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Friday, July 3, 2009
No love for Andy from ESPN rankings

Earlier this week, we wrote about ESPN's 'Ultimate Standings' which had the Eagles as 44th overall and 15th in the NFL.

As I mentioned, the rankings were based on eight different categories.

When I first took a look, the one that stood out to me for the Eagles was 'Stadium Experience' where they ranked 74th overall and 15th in the NFL. I argued that the ranking was too low, given the stadium experiences that ranked ahead of the Linc -- Memphis Grizzlies, Charlotte Bobcats, Washington Nationals, etc.

I was on with WIP's Morning Show today to talk about the rankings, and specifically the stadium experiences of the four teams in Philadelphia.

But when I looked at the rankings again, another category stood out to me: Coaching.

The category was defined as "strength of on-field leadership."

Guess where Andy Reid came in.

Fourteenth.

Fourteenth!

According to the rankings, 13 coaches in the NFL exhibit better on-field leadership than Reid, which I think even his harshest critics would find ridiculous (Angelo didn't find it so ridiculous).

The teams/coaches ahead of Reid, in order: Patriots (Bill Belichick), Titans (Jeff Fisher), Steelers (Mike Tomlin), Cardinals (Ken Whisenhunt), 49ers (Mike Singletary), Falcons (Mike Smith), Giants (Tom Coughlin), Ravens (John Harbaugh), Dolphins (Tony Sparano), Saints (Sean Payton), Jaguars (Jack Del Rio), Jets (Rex Ryan), Panthers (John Fox).

Wow.

Is there a franchise in the NFL that would want Del Rio over Reid if given the option?

Singletary hasn't coached a full season. Ryan hasn't coached a single game. The ones that have won a Super Bowl as a head coach are Belichick, Tomlin and Coughlin.

I don't get it.

Thoughts?

Posted by Sheil Kapadia @ 8:26 AM  Permalink | 77 comments
77
Comments   
Posted 08:37 AM, 07/03/2009
ziggy
on field leadership must be defined as showing emotion..AR is quiet on the sidelines, but leadership is more than making faces and slapping helmets. AR belongs in the top 7
Posted 08:50 AM, 07/03/2009
Lockyer
I live just north of Jax. While Del Rio is a great guy with a lot of charisma, I'll bet most Jag fans would take Andy in a heartbeat.
Posted 08:54 AM, 07/03/2009
Dierte
Top 5 for sure...he is 3rd or 4th, in most wins since he started in 2000. I'd say he is behind Bilicheat, Fisher, and Tomlin...14th is ridiculous
Posted 08:55 AM, 07/03/2009
chilly88
just look at the record in his tenure. Reid is better then most. Yes Super Bowls define coaches and QB but give me a break the guy is a proven winner.
Posted 08:58 AM, 07/03/2009
JBP
Crazy poll...AR has his flaws but he is a WINNER and I rank him in the top 7 at least
Posted 09:07 AM, 07/03/2009
VicFromLA
Best coach we've had, and certainly one of the top coaches in the league this past decade. I guess ESPN, like alot of Philly fans I've heard, value style (visible emotion) over substance (tangible results).
Posted 09:11 AM, 07/03/2009
drpfs
Reid "ain't pretty" but does deserve better ranking than this. He is genuine football genius when you consider the Philly fan base and the talent on his past teams (present team the jury is still out}. He has done much with a team every year 10's of millions under the cap. AR has a several handicaps I see, first an owner and "team president" who are in a word cheap(not Connie Mack cheap)and intrusive, a stadium that from day one is a joke in modern stadium terms, a football field that is torn to shreds every Saturday by the clowns at Temple (few if any other team allows a college team to share a pro venue on a grass field), and AR's lack of pretty. You listen to the man though you hear a tough minded and disciplined individual. The very essence of this "ranking" is based upon how "pretty a cheerleader" the writer wanted to see in a coach. Andy should be ranked only after those who have one a Super Bowl, and possible first for his ability to win with mediocre talent, including the QB (another story).
Posted 09:17 AM, 07/03/2009
PhillyNH
Idiotic , why waste our time with this stuff, its all conjecture anyway. Just someone's opinion. I need some good inside eagle articles to get me through this dismal summer. Look's like the phillies are one and DONE!!!!!
Posted 09:26 AM, 07/03/2009
garyshaffer
Andy's just OK....clock management, emotion, loyalty, the handling of delicate matters (benching McNabb fiasco),communication and throwing the replay flag....as Andy would say "we've got to do a better job there and there and there" but 14th...?
Posted 09:28 AM, 07/03/2009
MikeP
It so clear that the rankings are inaccurate that it calls into question ESPN's legitimacy. Reid is one of the top 2-3 coaches in the league. Stadium experience ranked 74th for the Linc? Ranked below places that can't fill the stadium and the fans that are there are passive. Blatantly off the mark.
Posted 09:47 AM, 07/03/2009
maximus
Every year you have the media nay sayers about the Eagles. At the end of the year the Eagles are always in the thick of things. I pay no attention to polls, or what the talking heads have to say. Let the season begin and the Eagles will be in the playoffs again and then revisit this stupid list.
Posted 10:04 AM, 07/03/2009
positive eagle
media gets bored this time of year no real nfl stories till camp open s so they write any bs they can come up with to generate chatter.best coach in eagles history n top 5 team through the decade he must be leading sumn right
Posted 10:07 AM, 07/03/2009
DJ
First off we'd have to care what ESPN thinks, "we don't" so it doesn't matter does it!!!
Posted 10:08 AM, 07/03/2009
billro3
Reid's coaching strength is in his preparation and game planning, while his coaching weakness is in his inability to deviate or make adjustments during the course of a game from his original plan when it is ineffective.
Comment removed.
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Sheil Kapadia is a sports producer for philly.com. His earliest memories as a sports fan include several trips to Veterans Stadium with his dad, most of which turned out disappointing results. He's here to discuss the NFL 365 days a year. E-mail him at skapadia@philly.com or by clicking here

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