LeSean McCoy defends Andy Reid
The Philadelphia Inquirer Blog - Eagles
LeSean McCoy defends Andy Reid
Zach Berman, Inquirer Staff Writer
LeSean McCoy's concussion came in the final two minutes of a 31-6 loss to the Washington Redskins on Nov. 23. He missed four games, and will finally return this week. Coach Andy Reid was criticized for having McCoy in the game at that point, but McCoy defended his coach on Thursday.
"The thing is, if he would have taken me out, I would have been on him so much bugging him," McCoy said. "You don't play like that. You're down, so you take your guys out? No. We fight to the very end. He knows that and I know that. So when I heard that people were upset about me being in the game, you finish the game out. You start and you finish it. You're not a quitter, where you're down and takes him out.
"It upsets me that people should think that because we're good players, or better players than average, that we shouldn't be out there, losing season or not. I don't agree with that at all. And coach, he doesn't agree with that."
McCoy did not want to tackle the issue of how Reid should be received in Sunday's game, but he believes Reid does not get the appreciation he deserves.
"If you sat here and tried to name five to eight coaches that are better than Coach Reid, I would like to hear him," McCoy said. "Because Coach Reid's a good coach. He gets blamed for everything, and sometimes you break down the film and break down plays and mistakes, how do you fault the coach for that? I guess people have their own opinions and their minds are made up. I think the thing about the team is, we know how good of a coach he really is. Whatever happens, happens, but I'm behind coach Reid 110 percent. ...I don't think he should get blamed for the turnovers, the blown mistakes. Stuff like that, he shouldn't be blamed for. But it is what it is."
McCoy said he's told Reid at times that he's let Reid down as a player. But McCoy doesn't want Reid blamed for a player's mistake.
"Sometimes as players we feel we've let coach down," McCoy said. "But he's tough. He's a tough coach."
McCoy does not know how much he'll be used in Sunday's game against the Redskins, but he expects a rotation with rookie Bryce Brown in his first game since suffering a concussion. The big issue during McCoy's concussion was fatigue. He said he was in great shape, and then he couldn't run for four weeks. The conditioning part was a challenge for McCoy.
"Might do a little more [rotating], just because I've been gone for four weeks," McCoy said. "Just the tempo, playing, running, being in shape, things like that. I'm not sure. But I know once I get in the game, get that competitive nature in me, I'll want to play more than expected."
The issue with going back in the game is the danger inherent with concussions, not the desire to play through. Players will always fake it and say they are okay because players lose jobs to injury now all the time. Of course fans and media play the blame game. There is no objectivity to be found. That being said, Andys time is up. Its a coaching staffs job to hire the correct position coaches and many of those failed on many levels. There is failure everywhere here but Reid has his share hence the outcry. Still good to hear a player stand up for his coach once in a while, not the worst thing. Anymore they usually call people out publicly which is far worse in my book.— peteike- i just think shady has to learn that what does the rest this team think about reid? is it about playing for a coach and not win? do they even care about winning no matter who the coach comes here or is it about playing favorites and not win the sb?
this is what the management has to look over on this roster, what players do want to play to win a sb not for the coach but to win a sb no matter who comes here? this is the biggest problem with philadelphia sports in general in winning a championship, the players never seem have a winning mentality rather it's always playing for a favorite coach and not winning it all.— lonewolf83 - Shady was a lucky choice look at all the Mike Mamulas, and D line busts, along with the fact they can't draft D backs and linebackers. Even a blind squirrel finds a nut once in a while. Are you saying the Eagles have drafted wisely?— Cactusclarke
- Can anyone defend the classless way Andy handled Trotter, Dawkins, Patterson, and so many other heart and soul players? This team has never recovered from the Dawkins and TO disasters.— Cactusclarke
- rcohen81, the flaw in your argument is that Reid is the guy making personnel decisions. Therefore, if he is a victim of his personnel, specifically his QBs, then that too is his fault.
— jfdatl - Unless we get a Gruden, I'd rather stick with Andy. Not sure I want to roll the dice on a college coach.— Richard Saunders
- Andy should not be booed. It is time for a change, but he has had some good times here. I wish him and the Eagles the best. The real fans get this.— rustypop58
- AR is nor perfect. And he certainly had accomplices, Uncle Joe, Rosy. The point is the organization for Lori on down is all hat and no cattle. Period.— oldBird
- I don't know what else Shady could say. "I hope Andy gets fired, he's a bad coach"? You know he's not gonna say that, even if he believes it. And no, I don't think Reid is a bad coach; he's just gotten stale, which happens to even the best coaches when they stay too long. A year away from the game will give him some perspective, something he could never get in his present position. And nobody should ever be both HC and GM. Even Belichick hasn't won a SB in 8 years. If Andy's smart he'll learn from the mistakes he's made and apply that to his next gig.— JBirks
- Andy Reid is a good coach. He's just burned out.— sighpatrol
- McCoy's interview was right on. It's not Andy who has made the on field mistakes but the players. Andy is not perfect and has made some mistakes in other parts of the game but for the ignorant bandwagon 'fans' to continue to blast him is absurd. I really hope Lurie grows some aggots and thinks for himself and not the media and allows Andy to finish up his contract. With the o-line with one more year of experience, with Washburn and his lousy wide nine gone, with another good RB in Brown to help McCoy, with the defense playing much better, with a new young QB about to make waves, etc. some other coach will come in here and do well on Andy's team. Sort of like Gruden winning the Super Bowl with Dungy's team! Andy is the best coach we ever had in Philly and Lurie needs to make the right non-move and keep him here. To all you knuckleheads out there who continue to listen to the clowns who write in the Inky, try for once in your life to make your own decisions and think what Reid has done for us. Do you recall anyone named Ray Rhodes, or Richie Kotite, or even Joe Kuharick??!!— vietnamvet
