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.
The film doesn't lie. Namdi and Cromartie are low effort frauds. Start over in the secondary. Don't keep 1 single player who dogged 1 play.— mlogan49- Is Nnambi still on the team? If he is it's a crying shame!— vietnamvet
- AR thanks for the high points, dedication and 130 wins. The next coach really has his hands full with a roster where starters are on the way down at some spots, very young at others or not talented enough. Aso, DRC did not buy in. There are other strategic decisions. In a league where small receivers and DBs are out and big is in, where tackling from the LBs with speed is a necessity and heart, discipline, toughness and above all smarts are needed this is a very thin roster indeed.— oldBird
- the players are sad because half them would not have made past the second game in preseason if they played for another coach.reid let a lot of non-nflQ— swgaston
- You think they are sad here. In Chicago several players want to leave football over Lovie Smith firing.— Drew777
- You think they are sad here. In Chicago several players want to leave football over Lovie Smith firing.— Drew777
- Andy is a smart man who made big mistakes. When smart men make such big mistakes, they learn from them. Andy will go somewhere else and do very well. He could even win it all one day.
It wasn't going to happen here. He needs a clean slate. He'll get it.— Scorekeeper - Andy is a smart man who made big mistakes. When smart men make such big mistakes, they learn from them. Andy will go somewhere else and do very well. He could even win it all one day.It wasn't going to happen here. He needs a clean slate. He'll get it. (HTML deleted)— Scorekeeper
- Andy is a smart man who made big mistakes. When smart men make such big mistakes, they learn from them. Andy will go somewhere else and do very well. He could even win it all one day.It wasn't going to happen here. He needs a clean slate. He'll get it.— Scorekeeper
- Coleman get his all every play? if that is really true he should be the first contract thrown in the trash this afternoon. Guy was a huge part of why this Defense got torched EVERY WEEK!— FROM THE BEACH
- Sorry about the three-peat, everyone. My bad.— Scorekeeper
- the players are sad because the majority of the them dont have the talent to make any other team.r4eid let alot of non nfl players make an earning; chad hall,reno maheand let a lot of nfl leave the eagle and have decent careers;bobby williams .],derrick burgess,austin howard,sheldon brown,winston justice ,mike mcglnn,aj shipley just because he couldnt judge talent. all is not lost. anyone who knows about football know you tend to play like your coach and thats why the eagles players play with no emotion no sense of urgency,false of security,unreal preceptions of themselves, all the things that reid was.this is why after every loss all of the players to a man would say i have to look at the film to see why we lost instead of realizes that the game is played on the field! i dont care who the next coach is just as long they dont bring the traits that reid brought ie...im smarter then everyone else and i think im better than really am.times ours!— swgaston
- This is a team full of me first players, Lesean McCoy is the only player that i can think of that doesn't fit that mold. These are really tough players to like. I like Coleman for his attitude, it is too bad he doesn't have the skill.— yourdaddy!
I do not care what anyone has to say until around draft time. A new coach is a good start, but an O-line and D-line are the essential backbone of the great teams. Then add another QB and some young killers at line backer, as the rest of the team played to somewhat professional caliber.— Eagle1Vegas- Reid was not running the ship in 10 and 11. JB and HR were making key decisions. AR will be a winner long before the Birds are again. JL can talk about HR's abilities as much as he wants, the truth is apparent for all to see. In 3 years, the Birds will have no one who can play and then we'll be back to square one. JL should sell the team and free the hostages (eagle fans).— casehop
