Eagles' struggles intensify speculation about Reid's future

Seven games.

After 220 games, the most of any Eagles coach ever, the ninth most of any NFL coach who stayed with one franchise, Andy Reid's future in Philadelphia has come down to just seven games.

Or has it?

In this city, in the newspapers, on the talk radio airwaves, by the office water coolers, Reid's days appear to be numbered after the Eagles' 3-6 start. It is the most disappointing start in Philadelphia sports history since the roof blew off the Spectrum.

The question being debated by Eagles observers from Allegheny to Andorra is: What kind of finish will it take for owner Jeffrey Lurie and team president Joe Banner to pull the plug on Reid's monolithic reign?

An 8-8 record or worse? 7-9? 6-10? 5-11? Does it even matter?

Has Reid, who still has two years left on his contract, built up enough capital - 131 wins, nine playoff appearances in 12 seasons, five NFC championship game appearances - to fight off any threat? Will the Eagles front office look at the NFL lockout and conclude that Reid deserves another season to make a number of changes work?

Can Lurie/Banner go to their championship-starved fans - many of whom have become bloodthirsty for the end of Reid's reign - and sell an increasingly frustrated group on another year of, "Time's yours," "We'll see," and "I got to do a better job"?

Of course, the Eagles could turn this season around and make the playoffs. But the math for that scenario is getting tougher every week.

A request last week to interview either Lurie or Banner was declined through an Eagles spokesman. Neither typically speaks about the team during the season, but at some point they may need to show some sign of support - or not - for their beleaguered head coach.

Last Monday, after a home loss to the woeful Cardinals - a career low point - Reid was asked if he thought he was still the best coach to lead the Eagles.

"I am," he answered.

On Wednesday, he was asked if he was concerned about his job security.

"I'm concerned about getting ready to play the New York Giants," he answered.

A loss to the NFC East-leading Giants on Sunday night would all but stick a dagger in the Eagles' barely-alive playoff hopes. Wins and losses would become secondary to when and if Reid would be fired at season's end.

Some fans have already started to openly root against the Eagles. The online gambling site Bodog has opened a line - Yes (even) and No (-140) - on whether Reid will be back next season.

The national media, once the staunchest defenders of Reid, haven't been as vociferous in their defense, although none have called for the coach's job.

"Ten years of winning football and you're going to have one bad year and now everything's going to change?" said Cris Collinsworth, who will do color commentary of the Eagles-Giants game for NBC10. "I'll just tell you what I would do, and I wouldn't."

Reid's good years aren't as good as they used to be. In his first six years, from 1999 to 2004, he compiled a 64-32 (.667) regular-season record along with a 7-5 playoff mark. In his last seven years, he is 57-47-1 (.547) in the regular season and 3-4 in the postseason.

"Winning games - that's the end-all, be-all in the NFL," Eagles tackle Todd Herremans said. "People are calling for your job, you got to go out and win games."

But it's not just about victories. When Lurie and Banner evaluate Reid, they're going to have to ask themselves several practical questions that carry as much weight as wins and losses:

Have the decisions Reid made set the franchise back?

Will the players continue to give a full effort for him?

If Reid is fired, who are the alternative choices?

It is safe to assume that the mass coaching overhaul made last offseason was mostly Reid's doing. The decision to fire Sean McDermott as defensive coordinator may have been a collective one, but promoting offensive-line coach Juan Castillo as the replacement was Reid's alone.

So, too, was the luring of offensive-line coach Howard Mudd out of retirement and defensive-line coach Jim Washburn away from Tennessee. Three other new defensive assistants were brought aboard, as well.

Collinsworth posits that the new staff could be a reason for keeping Reid.

"You know how hard it would be to assemble this staff again next year?" Collinsworth said. "Forget about the head coach for a minute. Look at the assistants on this team - to try and take this and do it all over again."

Through nine games it's safe to say the Castillo experiment has blown up in Reid's face.

"Everyone can see that, right?" said one Eagles starter, who requested anonymity. "He had no time to learn how to do the job."

Castillo may never get that chance. Reid may be forced to dump his longtime assistant to save himself. Of course, Eagles management may look at the unprecedented decision to promote Castillo as enough reason to cut Reid loose.

A few players are starting to privately wonder if Reid can survive a season of disaster should it stay on this course.

"It's up to Mr. Lurie. It's up to the front-office people to decide that," said center Jamaal Jackson, the longest-tenured Eagle. "But as players, Coach Reid is the only coach for us."

Jackson said that Reid has not lost the locker room.

There have been a few instances that make you wonder - DeSean Jackson's tardiness and then questioning of Reid's punishment; Asante Samuel's criticism of the front office after Reid said he cleared everything up with the cornerback; a lack of hustle from certain players.

"I've always felt that if your players - and this is a John Wooden - but if your players play the very best they can, then you'll accept that," said Giants coach Tom Coughlin, who has weathered a few bumps in his long career. "Play the very best that you're capable of playing and we'll take our chances with that."

When it comes to commitment to one's craft, Reid has always led by example. His preparation is legendary and his acolytes often follow suit.

"That man works 20, 21 hours a day, sometimes 22 hours a day," Castillo said.

But is that enough?

Reid can't coach the Eagles forever. At some point, Lurie - maybe one of his children - will have to conduct a search for a new head coach. If it were to be this offseason, the Eagles would have your typical field of former head coaches and blossoming coordinators.

According to Bob Lamonte, Reid's agent, an average of 6.5 coaches have lost their jobs each year since 1998. Lamonte would not answer questions directly about Reid's future, saying that he would wait until after the season.

But the agent to dozens of NFL coaches doesn't see a formidable group of contenders if the Eagles were to be shopping.

"There is a big dearth of candidates," Lamonte said. "It's a shallow pool. And once [Jon] Gruden was gone, that changed the whole playing field."

Gruden signed a five-year contract with ESPN recently. Lamonte negotiated that deal. Obviously there is some bias, but he had Gruden as the top head coaching candidate, with former Titans coach Jeff Fisher as No. 1B.

Former Super Bowl champions like Bill Cowher, Tony Dungy, and Brian Billick are out there, but appear committed to their broadcasting careers. Dozens of coordinators are looking to become the next big thing.

"You want to look at guys that call plays opposite of what the head coach calls," Lamonte said.

Or maybe there's the next Jim Harbaugh at the collegiate level. Maybe there's a position assistant with bona fides lurking, as Reid did when he was the quarterbacks coach with the Green Bay Packers. Maybe the Eagles just decide to stick with the original.

There is precedent for a coach's winning his first title in his 14th season with one franchise.

"I saw it happen in Pittsburgh, where all of a sudden, 'Oh, boy, we got to get rid of Cowher. We had some down years,' " Collinsworth said. "And they turn it around and win the Super Bowl."

Ultimately, the decision will come down to Lurie and Banner - or Reid, if he chooses to resign. What no one seems to know is how much they - and general manager Howie Roseman - played a part in the offseason decisions that have appeared to wreck 2011.

Whichever way Lurie and Banner go, they'll be in the crosshairs. If they fire Reid, they no longer have the coach to take the brunt of criticism for the organization. If they keep him, an intense amount of ire will be pointed in their direction.

They have seven games to figure it out.