Lurie says 8-8 won't save Reid
The state of the Jeff.
Lurie says 8-8 won't save Reid
Rich Hofmann, Daily News Sports Columnist
Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie made his annual state of the team address Thursday afternoon, prior to the team’s exhibition finale against the New York Jets, and said that another 8-8 season would not be enough to save 14-year head coach Andy Reid.
“No, it would not,” Lurie said.
Asked later about a spate of injuries or something like that, Lurie later said, “I’m not going to make blanket statements...I guess if two-thirds of the team is not playing, there’s always exceptions.”
But, he added -- several times -- that a repeat of the team’s 8-8 finish from 2011 would not be acceptable.
Lurie said that he would not even be considering a contract extension -- Reid’s current deal expires after the 2013 season -- until after the season is over. “I live to evaluate everything,” he said. “...I reflect and analyze afterward.”
The owner was asked about how the team’s personal feelings for Reid -- especially given the recent death of his son, Garrett -- might complicate that post-season evaluation. Lurie replied that it would not.
“He will always have our sympathy and support,” Lurie said. “But this is a business. You’re there to win and win big. You have to separate the two.”
Lurie reiterated that the breakup of his marriage would result in no changes for the franchise and that Christina Weiss Lurie would remain one of the team’s limited partners. He said that the organizational structure leaves him with 100 percent of the key decision-making power, including the decision on Reid’s future.
In 2012, Lurie said he expects a “substantially improved team,” and that the franchise’s failure to win a Super Bowl under his ownership remains a gaping hole in his resume.
“It’s a big emptiness because I feel like we’ve accomplished everything else,” he said. “...It’s almost all I think about...It’s kind of the one remaining goal. I think we’ve got the means to do it. Hopefully, we can make it happen.”
Lurie said that there are always caveats in the NFL -- that he believed Green Bay was the best team in the league last year but the Packers didn’t win a playoff game. He did not say the Eagles were as good as the Packers, but he does believe they are in the Super Bowl hunt.
“I do think this team has all the ingredients to get there,” he said.
Common sense made into an article.— bdd5014- Lurie smells blood in the water. The Phillies are down. The Sixers are in transition, and the Flyers, who knows?
There's another quick billion to be made, if only Lurie could get a Lombardi. He watched the Phils get rich overnight and didn't like it. He went all-in with the checkbook, brought all new players, coaches and GM. The only one left is Reid. It's do or die, no questions asked.
Lurie's watched first- and second-year coaches have great success, while we muddled in declining mediocrity. Since Reid lost McNabb, Westbrook and Jim Johnson, he simply has not been very good.
Not many other coaches could have been given an open check book and come up as badly as Reid. For real!
Maybe this is what Reid needs a fire lit under his ample rear. We've already seen him respond differently on the sideline with his players. OK, "Big Red," show us what you got.
'Bout time Lurie gave the people (or many of whom) what they want. Go Jeffrey! Go Jeffrey! Go Jeffrey! - all laurie said is that 8-8 won't cut it. he didnt say anything about what 9-7 might mean.
- We support you one hundred percent, Mr. Lurie— Onlineps2beast
- Could Jeffrey dump Christina, Joe and Andy in the same year??? Wouldn't want to be his dog...— greenflyer
- Don't believe it for a second. Christina..drop that Lurie and hook up with me. I'd love to help you spend your millions
- Green flyer one of the funniest posts ever— Johnny Callison
- funny greenflyer— dictaguy
- I hope he holds to his word....now one more thing...tell your ex-wife that you'll be changing the colors back to Eagles Green, not that puke blue.— WBFO
- Thank goodness! I think year's 7-9 campaign will get it done!
So whose on the short list Cowher? Gruden (former Philly guy)? I like Cowher because this town needs a smash-mouth offense. Not this fancy-dancing crapola Reid keeps trying and failing at (Shady is the only thing that keeps it from being a ballerina performance).— Phils_World_Champs - Andy should be measured by his waist line. I'll believe Lurie firing big Andy when I see it.— fanup
- 8 and 8 might not save him but 1 and 15 will. Meaning Mornhinweg will be the next coach.— Geno D
- no way, the current green is too good.— colahead420
