In Banner's Wake: Andyworld or Howieworld?
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In Banner's Wake: Andyworld or Howieworld?
Les Bowen
Some final thoughts on the departure of Joe Banner as Eagles president:
As others have noted, the idea that Banner just got tired of running the Eagles is absurd. If there is one thing I've been sure of over the 10 years that I've covered this team, beyond the certainty that every Monday morning news conference was going to begin with the listing of injuries, it's that Joe Banner lived to carry the Lombardi Trophy down to the WIP studios and invite Angelo Cataldi to kiss it. And maybe kiss something else, as well.
(His Super Bowl ring, of course. What did you think I meant? Geez.)
Why would Banner abandon that quest? I'm stunned that he would, but I can think of a few reasons. One, the ascension of his one-time protege, Howie Roseman, left Joe with a much more circumscribed role than he enjoyed several years ago. That part of Banner wanting a new challenge rings true. And I do believe that Andy Reid moved to further limit Banner's power, as Reid grew weary of dealing with the locker room fallout from Banner's negotiating style. I absolutely believe Reid felt the DeSean Jackson debacle of 2011 was less of a reflection on Jackson than on the Eagles.
Even with all that, I'm still surprised that Banner stepped aside, given that Reid doesn't have a contract beyond 2013, and is thought to need a really good 2012, if not a Super Bowl title, to get another deal. Leaving after 18 years because you lost a power struggle with someone who might not be here come next February doesn't make much sense.
Which leads me to a thought that is strictly my own, wasn't whispered by anyone down at NovaCare. What if Banner doesn't think Reid is going away anytime soon, AND doesn't think the Reid-Michael Vick nexus is ever going to win the Eagles a Super Bowl? As I noted the first time I wrote about this, we are more that three years down the road from Joe's weary "definition of instanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results" speech in a hallway in Arizona after the January 2009 NFC Championship Game. It was an ambiguous statement, widely applied to Donovan McNabb at the time. I'm not at all sure he was just talking about Donovan.
It was Joe, and only Joe, who indicated last year that Reid needed to win a Super Bowl to get a new contract. What if he came to realize that Roseman and Lurie were more reluctant than Joe might have been to spin the coaching wheel? There is no obvious savior waiting in the wings, no hotshot young assistant ready to take over. John Harbaugh got away a long time ago.
Right now, in the wake of the Banner departure, we don't really know if we are living in Andyworld or Howieworld. If Reid gets any kind of contract extension between now and the end of the season, we'll have our answer: It's Andyworld. If no Reid deal is forthcoming, and it becomes apparent that Reid's 2012 outcome will indeed determine whether he gets that new contract, welcome to Howieworld. The next coach will be Roseman's guy.
Remember, Jeffrey Lurie, in his anguished postseason address, sounded almost ready to fire Reid, but when reporters asked about Roseman -- who certainly had a lot to do with all the silly Ronnie Brown and Steve Smith-type signings last summer, not to mention some poor draft decisions -- Lurie got indignant. He made it clear that Roseman was not in any sort of trouble.
That's why I kinda think it might be Howieworld. And I'd love to know what Howie really thinks of Reid.
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Joe Banner believed in Reid against all odds and backed him to the end. That's why he was fired, (Not released in a friendly way). Lurie gave him a kind of reference letter for Banner's next job because they were friends. Reid got all the players he wanted under Banner. They were close friends and they both believed the Eagles could do what they never did. Blaming Banner for the Eagles failure is like blaming the defense for the 36 turnovers, the 18 interceptions and the giving the opposing team 6 extra drives a game. What the hell does Joe Banner have to do with that? Are you Philly sports reporters nuts or what?
Lurie has taken over the team, as it should be. He will be making all the decisions. There won't be any meetings of the staff to determine if Andy should be fired or not. Of course, Andy could save himself, but he is tied at the hip with his personal choice at quarterback and he would rather go down in flames then admit he made a mistake You will see a different evaluation of Reid then.— mario1239- Banner is gone. OMG can we stop the daily stories about this guy. The Eagles are going to the super bowl. There is not a team in the NFL that can stay with them offensively, and their defense is going to put a lot of NFL players in the trainer's room or on the disabled list. Of course this is Philly, and whatever can go wrong will go wrong.— Ron
- gotedge, take away the 36 turnovers, the 18 interceptions and the giving the other team 6 extra drives a game and the Eagles could have won the East. The defense didn't do that. Joe Banner didn't do that. Reid added more defensive players and is hoping the offense will play better with the same people. He gets paid to know better. You are satisfied with average or mediocre teams. I am not.— mario1239
- Let's hope not. And please take the dog killer with you.— sackvicknow
- Why is so important for you fools you don't have any power or any say over what the Eagles will do Shut up.— Blessed8251
- Maybe it was Banner with his nickel and dime games with players that we never got over the top. Players are not going to kill themselves when there is no (money) awards, coming from mgt. Reid is a good coach but not a great one, the great ones win super bowls and never get out coached when it counts that is Andys problem. I remember as a kid when they won in 1960 I never dreamed it would be 52 years waiting for another.— angrywhtguy
How long will the picture of an Eagles cheerleader preparing to remove her bikini top remain on Philly.com? Six months, a year, two years? The pics been up forever. I'm not complaining, obviously I keep looking at it.- Watch out Ried, your being set up--They will need a scape goat if we dont make it to the super bowl.— phillyboymike7
- Well they had Sean McSermott and Johnny Lynn the last 2 years. Somebody has to fall next year if they don't make it.— watsonmr
- I'm surprised that no one has really speculated that Banner is walking away because Lurie won't fire Reid. Maybe that's the real issue at hand. Super Bowl or bust.— voodoochile75
- joe "knuckles" banner !— the_chief
- Just back from another relaxing weekend at the shore home and I see the bootlickers like tpizzahispants are still at it claiming objectivity.The owner stabbed his best bud in the back and shoved him to the curb but no big deal someone had to go sooner or later.FO politics and banner lost.This changes nothing right now.
The real changes will come when the dog killer goes,the sooner the better.An average QB at best that is a turnover machine who will not play a full season.They still have mornhinsickness calling the plays and a converted o-line coach as the DC.AR is still the HC who will NEVER EVER win a SB because it's beyond his ability and now has no excuses.This is his draft,players and team.No more excuses fatman,injuries,bad luck,refs that all went out the window with your powerplay for total control.Now you got it,let's see what you can do.
Almost forgot,tpizzahispants still got the two dollars for mom.— sewell guy - I do believe Banner and Reid had problems with personnel. I think Banner used money with Reid to get his way on a player pro and con. I don't think Reid liked it. Banner then gives Reid all he wants last year and when it went down in flames, Banner saw his chance to dump Reid. Lurie wasn't going along and Banner, I believe, told Lurie it was Reid or him. To Joe's surprise, his long time friend said he was keeping Andy. Bye Joe.— greenflyer
- Hard to say about Joe Banner, but winning a Super Bowl with Mike Vick is a long shot. Gotta have a really good team. Any given Sunday he can be incredible, but not a top QB over the course of a season. If Banner left for that reason, he may turn out to be right.
I see the Eagles going 11-5 at this rosy point in the off-season, but I'll put them #8 in the league in terms of winning the Super Bowl.— armchairGM - apeman, i've been waiting years for her to finally take it off... she never does, so sad.— nyphilliephan
