Reid always seems to fix what bug Eagles fans

WE'VE BEEN here before.

The Eagles are stumbling, the fans are grumbling and head coach Andy Reid is a lightning rod for most of the criticism.

It's the way we are tied into this football team.

Back in November 2008, I wrote that Reid should be fired after the Eagles had a dreadful tie at woeful Cincinnati. It's the only time I've ever called for a coach to be fired.

I've been one of the least reactionary people concerning Reid and his long tenure as coach of the Eagles.

Scan the radio sports-talk scene, Internet chat rooms, newspapers and just about every other sports avenue, and plenty of people are always suggesting that Reid be shown the door.

Reid's head has been suggested for the guillotine so many times, it's a wonder his hair hasn't turned as white as Marie Antoinette's.

Big Red's top was still the same color yesterday after the latest calls of "Andy Must Go!!" began echoing throughout the Delaware Valley after the Eagles' pathetic, 29-16 loss to the New York Giants on Sunday.

The Birds are 1-2, 0-1 in the NFC East and 0-2 in the NFC.

This is not the start envisioned for a team being sold as a Super Bowl contender.

Not surprisingly, Reid, who is in his 13th season with the Eagles, is taking much of the heat and getting much of the blame.

"I completely understand the frustration, and so it's my responsibility to make sure we get that changed," Reid said.

What? You expected specifics?

You thought Reid would break down problems and offer detailed solutions?

"Well, you did a good job of explaining it. You named the things there. That was very good by you," Reid responded to a list of issues presented to him about Sunday's effort.

The only real difference between yesterday and Sunday's short postgame analysis was that Reid took a little more than 15 minutes to offer nothing insightful, instead of only 3 1/2.

For the record, yes, he did say, "I've got to do a better job of managing this football team and taking care of things for game day."

Surely, that was just what everyone wanted to hear.

It was just enough "Andy Speak" to have barbershops and salons prepping to clean up the heads of people who ripped their hair out after again digesting the same tired postloss rift of the past dozen years.

But I'll let you in on a little secret - something many of you probably aren't in the mood to hear right now. When Reid has said that stuff, as patronizing as it might sound, he's usually come through with positive results.

Whenever this guy seems as if he's pushed to the brink, he almost always finds a way to whip this team into shape and have it do a 180-degree turnaround.

In 2008, when I wrote, "After a decade, this program has run its course," Reid's Eagles won four of their final six, snuck into the playoffs as a wild card and advanced to the NFC Championship Game.

That's not the only Houdini act Reid has pulled.

In 2000, the Eagles, with Donovan McNabb in his first year as starting quarterback, began 1-2 but finished with an 11-5 record and made the playoffs.

In 2003, the Eagles opened Lincoln Financial Field by receiving back-to-back beat-downs by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and New England Patriots.

The 0-2 start was followed by a 12-2 finish and a third straight NFC East title.

In 2006, the Eagles were 5-6 with McNabb out for the season with an injury. Reid adjusted his game plan for aged quarterback Jeff Garcia, who led the Eagles to the playoffs when they won the final five games.

Only last season, the Eagles were 2-2 and embroiled in a quarterback controversy surrounding Michael Vick and Kevin Kolb. They finished 10-6 and won the division.

At some low moment during each of those campaigns, Reid, who has made the playoffs nine times in 12 seasons, said some variation of "I've got to do a better job of managing this football team and taking care of things for game day."

The Eagles are a mess right now.

Reid said yesterday Vick doesn't have a broken right hand, as originally diagnosed, but the "contusion" still has his hand swollen to the point at which no call has been made as to him playing Sunday.

The defense can't tackle anyone and the young linebackers and safeties seem completely overmatched.

"On the other hand of that," Reid said, "I'll get better and, as a team, we will get better."

It never will be "In Andy We Trust," at least not unless he finally delivers a Super Bowl, but the guy does seem to have a way of backing up his statements.