Players feel sad and guilty
Eagles players react to Reid's firing
Players feel sad and guilty
Rich Hofmann, Daily News Sports Columnist
Cullen Jenkins could just shake his head and say, "He took all of the heat for all of our failures on the field."
And so it went, on the day Eagles fired coach Andy Reid.
The press was allowed into the NovaCare Complex at 11 am, an hour after Reid addressed the team following his firing. Several players said the team gave Reid a standing ovation when he was finished talking. Then, the ritual collection of belongings in trash bags began. Most of the players were gone by the time reporters entered the locker room.
For those who were there, several feelings were common and pervasive: regret, disappointment, sadness for Reid, guilt at the part that they played in his demise. But, as safety Kurt Coleman said, "I can't say I feel guilty because I gave everything I had on every play. But, as a player, do I feel I had a hand in it? Absolutely."
"He's meant so much to us," said rookie quarterback Nick Foles. "He's been our leader. He's been our rock. It's tough on the players. It's just one of those days, a tough day."
When asked about the final team meeting, running back LeSean McCoy said, "He had a lot of relationships with a lot of different players. It was definitely emotional, for me as well. The whole meeting was...We just felt his pain. Being in a place for so long, and being so successful..."
This firing was hardly unexpected. As the weeks rolled on, and the losses mounted, it was impossible for the players not to contemplate this day. Still, well..
I was hoping for the best," wide receiver Jeremy Maclin said, on a day that was the worst for the people in the Eagles' locker room.
They really did suck. Played horrible. Haven't seen them look this bad since the Roman Gabriel days! But at least they won 5 games!— phillynupe4- Their words ring pretty hollow to me. I will say Vick (as much as I am glad to be rid of him as our starter) gave it 110% every time he was on the field, regardless of whatever motivation or performance he had. McCoy, same thing. Evan Mathis showed what a character guy he is as well, pushing through when every one of his linemates went down or sucked. I hope the cut list goes like this: Vick (for financial reasons),then I hope Asomough and King Dunlap are out of here on the first thing smoking. Demeco Ryans is the only defender who I legitimately felt bad for...he deserves better than this garbage. I'm definitely not sad...very optimistic for the future and the housecleaning coming up!— kjuggs77
- Many of teh current players are simply dogs. Besides being vastly overrated by temselves and some of the media, this team didn't even live up to the expectations of a mediocre team, let alone one that was supposedly a conference contender. It was time for Reid to move on for many reasons, but this current group was one of the biggest gathering of malcontents and underperformers not see here in decades!— hvitoloco
- Please,I watche these bums in Florida all season, start now and get rid of the G.M and how do you spell Osenwaun and Crowmartie both do not know how to tackle or play their position. I could not believe these guys are pro players, To much money and no performance, blow the team up and start over, Laurie sell the team back to the car dealer because you don't belong in the football business.— Dick Faunce
- f the players cared they would have played harder...plain and simple...talk is cheap. Andy made a laundry list of bad moves started with letting Dawkins go...then letting a horrible QB come onto the team with a bad attitude and work ethic.....Washburn, Babin, Juan, Mudd...burned time outs....run/pass ratio...and his love of Marty. BEAT IT!!! Take your act somewhere else.
— RealizticFan - I'm sure I'm in the minority here, but I don't think Andy Reid is a coach who will have success elsewhere, if success is defined as winning the Superbowl. And really, what other measure of success is there? Andy's shortcomings as a game day coach, clock management being the most glaring, will always keep him from winning the Superbowl. There are too many fundamental decisions that he gets wrong throughout a game; decisions that many of us can make and get right most of the time. He is consistently outcoached in big games. Being outcoached once in a while is understandable, but it's been 14 years of the same mistakes over and over again. At some point one would think you could learn. Andy never could. I honestly don't get the fascination with him. This is completely unsolicited, but I would offer this advice to Andy; take a year off, coach vicariously by watching a lot of football, and play a lot of chess.— ProudKenso
- Now the hard part...actually rebuilding the team, and especially the defense, from the ground up. Whoever steps into this job is looking at a three to four year rebuilding period, easy.— jstgator
- Hey Foles, you need a better "rock!" And in another town.— peacefrog33756
- Andy Reid will be the next ex-Eagle that does better elsewhere. How come he wasn't that good when he was here? He was. You were just too stupid to understand what was going on.— MikeP
- Good for you Andy - get out of this butthole town and find a nice place in the sun somewhere where they might appreciate your talents. Try going back to the days when you used to pick "character guys" instead of the buttheads you've left behind for the next sucker who takes this job and tries to win in philly.....— bigdaddyG
- The coach killer strikes again. Who will be the next dumb arse coach to put his job on the line with the coach killer. Probably Rex Ryan.— 4in5out7gone
- This is what happens when a coach will not change his ways! HIS TEAM QUIT ON HIM!— lost eagle
- This is what happens when a coach will not change his ways! HIS TEAM QUIT ON HIM!— lost eagle
- This is what happens when a coach will not change his ways! HIS TEAM QUIT ON HIM!— lost eagle
- This is what happens when a coach will not change his ways! HIS TEAM QUIT ON HIM!— lost eagle
