Over the past several years, there has been annual speculation that coach Andy Reid’s time in Philadelphia could be coming to an end.
As recently as last November 24, when the Eagles fell to 5-5-1 after an embarrassing 36-7 loss to the Eagles Ravens and former Reid assistant John Harbaugh, the thinking was that Reid would be gone, absent a stunning turnaround.
Then came the stunning turnaround.
This year, the Eagles are 2-1 -- undefeated against winless teams and winless against an undefeated team. With 13 games to go, it remains to be seen whether the Eagles get back to the postseason, or whether they end up on the outside looking in, with renewed speculation among fans and overt calls from the media to pursue someone like Mike Holmgren or Mike Shanahan or Bill Cowher or Jon Gruden.
So the Eagles are wisely getting in front of what may come by making it known that Reid will be getting a new contract before the current season ends.
Team president Joe Banner tells Larry Kane of Comcast in an interview to be aired Sunday night that Reid’s tenure will continue into the future.
“Yeah, I’m sure it will be,” Banner said of the possibility that Reid will get a contract extension, via the Philadelphia Inquirer. “We have a phenomenal relationship with him. We view him as [being] in the top couple of coaches in the league. . . .
“Andy could have a bad week, have a bad year, and that wouldn’t change the fact that he’s in the upper echelon of coaches in this league, and we feel lucky to have him,” Banner added. “So, at whatever point, I’m sure that that issue will be resolved.”
The message to the fine folks of Philly, then, is simple: “If we hit a rough spot in the schedule, don’t start dreaming about Gruden or Holmgren or Shanahan or Cowher. We think Reid is as good or better than any of them, notwithstanding the absence of a certain large piece of jewelry on his hand.”
If the Eagles hit a rough spot, it won’t be coming until November. After playing the 0-4 Bucs, the Eagles play the 1-3 Raiders and the 2-2 Redskins, Philly could be (should be) 5-1 when the Giants and Cowboys come to town in back-to-back weeks.