City of Pain

For years and years, the Eagles had stability. Sure, the last couple of years there has been a decline, but we’ve lost our quarterback a few times, had the T.O. clusterfuck, and the divisional competition has gained strength. Still, deep down we thought these Eagles may have one more run left in them. McNabb was 100% healthy, Westbrook was happy and healthy, they had a talented (although young) group of defenders, and a schedule that looked to be easier, at least on paper. Shit, even Sports Illustrated had us making the Super Bowl. We all know what had happened up until yesterday’s game, so there’s no need to re-hash the previous weeks now. What needs to be discussed is the 8.0 earthquake that ripped through the Eagles organization on Sunday November 23rd, 2008 that will change the landscape of this franchise forever. FOREVER.

Miscellaneous Garbage

The Eagles had a team meeting this week where they say Andy Reid was angrier than he’s ever been before. Oops, guess you’ll need to work on those pep talks Andy because it didn’t work. At this rate you’d stand a better chance trying to convince the team to subscribe to your weight loss plan than convince them to win a game. Also, coaching against a guy in John Harbaugh who used to be on your staff, Andy Reid should have conceivably been ready with a different game plan and/or approach than normal. Obviously each week is different and game plans always change, but it’s no shocker here that teams have caught on to what the Eagles have been doing recently, and coupling that with a guy who already knows what you do to begin with would seem to the casual fan to be a week when you really get everything in order. Apparently not.

What in the Fuck are you Thinking Andy

We could put a lot of different things under this category this week. A lot. Let’s start with the obvious first. If you’re going to pull your starting quarterback of 10 years, why would you do it in a must win game (an understatement), only down 10-7 at the half, on the road, and against a very good defense? Eagles fans attending the game in Baltimore cheered wildly when Kevin Kolb first came in, but make no mistake here, it was the wrong move at the wrong time. Reid didn’t even have the balls to tell McNabb himself. After all this guy has done for you, this is how it’s going to be handled? Wow. Inexcusable. Try explaining that one again Andy. You have to name this week’s starting QB at your noon press conference today. Who’s it going to be, Andy? If you start McNabb this week, you’re all but admitting you sacrificed the game and the season yesterday (because the season is now officially over) to get a spark out of you team by putting in a guy who has never really played before. If you start Kolb this week, you’re giving a guy four days to prepare for his first NFL start, and then a road game at the Giants the following week to deal with. Is that how this was really supposed to happen? You’re fucked either way Andy. That team meeting last week sure won’t sit well with the players now, especially since you just gambled the season away with a careless maneuver.

Andy’s Game Management 101

Hey Andy, I know you passed the ball 80% of the time last week and you knew you couldn’t have a repeat performance this week against Baltimore….but you still passed the ball SEVENTY PERCENT OF THE TIME. One of McNabb’s interceptions came on….take a wild guess everyone…3rd and 1. You have Kolb drive the field down to 2nd and Inches from the goal line, only to run a play-action pass into the back of the end zone against the NFL’s #2 ranked red zone defense. Gee, I’m shocked the Ravens didn’t buy your play action there Andy. I think we’re better off just kicking a field goal every time we get in the red zone. Take the 3 points and kick the ball. Explain to me why you dress only two running backs when you know Westbrook is less than 100%. So of course when Buckhalter goes down in the 1st quarter with a sprained MCL, you’re totally fucked in the ass. Finally, watching Andy trying to once again challenge calls that are a) unchallengeable and b) a guaranteed loss of a challenge if the play was challengeable in the first place, shows me he’s fucking lost his mind.

Yesterday we saw the first glimpse of panic, flippancy, and irrational behavior from our head coach. The guy who’s been level-headed and meticulous in his planning during his entire career is gone. There are no longer cracks in the foundation here, there are bombs being detonated all over the place with each passing game. The players aren’t good enough, the game-planning and play-calling is reckless and inefficient, and the way Andy Reid is handling the media, his players, and anything resembling a crisis is disgraceful.

I want answers now. Who is going to be held accountable? Where are you Mr. Lurie?