Andy Reid's final defeat
Giants 42, Eagles 7
Andy Reid's final defeat
Rich Hofmann, Daily News Sports Columnist
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- For years, I had this vision of how Andy Reid would walk away. I carried it until pretty recently, until about 2010. The way I figured it, the final camera shot would go like this: Reid finishing the press conference after the Super Bowl, finding his wife, Tammy, in the crowd of reporters -- she always goes to his post-game press conferences -- and walking away with one arm around her and the Lombardi Trophy in the other.
It was cinematic and Hollywood, yes -- but didn’t the law of averages have to work for Reid at some point? Didn’t it? That was the theory, anyway. In the last 2 years, though, the vision changed. We all know the reasons -- Michael Vick, a couple of bad drafts, a failure to replace Jim Johnson at defensive coordinator despite repeated attempts. And while it was easy to see it ending badly, it was hard to predict the last day.
Sunday was the last day.
It was cold and miserable and buffeted by a bitter wind. It was sloppy and inept. And when it was over -- historians will record the final final score for Reid as the Eagles’ coach was Giants 42, Eagles 7 -- the black-clad coach left the sidelines for the last time. All that remains is the press conference where he will be fired, presumably on Monday.
He will be known for how much he won, and how much his quarterbacks threw the ball. He will be known for “time’s yours” and taking responsibility and needing to put his players in a better position and looking forward to the privilege of playing everyone. He will be remembered for being the best coach the Eagles ever had at the same time he is remembered for failing to win the the Super Bowl.
The final indignities of the final Sunday -- the bad tackling, the terrible secondary play, the erratic quarterbacking of Vick, the deserved fourth-quarter benching of cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha -- will not linger, mostly because almost nobody was paying attention. But the answer to the trivia question will be this: Reid’s first quarterback was Doug Pederson and his last quarterback was Trent Edwards, who mopped up Sunday.
There was no spotlight on the players, not on this day. All eyes were on Reid, with the rolled-up play chart in his left hand and the red challenge flag in his back pocket and 14 years of memories locked inside. As he walked off, for the last time, that is where those memories remained.
To play the 'sport' of professional football is an 'insane' activity once you have secured your financial future. I can't really blame our defensive players for choosing a healthy post NFL life over a potentially damaged one by sticking their neck out for some 'trophy'.— tyroneslothrop- Reid had an arc like everything else in life. The peak was OK, but no Super Bowl win. The slide down has been totally appalling, and he is not the only one to blame. It looks like a major rebuilding effort, and will depend on successful drafts and player development if it is to work. It would be great if we could call the next coach his successor, but we can't. He will be called a replacement. It might be a while before we see any good football in town.— jerseyshorefan
- Namdi should have been benched by game 3. Perfect example of why this coach is way overrated. He knew he was on the hot seat this year and waited until the team was in shambles to admit to the Castillo mistake, fire Washburned (pun intended), bench Vick, and Namdi. All these moves should have been made in the off season based on what we saw last year. Do you think Belechik would have allowed this? The national media is treating us like Reid is Vince Lombardi. See ya Andy, thanks for the memories......— delder
- Namdi should have been benched by game 3. Perfect example of why this coach is way overrated. He knew he was on the hot seat this year and waited until the team was in shambles to admit to the Castillo mistake, fire Washburned (pun intended), bench Vick, and Namdi. All these moves should have been made in the off season based on what we saw last year. Do you think Belechik would have allowed this? The national media is treating us like Reid is Vince Lombardi. See ya Andy, thanks for the memories......— delder
- its the end of a dynasty peepl.— bloodymess
- ahhhh the end technically was in 2004. — hipdaddy
- Namdi should have been benched by game 3. Perfect example of why this coach is way overrated. He knew he was on the hot seat this year and waited until the team was in shambles to admit to the Castillo mistake, fire Washburned (pun intended), bench Vick, and Namdi. All these moves should have been made in the off season based on what we saw last year. Do you think Belechik would have allowed this? The national media is treating us like Reid is Vince Lombardi. See ya Andy, thanks for the memories......— delder
- Would have to agree with Ray Didinger, the Eagles players were an embarrassment today. The Defense was awful.
Known as a players coach, you would think the players would have fought harder on the field for Reid. They rolled over like dogs.— Fan74 - This game prooved that it is time to move on. It may have also shown how bad this mess is. Not going to be easy to fix. I envy the Colts for somehow going from being the worst to one of the best in one season. If only we can.— RobertB
- I hope the transition is handled quickly and efficiently. New coaching staff, Release Vick and let him go where he thinks he deserves to be and be paid whatever the heck he thinks he is worth. I do have to disagree with him, if he thinks he is an elite QB he is delusional. Then lets draft some talent over the next few years and make a run at the Lombardi trophy. This didn't work lets try something different.— JamesSeitz
- Reid should have gone years ago when his sons had their fall. He should have dealt with the problems then and put his career on the back burner. Instead, Laurie let a good team crumble under the assaults of time and changes in the game. The exit is due to the owner who could not step up and do the right thing. I think the real truth is the true rock that the Reid era was built on was.....Joe Banner. Fans did not like him but he made things possible and he kept the team grounded. When Laurie undercut him and then pushed him out, the team collapsed.— Dutch-wayne
- Do you get it now Rich, or shall I draw you a map?????????— mario1239
- He hadn't talked to Lurie or 'thought' about moving on? Liar, Liar, Pants On ... FIRED!— JohnnyL
- Can't say I'm sad to see you go, Reid. Your final game as the arrogant, egotistical, self-centered fat man of the Eagles was a fitting departure.— peacefrog33756
- Its not all Andy, the players should turn in their salaries this year. They stink. Penalties, fumbles, missed coverage. They STINK.— watchum1
