Reid on McCoy decision: "I don't regret it"
The Philadelphia Inquirer Blog - Eagles
Reid on McCoy decision: "I don't regret it"
Jeff McLane, Inquirer Staff Writer
Andy Reid defended his decision to hand-off to LeSean McCoy with less than two minutes left and the Eagles' trailing the Redskins, 31-6, on Sunday.
McCoy suffered a concussion on the play and left the field on a cart. The Eagles running back was later seen needing assistance from a team trainer as he walked into the locker room at FedEx Field in Landover, Md.
Reid said Monday that McCoy still had a headache and was in Stage 1 of his recovery from the concussion.
"I don't regret it. It happened," Reid said. "Do I wish he wouldn't have been hurt? Yeah, I do. I wish he wouldn't have been hurt."
Reid said after the game that his motivation in playing McCoy, the Eagles all pro tailback, was to try and win the game. A day later, he said that he has to balance resting his stars against a player wanting to remain in games until their end.
"These kids want to play," Reid said. "There's two sides to this. ... You'll probably come back and ask me that, 'Do the players -- do you feel like they quit?' They want to play. They want to win the game. They want to get better. They want to show that they're all-in.
"So there's a fine line ... as coaches you want to make sure that the guys know that you're all-in, too."
Reid was then asked if it was his job as head coach to take into consideration what may be best for a player.
"It's my job to weigh that out. If you want to put that on me, I fully take that," Reids said. "I also have a pretty good feeling, I think, for my football team."
McCoy was resting at his family's home in Harrisburg, Pa. as of Sunday evening. He was alert, but "foggy and tired," according to a source close to the running back. Reid did not give any indication if McCoy would be permitted to play in Monday night's game against the Panthers.
"Just take it day by day," Reid said. "He's got a bit of a headache now."
If McCoy can't play, rookie Bryce Brown would start in his place.
I would have more respect for AR if he said maybe he should not have had him in there at the end of the game. That he did not says something to me about the kind of person he has evolved to - once a caring, kind and thoughtful...also a good coach. Now...he justifies his bad move, this time effecting one of his best players. Sure...he has made many bad moves, clock management, calling too many passing plays, and so on...but it gets serious when his best is put at risk...and he is not at all contrite. Show me a person who is at this level of thought...and I will show you a team of players who are at risk playing for the Eagles. Yes...I know there is some question about the team being a team at all...but how will a person motivate a team that is worried that AR will continue to make BAD decisions...that could impact their well being. Sorry Shady McCoy - I am sorry that you have a head coach that cares more about himself than he does about you. Please get well...you are about the only one out there that cares, has emotion...and has done well.— 5thstrretpast- I've supported Reid for many years, but that response is BS. If McCoy's desire to play was strong enough for Reid to put him out there with less than two minutes left and down by 25, why wasn't he given the ball more when the game was actually in play? The run/pass ratio with a rookie quarterback is unacceptable. Time for him to go.— kmillerwdc
- Hey, score a TD, followed by four successful onside kicks and four 60-yard pass plays, it could have happened. There was plenty of time.— Bruce in NM
- boy,boy,boy i hope some of you guys that read these posts,actually show up at the linc monday night.ill tell ya i think if you people that attend dont show the entire 4 quarters to everyone in the entire nfl world watching just how frustated eagles fans really are.than your all just as soft as all these weak players on this team are.i double dog dare ya to show what a real ripoff yall got for those tickets you paid for.cmon cmon i dare ya.better than that yall come upon agreement who you want as your new head coach and let me see how gruden reacts in the booth.save your oral frustrations for monday nite and let it all out eagles fans.dont be scared— arkdad212
- Just another of 14 years of shoveling sh** over the fans and media. Less than two minutes and 25 points down and he keeps him in trying to win the game??? He has NO clue how to manage a game and his arrogance and pompous posturing is why no one will miss him when he's gone. Good riddance Reid— J Bird
- Is ANY of this a surprise to ANYONE? Reid has been unable to do ANYTHING right since Jim Johnson left. Every phase of this organization has deteriorated since then:
Playoff wins
Play-calling
Clock management
Player accountability
Player draft
Free agents
Hiring qualified assistant coaches
Did I miss anything?— jman
