Whether it’s on Wednesday or Thursday, the Cardinals will interview former Eagles coach Andy Reid.
And the possibility of the Cardinals hiring Reid isn’t sitting well with ESPN’s Sal Paolantonio, a veteran reporter who has covered the Eagles for a long time.
“Well, my initial reaction was the last time the Eagles visited Arizona they got their head handed to them by a Cardinals team who fired their coach,” Paolaonotio told Burns and Gambo on Arizona Sports 620 in Phoenix, in reference to Philly’s 27-6 loss to the Cardinals in Week Three. “So I don’t know why the Bidwills would want to hire a guy who they just, you know, they killed the team when they were out there. It was one of the most embarrassing performances by the Eagles all year long. So, frankly, I was shocked that there was that much interest.”
Paolantonio thinks Philly’s 4-12 finish, which featured 1-11 over the final three-fourths of the season, could have been even worse.
“They could easily have been 1-15 or 0-16,” Paolantonio said. “The Giants miss a field goal by the nose of a football, that’s how the Eagles beat the Giants. There was a blatantly poor call on pass interference in the end zone, or the Ravens beat the Eagles. And the last play of the game a miracle touchdown pass from Nick Foles beats the Bucs in Tampa. The only legitimate win -- and call it legitimate after five turnovers -- was the first game of the year against Cleveland. This team was really almost 1-15, and I don’t know why in the world you would hire a guy who had a near 1-15 record who you killed when he came into town. Just doesn’t make any sense to me. I am frankly flabbergasted that they would even consider hiring him.”
Actually, calling the win over the Browns “legitimate” was a stretch. The Eagles luckily recovered a Vick fumble on the game-winning drive, and Browns linebacker L.J. Fort dropped an interception in the end zone that would have sent Philly to 0-1.
Still, the Cardinals wouldn’t be hiring Reid based on what happened in 2012 but what happened from 1999 through 2011. Or maybe from 1999 through 2008. Either way, Reid has shown a level of consistent competitiveness that the Cardinals haven’t, and Reid also has shown that he knows how to coach up quarterbacks.
Speaking of quarterbacks, Paolantonio also has an intriguing opinion regarding the potential plans for filling out the depth chart in Arizona. He said he wouldn’t be shocked if Reid invites former Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb to serve as a backup for the Cardinals. “Reid had to be talked into trading McNabb to Washington by the General Manager, Howie Roseman, kicking and screaming,” Paolantonio said. “I’m just warning you, don’t be surprised if it happens.”
One thing we’ve learned about the NFL in recent years -- even the craziest outcome never should be viewed as surprising.