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.
So simple based on what we saw- When the center (the second Jason on the o-line) went down, the playmakers started getting busted up, one after the other.
The defense has lost every 4th lead game for TWO years , mainly on failed pass coverage.— saunhi- Hey 4in5out7gone you embody the definition of a dope. The whole team quit! Coach killer??? Save us all the time and just say you think Mike Vick got Reid fired. First, while he did have a hand in the matter, don't absolve Nhamdi, DRC, Babin, Cole, Coleman, Allen, Dunlap, Bell and Celek. It was a collective quit job yesterday. Go back and watch all the games and you will see the guys who quit. Afterwards, come back and post something intelligent for us to comment on.— PSU_Chuck
- Anyone who give 14 years of his life to a town deserves respect. When all the injured players come back and all the bums are fired, the next coach will get to the playoffs at once.— BigMike100
- Keep the top 10 and sell the rest! Bye Marty!— NC Eagle Fan
what do you think howie baby learned if anything from andy reid?i know,iknow.when the new coach comes in and it starts off bad it'll be I've got to put my coach in a better position to put his players in a better position to succeed.- Note to players - had you played up to your preseason hype Andy might still be there with you and this team might be in the playoffs.— realtruth
- What a bunch of phonies crying crocodile tears. It was long past time for a new coach, but most of this group of loser mercenaries quit weeks ago, they showed no respect whatsoever for Andy. The gall of them to pretend they cared about Andy when the whole world saw them quit and they put no effort in whatsoever. 3/4 of this team needs to be gone...— Jangocat
- Coach Reid lost hindsight with the hiring of the coaching staff over the past 2 1/2 years. After Jimmy Johnson passed it was all downhill.
Since Reid's tenure many of his assistants went to other organizations in the NFL by promotions due to their skills and knowledge; and became very successful. All and all the problem with the two sons and one of them passing also must have taken away Andy's full concentration, not his commitment. Thanks for all the good years; it's a shame we got so close to a Super Bowl win and didn't get it. You, that team, and the fans of Philly deserved one. Good luck in the future Andy; I am certain you'll do well. The team members who say they put it all out on the line every game are only kidding themselves - if their sincere they belong somewhere else not in the NFL. It was evident this season who did their job only sometimes and every diehard fan knows who they are.
86 the losers; don't give them another chance to embarrass the city of Philadelphia. Until next year - GO EAGLES !— lionhead4
