Report: Reid wanted power, considered Manning
Jeffrey Lurie called a press conference after the 2011 season to announce that Andy Reid would be returning as the Eagles' head coach.
Report: Reid wanted power, considered Manning
Sheil Kapadia, Philly.com
Jeffrey Lurie called a press conference after the 2011 season to announce that Andy Reid would be returning as the Eagles' head coach.
But, according to a report, Reid was ready to walk away if the organization didn't make some changes.
Sam Farmer of the Los Angeles Times dropped a couple of bombs in his column today, including this one:
Two NFL insiders, speaking on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the topic, said that Philadelphia Coach Andy Reid was ready to walk away from the Eagles if he didn't get more personnel control, and now he has it.
The Eagles have maintained all along that Reid has final say on personnel matters, but perhaps that has not been the case. There were reports earlier this offseason that the Birds' front office was split on whether to extend DeSean Jackson's contract. Well, Jackson got his new deal, and assuming this report is true, he may very well have Reid to thank for that.
The Eagles also took care of respected veterans Todd Herremans and Trent Cole.
One other juicy nugget from Farmer:
Something else about the Eagles: Reid wanted to jump in the Peyton Manning sweepstakes, despite the signing of Michael Vick to a six-year, $100-million contract last season. Talks never got too serious, the insiders say, because Manning didn't like the idea of playing against his brother Eli, quarterback of the New York Giants, at least twice a season.
Wow.
So far this offseason, the Eagles have been connected to both Robert Griffin III and now Manning. If we weren't sure before, we can say it with certainty now: Never count Reid out when a quarterback is available.
The report also pokes some holes in the theory that Reid will be fired if he doesn't take the Eagles far in 2012. Per the article, it seems he felt confident enough to make some demands this offseason. The truth is, if Reid were to hit the open market, he would have no trouble finding another head-coaching job. It looks like he realizes that, and wants to make sure he's got the players he wants on the roster.
At around 11:30 Friday morning, Reid released the following statement:
"We look into everything, as all teams do. And I have the highest regard for Peyton Manning. But as I said publicly last month, that wasn’t the direction we were heading in. Michael is our guy."
"As far as the personnel control, I have had final say on personnel matters for quite some time here and that’s never been an issue or a point of contention."
"Our front office works very well together and that’s one of our strengths."
Earlier Friday, I rounded up some mocks and provided thoughts on who the Eagles might draft at No. 15.
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You people are so cynical. Fact of the matter is, AR is the magnet for all the blame and hardly any of the praise from the media/public. I give him a lot of props for always standing up for his players and not putting them out there. Always taking the blame and making himself the target. Perhaps that is why most of you hate him. But you don't see what really goes on in the backrooms. You should know that things never what they appear to be.— penncrow19- These are bombs? Coach wants control of player selection process? Coach wants to sign Hall of Fame QB? Whew, that is controversial stuff.. Shill, oops, Sheil.— bobcitydoc
- Why would Peyton Manning care if he has to play two games a year against Eli? Wouldn't that be a fun competition? I don't quite understand this.— guyguy4
- I'm with you. I'd absolutely love to go up against my brother on that stage as many times as humanly possible. Imagine, taking your backyard games on to the world stage! I guess Peyton is a little more emotionally fragile than Venus and Serena Williams, who have faced each other 23 times. — jtj06
- Peyton doesn't want Eli whinning about it to their daddy. Can you imagine Eli with that powdy face talking about the bigger bro picking on him.— penncrow19
- The whiner with the two Supe and MVP trophies - that's who you're mocking? Yeah - what a baby he is, falling apart on the big stage.
— COskier - Oh no, start the Drew Brees rumors now.— urbnasty
- I'm surprised at you Sheil. You present another "unnamed sources" article as if it was the truth. It could be completely made up. Sports writing is considered entertainment and not journalism. What are you thinking? Your blog is usually great but sometimes you do things that make me scratch my head.— soulman386
- Hold your breathe, Reid's in charge of the draft.
His 1st rounder better be nothing like B. Graham. Reid needs to select one of the 3 top DTackles, or a CB if a good one slips to 15 or perhaps SS Baron. If he came away with a top flight OT/OG that would be OK, only if the player was Grade A/no brainer selection.
Reid trys to be too cute and believes he can out think everyone. Proff is his blind arrogance to calling passing plays 90% of the time, and noone could convince him otherwise.
HOLD your breath ... he does not serve up some stupid draft day play. Why can't he just go with the flow, and the 1,000 experts who say take a DTackle at #15. Why, because it is just too easy for Reid and therefore, it doesn't make sense to him.— Lerze777 
Why is this coming from a reporter way on the other side of the country? Sports writers in Philly didn't have nor got this information. Another thing is, I hold comments made by anonymous sources with a grain of salt. Maybe it's a matter of Reid not totally agreeing with the FA signings and draft choices made in the past few years. Eagles need a few more people who know how to scout football players. Ashante's assessment about guys playing fantasy football with Lurie's money was factual and Reid decided to grow a pair. Now, I'm really anxious to see who the Eagles draft this year.- Bob from Phoenixville, you are absolutely freakin' right on. I've been watching the Birds even longer, but living in NC since '69, I don't get to see every game. I liked Buddy, as much for entertainment value as for his D (can you spell "bounty" ?), and Vermeil was a pretty darn good head coach, but he got unnerved about the SB at exactly the wrong time. Neither of those guys, or anyone else who has sat in that chair, has been AR's equal in overall performance, results, or player development. Stipulate to the fact that his resume will remain incomplete without a SB victory ring, but he has been consistently at the top of the heap. I hope that he gets what the Eagles need most in this offseason, either by draft, FA, trades, etc. so the Birds can purge their atypically crappy last season, and get iit done in the postseason. The faithful will always be there for 'dem Eagles. — KimA
- I haven't missed watching an Eagles game since 1966. AR is the best coach this team has ever had. Although they haven't won a Super Bowl yet, they are always prepared and competetive. People who whine about Reid haven't lived through his predecessors...— Bobphxville
- You know who Reid reminds me of? George W. Bush, the power-hungry criminal Republican. I know Reid isn't responsible for two illegal wars that killed hundreds of thousands of innocent people, led to the torture of political prisoners, and destroyed the economy while making Big Oil and Halliburton rich, and I knw Reid doesn't hate women, children, minorities, blue collar union workers and gays and doesn't try to destroy them every chance he gets, the analogy is still perfectly applicable.— eldiablodelsol2009
- I agree wholehearted with your general sentiments. — damrvrhunter
- While W never signed random stars without paying attention to the defense as a whole, or ignored the LB position for a decade, repeatedly tried offensive strategies that have failed, signed psychopaths to be the face of his franchise, mumbled his way through press conferences (wait - he did do that) - I see exactly what you mean.
— COskier
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