR US. WE ARE QUITE CAPABLE OF MAKING UP OUR OWN MINDS.— sikofit
At this point I wouldn't be surprised if they were playing Vick to showcase him & trade him before the trade deadline in October. Then he could justify restarting the Kolb era without a capable (better) back up looking over his shoulder and to diffuse fan/media frenzy.— Mabus
