All Aboard! Eagles Bandwagon Popular, For Now

It's usually nice when everybody wants to talk about our teams.  In the case of the Eagles, it's been bittersweet.

The much maligned Andy Reid & Donovan McNabb Show has amazingly guided us back from a mid-season collapse right into the heart of the playoffs, and they deserve props for that.  As an unapologetic Andy basher, even I gave the coach credit for a solid gameplan against the Vikings, and I'm absolutely thrilled with where the Eagles stand right now.  With two tough road victories, they could be back in the Super Bowl.

All the attention comes at a cost though.  Rather suddenly, we're all idiots and Reid is a genius.  According to Rich Hofmann, the offense never needed any balance after all (I'm not even going to touch that), and if you listen to Bill Conlin, crow is what's for dinner in Philadelphia.  Then there are the national pundits who remind us at every turn that you booed Donovan on draft day.  You're a jerk.

I'm fed up with it, and the Eagles are only in the Divisional Round.  Imagine two weeks of this stuff leading up to the Super Bowl, or forever if they pull off the unthinkable.  That's a trade-off we would all happily take, but it doesn't make the smug attitudes any less irritating.

The fact of the matter is Andy did a lousy job for most of the season, and beating the Vikings doesn't get the man off the hook.  He mismanaged games badly, like when they threw 80% of the time against the Bengals or any other number of pass happy approaches that led to losses, and he mismanaged his personnel, from entering the season without a fullback, to the poorly timed benching of McNabb.  To make matters worse, any complaint you could make would draw an easy parallel to something else that happened last season.

By the way, if you think it's water under the bridge because they made the playoffs, let's not be so quick to forget they were lucky to even get in.

Maybe the firing talk was premature.  I can concede that at least, though they still might benefit from a change, but Andy Reid brings a lot to the table.  The Eagles have had stability that's almost unmatched in any sport, just one season below .500 since 2000, and that creates positive expectations in the locker room.  And with a few notable exceptions, they've done an above average job evaluating players, not bad considering the number of times they've drafted in the 20s.

All of it meaning nothing if he goes out and throws it all away, literally speaking.  Will our media counterparts feel the same way if Reidball returns to the Meadowlands on Sunday, or in the Super Bowl of all places?  Do we still eat crow then?  I think not.

Comments

[Marc]

I'm afraid to say it, but what about "the curse?" I saw this today on si.com and instantly was weakened by its sight. Good for the Eagles and Desean Jackson for being on the cover, but the cover jinx is searing itself firmly into my brain. I pray I'm wrong, but damn!

[Loqiel]

Hilarious. First of all, Reid beat Childress, who isn't exactly a Beater of Worlds. Second, the Vikings nearly had the game blacked out. That's right; they had real problems selling NFL Playoff Tickets. Does that sound like a crowd that is willing to boost its team when they need it? I think not. Third, the Vikings have exactly one threat in the form of AP, and therefore if you can stop him, you can win.

Why are people so surprised the Eagles won? Really. It's baffling.

Now, I'll be surprised if they beat the Giants.. but the Vikings? You have to win those games. There's no excuse not to.

[Chris]

THANK YOU for that article. I just can't believe how winning a few games LIKE THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO gets Reid off the hook for all of the bonehead playcalling and clock management he's come to be known for.

[Reaper]

Not a fan of the SI Cover and I think we need to get past the G-men before we are considered "dangerous". I hate it when the national media jumps onboard because they only accentuate the negatives in the fans and the positives of the teams. I guarantee not a word is printed about how we tied the lowly Bengals or lost to a bad Chicago squad. Not to mention all the help we needed to even get into hte playoffs.....im done being negative. Go Birds

[Mr. Bryan]

Curses be damned, I like our chances!

[maria]

SI did it on purpose. They all want the Eagles to fail except lil' wayne. He picked the Eagles to go to the superbowl (only to lose to the Ravens).

[slowski]

well said

[Justin Evans]

The Phillies took care of the only curse that matters.

[zfg]

Frankly, this is all more than a little ridiculous. First off, I will give credit where it's due: the team is in the playoffs and Andy Reid deserves credit for that. Say what you will, but I believe the man puts a very good team on the field. That said, it makes it all the more inexcusable when that team loses to the likes of the Bears or ties the Bengals.

The article on balance being unnecessary? You have got to be kidding me. Sure it worked against the Vikings, but they are a rare case. They have the best run D in the NFL over the PAST 3 YEARS, and a secondary that can't cover anybody. Obviously you go with an unbalanced approach there, but how often are you going to play a team like that?

The Donovan thing is not even worth getting into. For the record, I think he's a very good QB and I'm all for keeping him next year and beyond, but the way he was playing mid season would have gotten just about anybody's ass tossed on the bench. It's not like this was some great injustice done to him. And as for him getting booed on draft day, that was 10 years ago. I watched as Knicks fans booed Danillo Galinari in the NBA draft, but that didn't get any press. Or when Browns fans cheered when Derek Anderson got hurt? Yeah didn't hear much about that either. The take home message here is that the national media can go get fucked.

[slowski]

the only credit ill give reid and 5 is not screwing up the game while the defense wins it.

[R.S.]

I don't think there is an answer to the questions that is Andy Reid. I think he is a metaphor for society or the question of reality. Like the sound of one hand clapping or or a one-legged punter.

[Jeremy14]

I blame the 6ers for being the only team in this city NOT winning!! :)

[theKrisheim]

well said

glad that i need to defend my fandom now

[Sponge-Worthy]

why are the eagles a sexy pick? They beat the Giants in N(J)Y but besides that their final stretch was littered with terrible teams and of course the Redskin loss. The Ravens should be the bandwagon team they have some things going for them.

[Nick D]

I want Deion Sanders' fucking head on a stick.

[jd]

fer crying out loud, the eagles fans were not booing donovan mcnabb. they were booing the pick of anyone but ricky williams. huge difference.

what i hate even more is that the media blindly thinks philly fans, as a whole, love/hate mcnabb on a week-to-week basis. there are those of us that love the guy, and there are those that hate him.

[jd]

fer crying out loud, the eagles fans were not booing donovan mcnabb. they were booing the pick of anyone but ricky williams. huge difference.

what i hate even more is that the media blindly thinks philly fans, as a whole, love/hate mcnabb on a week-to-week basis. there are those of us that love the guy, and there are those that hate him.

[mudville5]

As long as the Eagles get a big lead, they have a chance....but they can't win close games and clock mgmt / 2-minute offense will kill them!

I like McNabb but I heard that in 9 years he has only 12 4th Quarter comebacks....and those are usually a dump off to Westbrook who runs for a 50-yd TD. When's the last time 5 has led the Eagles downfield when it mattered?

And for the love of God, practice the QB sneak this week!!!

[jd]

sorry for the double post

[andy]

Yeah Ried and 5 are terrible they have just been lucky to win so many games all these years...

I'm sure we would all be much happier if the year were over and we could prepare for a 5-11 season next year under Kolb and a rookie head coach.

Ried advancing the birds to the divisional round (where 75% of the league is already golfing) ONLY 7 times in 9 years... pathetic! Winning 60% of your games? What about the other 40?

Sarcasm off... I'm not looking forward to the end of the 5 and AR era, when the eagles will go through coaches and QB's by the dozen and win 6 games a year instead of 10 but at least it'll be interesting to hear all those who bash them now reminisce about the glory days!

[jnew]

Thats a good question mudville

I remember when McNabb led a TD drive to beat the giants on a monday night game, which was about 5 or 6 years ago, something like that. I just looked it up but I forgot what year it was. If 12 is the right number for his 4th quarter comebacks, then 3 of them have come against the Giants.

[Sean]

No offense andy that was the dumbest thing i've ever heard.

[Sean]

oh shit my bad i didnt read your sarcasm remark...im the dumbest thing you've ever heard. Nah im just sick of the media bringing up booing mcnabb on draft day...we booed the pick of anyone but ricky williams, and the 50 eagles fans in new york dont speak for the millions of eagles fans.

[michael]

yeah even though i'm an eagles fan i never want to be thought of being one in the same as the d-bag who wears the shoulder pads and the face paint who booed the mcnabb pick at the draft.

[brett]

@ Andy
No sarcasm, there are points where Andy Reid's playcalling (pass way over run) and Donovan McNabb's play (short-hopping, behind the reciever throws, fear/reluctance to run) have been GLARING deficits for this team and most people would agree with that

Sarcasm on, yeah who would think that an NFL coach and QB would face a lot of scrutiny? I am shocked

Sarcasm off - I hate hearing about the booing at the draft. It was 30 recruited, stupidly, to do the thing they did. With WIP you can find 30 guys to do anything the host wants to do. But for those who want it to stop, remember its been 46 years since Santa Claus and there are no problems.

[DLo34]

@ Reaper

The Eagles are "dangerous," SI just dropped the ball as to who makes the Eagles "dangerous," it's the Eagles D. Check out how many points they have let up lately:

Vikings: 14 pts

Cowboys: 6 pts

Redskins: 10 pts

Browns: 3 pts (Oh ya, Kolb gave up the 7 other pts on one of the worst passes in the history of football - haha Kolb lovers)

Giants: 14 pts

That is why the Eagles are dangerous and CAN BEAT ANY TEAM IN THE PLAYOFFS RIGHT NOW (AFC OR NFC). DEFENSE WINS CHAMPIONSHIPS.

@ Andy

Couldn't have said it any better.

@ Nick D

Best comment of the day.

Look folks, we have the BEST EAGLES' D in years. You saw it last year and before that with Pittsburgh, anything can happen when you have a hot defense. The Birds are playing a team that has lost 3 of its past 4 games. They have played the Giants tight this year and have beaten them on the road. You folks need to stop walking around whining about Reid/McNabb, saying "i'll be surprised if they beat the Giants," and they "got lucky" to get in. You really sound pathetic (almost as bad as Mets fans) when all you do is bitch while your football team happens to be 3 wins, THREE WINS!!!!, from being Super Bowl Fucking Champions.

Wrap your pessimistic little heads around that, then think back to the beginning of September when we lost that series to the Nationals and were struggling to even stay in the wild card race. The way they played against the Nats in early September was equally as depressing as a tie to the Bengals and a loss to the Ravens. Then they got hot and won it all. The point is, stop walking around waiting for the other shoe to drop and enjoy the ride.

If you have not learned anything at all from the year 2008 seeing the worst team in hockey within a few games of the Cup finals the next year, the stars align at the right time for the Birds, and the Phils winning the Series, I don't know if anything will ever get your pessimistic heads out of your asses. What do you think you get a cookie for coming on this site and saying "oh we're done" or "this game's over" if God forbid the Birds go three and out on their first possession or fall behind in the first half? If that were so then people like theKrisheim would be getting Oreo's delivered to his house by the truckload.

The bottom line is, "you gotta believe."

[David F.]

I don't care what the bandwagon philly media says...Reid is one of the worst gameday coaches in the NFL and the Eagles will never win it all with him at the helm. (Hoping for a little reverse psychology here, but all the same winning a few games his team SHOULD win does not get Andy off the hot seat.

[Karthik]

@DLo-

Damn straight. I remember the year that Pat Ryan was at QB. This defense is definitely much better (in that we actually COVER the middle of the field), and we have a good QB, all signs point to a good playoff run....

[Mark]

Kulp-

I think the reaction you are seeing is simply Reid's fans getting an opportunity to lash out since 6 weeks ago, there wasn't a lot of ammo for them to lob back at those who wanted him gone.

I won't use a strong word like "idiot", but those of us who have always loved Reid are having a hard time holding back right now. The archives of this site will show many of us making the same points when they were 5-5-1.

I see the salient points you've made about game mangament and personnel issues, but it seems like you pretend those things exist in a vaccuum. So yes, maybe the next coach will be better at those two things. But there is a damn good chance that he won't be as talented as Reid with gameplanning, keeping the players ready, and evauluating talent (I saw your remark about the draft and disagree vehemently...how many FA/undrafted starters do we have? Have you not seen the defense rebuilt before your eyes in two years?). You cannot transition the positives of this regime to a new coach and assume all the weaknesses will be fixed. It simply doesn't work that way.

I chose to step way way back and view Reid this way: He'll lose us 1-3 games a year. But he'll win you 8-9 guaranteed. Annually, we come into the season knowing that if the chips fall right, we'll be one of the top 4-8 teams every year. Every single year, the SB seems possible.

I know this leads to disappointment, but really, how many NFL teams can say that? Reid has built our incredible expectations and we excoriate the man for them. Seems silly.

I've found two segments of the fanbase disagree with this belief most strenuously.
First, the SB or bust crowd. To them, I say get bent. Enjoy the ride, enjoy your health and life and the fact that you have the time to leisurely enjoy pro sports. Your "passion", which is more often than not a compulsion to endlessly talks sh*t, does not entitle you to a championship. Never will. Enjoy the ride, bang on the ceiling long enough, you'll break through...
Secondly, the armchair GMs. These fans subconciously would rather see the team perform poorly as it serves to "validate" the football acumen they've been spouting to their coworkers/WIP/anyone who will listen.

Kulp, not implying you fall into either camp, just encouraging the consideration of how many Eagles' fans do you know who fit into either construct.

Reid is maddening at times. But he's the best thing that has ever happened to this team. I'll end this awesome afternoon work-break with a single thought:

One of the final 8 teams playing 7 out of past 9 years.

-M-

[Andy]

@other Andy: First of all, I'd love some financial advice, since you seem to be so adept at predicting the future. Before we've even dismissed Reid or McNabb (who, by virtue of their advancing age and the clearly deteriorating health of one of them, are guaranteed not to continue coaching or playing forever), you've already foretold of the dark days of coach and quarterback combos shuffling in and out by the dozen. How could any of us forget the 2010 season when the Eagles utilized a total of 11 head coaches and 14 starting QBs in a 16 game season. Just so we're clear...when the Reid/McNabb era ends, the Eagles automatically become the Lions?

--Sarcasm off--

Here's a thought for you: the Eagles have had at the very least 3 (Jaws, Randall, Donovan) very good-great QBs in the last 30 years. All the while, every one of them has been highly scrutinized. Do you think that Jaws, Randall, or Donovan would've ever been what they were if they hadn't felt pressure to live up to high expectations?

It takes a person with thick skin and an undying will to succeed to be an NFL QB, and anyone who can't handle the pressure that comes with playing the most visible position in all of sports isn't a great QB. I've lived in NYC for a decade, so I've seen everyone from Kurt Warner to Danny Kanell to Vinny Testaverde get ripped to shreds every bit as savagely as Donovan ever has been. None of them (Donovan absolutely included) ever got it as bad as Eli did. Do you hear him whining about the first two and a half years he spent as starter when the home fans booed him off the field after every single 3 and out? Meanwhile, Donovan sits in press conferences and says "you can't let it bother you" in the same breath as "no Giants ever got benched." 30 people booed him at the draft, several hundred thousand people gave him the most votes of any Eagle at any position on the 75th anniversary team. We all know which one Donovan remembers.

[eric]

Speaking of the cover, Donovan responded to it in his press conference. He said "The Cardinals are on the cover on the west coast. It's a regional cover. Everybody's dangerous."

[Chris Iafolla]

Even at the begining of the year, the Eagles were being mentioned in some circles as the Super Bowl darling team. It made me nervous then and it makes me nervous now. That being said, the Eagles are playing good football right now and both Reid and McNabb deserve some of the credit for the turnaround.

This will be a tough game, but one I think the Eagles can win if they are able to slow down Jacobs. Without Plaxico, the Eagles will be able to put eight in the box and hopefully keep Jacobs at bay.

[andy]

@brett
Of course AR and 5 have stregnths and weaknesses that's why you have to take the whole package. You almost never have a perfect player or coach.

I wish AR would run the ball more, I wish some of 5's throws were better, and I wish that Ryan Howard didn't strike out so much. But on balance though all three are winners and we'll miss them when they're gone, top 10 coaches and Qb's don't grow on trees.

[Kulp]

@ Mark

I think you misread my remark about the draft. I'm actually a pretty big believer in Reid's ability to put a team together, largely through the draft and the ability to find quality undrafted players.

Anyway, solid points, but those 1-3 games he lost us this year (and I'd argue it might be more) cost them the playoffs. Sure, they're in there now, but only because everyone fell down around them. For that reason, you could make the case they made it in spite of Reid.

Like I said though, I'll take a step back and admit the calls for his firing may have been too soon, but that doesn't mean the criticisms were wrong, or forgiven for that matter since all they've done so far is sneak into the playoffs and win one game.

[zfg]

Also saying a team in the playoffs is "dangerous" might be the stupidest comment I can think of. When you're playing single elimination, every team is dangerous.

I really do think the Birds have a good shot at taking down the Giants, but I'm also a huge homer. As for the rest of the media, let's wait until the Eagles have done more than beat a team they were supposed to beat to anoint them. I'm way more comfortable with the underdog role.

[Walklett]

If Kevin Kolb had come in and done relatively well when Reid decided to bench McNabb, Donovan would still be on the bench. Andy got lucky that Kolb sucked so much. He had no other choice but to reverse his decision.

The offense hasn't been on fire by any means. It's the defense, and Jim Johnson, that deserves most of the credit.

[brett]

@ Andy
Yes they have glaring deficits thats why you hear people criticize them. They also have great strengths as well and Philadelhpia is known as one of the LOUDEST towns in professional sports as well.

We do take the whole player, we boo when they are bad and cheer when they are good. Generally these are RESULTS of actions and not before they happen. The rare exceptions are when something happens off the field (Rollins "front-running" boos) or consistent bad play (Travis Lee, Kevin Millwood, etc) that people are booed BEFORE they do anything. 10% hate both no matter what 10% love both no matter what and the other 80% follow the above logic.

Also, like I said before, a QB and head coach always have more scrutiny. After all Favre, the messiah of the medial, was roundly booed by Jets fans, does that make them bad fans? No he played bad and got booed thats not something to be chastised for as fans.

[MPR529]

so if the cover is regional, why are some of us making such a big deal about a jinx or a curse?

by the by, WHO GIVES A FUCK people, let's just win another championship!!!!

Now shut up and enjoy the ride!

[Jeremy14]

@ Everyone

:) I live in NC, a certain sports talk show here badly hates any sports in the north (ie Big Ten, Philly etc).

The one cool thing they do is John Beason (Panthers Pro Bowl LB) comes in studio once a week. Which is something that never happens in Philly...(God Forbid!)

That being said, today he was/is on talkin all kinds of SHIT. Saying he is going for Warner's head this week if he gets the chance! He's looking forward to a rematch with the Giants next week. God I wish you could hear it. You can go here: http://www.wfnz.com/pages/129865.php if you wanna listen. (Not sure if Beason is still on)

BTW he is Billy Packer's son. But Beason went a little over the line with his comments today

GO BIRDS>>>> Everyone where the exact same things they wore for last weeks game

[jason]

They did that type of Sports Illustrated cover for all the wildcard teams that one so you can forget the curse it brings because it will only be distributed according to region, watch some Sportscenter next time people.

[jason]

They did that type of Sports Illustrated cover for all the wildcard teams that one so you can forget the curse it brings because it will only be distributed according to region, watch some Sportscenter next time people. GO BIRDSSSS!

[EricStAngelo]

I'm just happy 5 will be back.
If you can't see that he's capable of being a good NFL QB by now, you really shouldn't even bother watching football. Go watch Dancing With the Stars for your water cooler talk if that's all it is to you.
All this Reid second guessing just can't be solved. No one knows what the future holds, and I, for one, would think it was kinda cool to be able to say our sports town has had a long running relationship with either a coach or QB in this age of zero loyalty.
Now, that's provided Andy wins something sometime soon.
He drives me nuts with all of that pass ratio stuff, especially those all-pass-3-and-out drives we've seen a lot of this year. I just think that's fixable(learnable). Tell me that what ails Wade Phillips is fixable...

@DLo ... I fucking love your posts. I haven't heard a "whatdya want a cookie?" argument since most of these guys were shittin mustard.

@Mark ... "First, the SB or bust crowd. To them, I say get bent. Enjoy the ride, enjoy your health and life and the fact that you have the time to leisurely enjoy pro sports. Your "passion", which is more often than not a compulsion to endlessly talks sh*t "
--The greatest words ever written on a sports blog.

@Jeremy ..."The one cool thing they do is John Beason (Panthers Pro Bowl LB) comes in studio once a week. Which is something that never happens in Philly...(God Forbid!) "
--Brain Westbrook and John Runyan both host weekly radio shows. Believe it.

and the old "fer crying out loud, the eagles fans were not booing donovan mcnabb. they were booing the pick of anyone but ricky williams. huge difference."
--Still an asshole move.

oh, and this - " 30 people booed him at the draft, several hundred thousand people gave him the most votes of any Eagle at any position on the 75th anniversary team. We all know which one Donovan remembers."
--He's human so I would bet he remembers both. And as for the stupid thick skin argument, I think he's had incredibly thick skin all these years through all the asinine drama he's had to endure. I would have told you all you were assholes a long, long time ago.

[sports!]

not everyone booed 5 on that draft day. I for one am not gonna burn in hell for it.

[Carl P]

Bottom line - this team should have gone 11-5, it has the talent to be even better, and it went 9-6-1.

But alas, I'm enjoying the run.

[doubleh]

The QB position is always heavily scrutinized in Philly; this is nothing new and not exclusive to DMac. I think it's over the top at times, but as Donovan is himself fond of saying "It is what it is."

It's not like Ron Jaworski had it any easier. I remember the costant criticism of him as well.

[EricStAngelo]

Don needs to get a "Let Me Be Me" hat...

[Leroy]

Asante Samuel should have made the cover instead of Desean. Who else agrees?

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