Was Andy Reid wrong for not acknowledging Eagles fans?
Andy Reid's 14-year tenure with the Eagles came to an end on Monday, and Reid has yet to address the city of Philadelphia or, more importantly, its fans.
Was Andy Reid wrong for not acknowledging Eagles fans?
Justin Klugh, Assistant Sports Producer
It's been a long year.
And as fans, we'd like some recognition.
Sure, we don't put in any of the training, workouts, long flights, missed time with loved ones or risk of horrible injury that the athletes do. But we ARE the ones who've had our emotions worn down to a nub, without millions of dollars to console ourselves.
The point is, even a minor acknowledgement of what we do--the clapping, the screaming, the StubHub scouring, the quickly minimizing of live streamed games when a supervisor pops into the cubicle--goes a long way.
Andy Reid's 14-year tenure with the Eagles came to an end on Monday, and Reid has yet to address the city of Philadelphia or, more importantly, its fans.
So assuming he's got his hands full being chased by helicopters and will eventually pen an eloquent exit speech, here are the class acts Reid will be following:
Shane Victorino
Casualty of a loss-induced fire sale, Shane bought the traditional full page ad in the paper, giving Philly a final, tear-stained "Mahalo."
The mainstay firecracker of a centerfielder was the first real foundation to buckle as the Phillies moved further and further from 2008. But in one last moment before he headed off to L.A., he helped us remember why we were so sad he was gone.
Hunter Pence
Hunter Pence, however, scarpered out of town quietly, using an awkwardly scheduled bobblehead night to say good bye weeks later. The note on the back of the box was nice, but it was then that we remembered--had he really only been here for one year? Maybe we are a little melodramatic.
Andre Iguodala
Iggy wrote a heartfelt letter to the fans on his personal web site. Days later, he characterized Philly sports fans as lunatics who consider a slam dunk appropriate penance for a human murder. But hey, whatever, he said the nice thing first.
Plus, we got Andrew Bynum! How can we lose!
Brian Dawkins
Of course, one of the most beloved Eagles of all time got to retire as one, despite that little experiment as a Bronco that we can just pretend didn't happen. In an emotional farewell at the NovaCare Center, B-Dawk stood with old hats like Jeffrey Lurie, former teammates like Donovan McNabb, and awe-struck fans who in the tenure of his career became Eagles themselves like Vinny Curry.
An appropriately choked-up moment for the collective who was saddest to see him go.
Eric Lindros
The first time the former Flyers captain sad good bye, there was a lot more rigid, uncomfortable silence. But when he was invited to play in the Winter Classic alumni game in 2011, we got a second shot at Lindros that we never thought we'd get.
He even gave Bobby Clarke the time of day, in a case of earth-shattering appeasement that nobody in this town had even bothered to fantasize about. When he stepped out on the ice, the crowd exploded--proving that we may be overly "passionate," or whatever adjective they're using to describe us amidst snickers this week, but we can appreciate the rarity of a higly coveted second chance.
want to give it a week perhaps? or do you really need the fullpage ad revenue so paychecks clear?— rodnougat- Good luck, you will look great in red, Andy!— BirdinParadise
- who the hell cares about him,the chiefs or whether he acknowledges us fans...he's no longer here,thankfully,so let's all move on...he's history and i have no interest in what he would have to say,which would be about a quart of balloon juice...— jabac
- These players did it from their heart nit because there was an expectation. Plus these are players. They are who the fans come to see. Last time I checked, I didn't see fans at the game in black fat suits holding a clipboard and wearing a headset. I think you're being melodramatic.— Phillies2008WSChamps
- "Vinny Curie" ? What the hell are the literary qualifications to write for this publication beyond having Grade 3 spelling and 1/7th the knowledge of the half soused rabble that congregate outside the games? Wow.......All the best to Reid..He doesn't owe the fans anything it was a good ride while it lasted...Next!— PhillyMike5959
- I doubt you'll see anything from Reid. He's not deaf or blind and he's quite the spiteful man who probably holds a deep grudge against the fans. Of course, he'll never blame himself. His silence will be his way of saluting the fans -- with his middle finger.— ghost of callison
- Reid didn't give the fans the time-of-day for 14 years while he was here. Why expect anything different now?— Boru
- ghost of callison:
It's really funny listening to a slobbering Eagles fan call Reid spiteful on a message board.— p-diddy - You have pretty good hearing, through a keyboard and all. Can you see the slobber through the monitor? I guess you hear and see what you want.
— road515 - Run, Andy.... run away!!— road515
- Let it go for crying out loud. Andy was the first coach hired four days after being let go from the Eagles. Believe it or not, Andy was and still is a very good coach. Lets move on and let the big man be. Get a life.— Bigmowash
- My life is interesting keeping tabs on Andy Reid. Without a doubt, one of the more riveting stories of the year. I don't believe Reid is that good at all. Read Jason Whitlock at Fox Sports...good article. — road515
- @p-diddy: Thank you for your input, Mrs. Reid. I guess you know "slobbering", having to sit across the dinner table from your morbidly obese husband.— ghost of callison
- After a couple of years coaching there, I can see Andy's new title:
since it's called Arrowhead Stadium, he will be the "Bonehead"
of Arrowhead!
I'll never forget his genius calls of punting the ball
away in a playoff game against New Orleans when Jeff
Garcia had just completed a 4th down throw for a first
down with like 2 minutes left in the game, that a penalty
negated then Reid punted, when the defensive hadn't stop
New Orleans all day? Trotter had started to show his age?
And of course having Akers try a long field goal in
a cold blustery playoff game just a few years ago
against Green Bay, on 4th down and a little less
than a yard, when you have the BEST RB in football,
and the best running QB maybe ever?? I mean the wind
must of been 15 to 25 miles an hour? I mean
even an idiot knows you have much better odds of
getting that one yard on the GB defense, then
a long filed goal in gusty wind???— mikey48 - wait, he always said we were the best fans in the league at his pressers. Why does he need to thank us? WIP morons drove him out town.— palmyra21
