October 14, 2012; Philadelphia, PA USA; Philadelphia Eagles head coach Andy Reid during the game against the Detroit Lions at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia. The Lions defeated the Eagles 26-23 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-US PRESSWIRE

Of all the things one could blame Andy Reid for as his 14-year tenure as head coach of the Philadelphia Eagles winds it’s way slowly downward to a blip, to a puff, to a wisp of smoke, nothing is more glaring at this moment and therefore more deserving of blame, than Reid’s failed attempt at a succession plan.

After years of sustained success with a team built on draft picks like Donovan McNabb, Brian Westbrook and Sheldon Brown, as well as with former regime holdovers turned Reid-guys Jeremiah Trotter, Brian Dawkins and Hugh Douglas, sometime around the 2006 offseason Reid made the intelligent and forward thinking decision that time on the team as it was currently constructed was running short and changes needed to be made.

Ever the shrewd operators and always with an eye to the future, Reid and former right hand man Joe Banner were merciless, and to be honest, oftentimes spot-on, when it came to cutting players loose after they had passed their prime (Or “age 30” as it used to be known). Time and again we watched Andy let go of loyal, dedicated, homegrown Eagles who no longer served their purposes well or to the fullest extent.

And this is as it should be.

The NFL is a cutthroat business and if you’re lucky enough to be a part of it for even a short time then you’re better off than most folks. There is no blame for operating a team and a business as coldly and candidly as necessary as long as the ultimate prize of a World Championship remains the sole focus (Andy, if you’re still reading, this is called foreshadowing).

So we fans sat, some solemnly holding hands, others gently wiping away quiet tears, still others crying shamefully and unabashedly, as first Hugh, then Trot, then Lito, then Ike Reese, then Trot, then Sheldon, then Trot again, and so on and so forth were all shown the way out. Of course, hindsight being what it is today we’ve been able to see that not all those decisions were smart ones (Brian Dawkins, ahem, ahem).

But of course along with cutting the dead weight comes the necessary step of acquiring new, better talent who, without the constraints of being a new coach and with the glorious goodwill built of 7 seasons of success, Reid could ostensibly obtain with a fair amount of scheme-focus and of course, a bit of fan and owner leniency.

Now, many folks like to paint Andy Reid and Co. as something of a failure when it comes to drafting, especially in the first round. And after the last couple drafts, it would be hard to argue with that sentiment (2012 draft excluded), especially in the sense of overall percentages. But the truth is that, especially early on in his tenure Andy had and has a pretty good drafting record, and with a few exceptions (Jerome McDougle, ahem, ahem), developed a knack for finding good, solid contributors, if not world-beating super stars (If there is a knock against him, it’s just that. Corey Simon, Brodrick Bunkley, Jeremy Maclin, Mike Patterson, Shawn Andrews, Lito Sheppard to name a few. All had success, and may not have been or will not be perennial Pro-Bowlers, but neither are any of them busts. Keep expectations realistic. The average lifespan of an NFL career is a little over 3 years for a reason).

But on a beautiful spring day in late April of aut-7, Andy and the rest of the front office made a few questionable decisions in the name of their succession plan that would eventually be the impetus for many more questionable decisions that would pave the way for the team to be constructed as it now stands.

The plan of course, knowing Andy and his fondness for throwing the football (As well as the small fact that NFL teams are built around their passing game), focused around the selection of a “Quarterback of the Future” (Side note: for some reason, the way I always hear this ignominious phrase in my head is in boxing announcer Michael Buffer’s voice accompanied by a massive echo and a blare of trumpets).

So, on that fateful day in 2007 Andy and the crew, seeing how the first round of the draft was breaking, waited with haunches tense and lips quivering as their selection eased cautiously up to the board, and when they’d waited just long enough for the unwitting prey to have moved into close enough range, they pounced! And traded back into the early second round where they drafted Conference USA superstar and future University of Houston Wall of Fame quarterback Kevin Kolb.

And the rest, as they say, is history.

Kolb rode the pine for a couple of years, being touted constantly as the franchises eventual savior, while Donovan McNabb acted salty, tried to pretend he wasn’t acting salty, and spent press conference after press conference answering questions about his future. Until the magical season of 2010 finally arrived, and with D-Mac now safely in the web of failure that had been the Redskins up to that point (I say “had been” because with a guy like RGIII, any given year could be your year), Kolb finally got his chance to shine. Or at least to see what the dirt at Lambeau Field tasted like, courtesy of the Cro-Magnon Man, Clay Matthews.

Vick came in in relief, and Kolb never saw the field again until he was shipped to the Cardinals for a second round pick and cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie.

Now, listen up Dear Reader, because this is the important part.

This article is not to state that Kevin Kolb’s perceived failings as a football player or quarterback are the direct reason for the team’s current standing or Reid’s eventual dismissal. But instead, only to point out that the selection of Kevin Kolb as heir apparent is simply a symptom of a what eventually became a much larger problem.

An evaluation problem that led to a drafting problem. A succession problem. An Andy problem.

Andy Reid essentially had a second chance to put together a team, his team, with nothing holding him back. No caveats, no immediate pressure. He got to choose who he wanted, when he wanted, with naught but the perfunctory, “Are you ok with this, Jeff?” to hold him in check. And he, in a word, failed.

Poor draft choices in the latter years led to the need to rely more and more on free agency which led to a team made up of far too many non homegrown Eagles who didn’t and don’t truly appreciate what it means to wear the Midnight Green (Man, I wish I was typing Kelly Green. And that the Eagles hadn’t picked up Demetress Bell). And after the forced stepping down/amicable split/seeking of other opportunities/firing of Joe Banner last year, there’s nowhere else at this point for the blame of organizational failings to fall.

You see it wasn’t Andy’s decision to give Mike Vick a second chance, or to go with Vick after he’d clearly outplayed Kolb during his injury hiatus that had led us to this point. Where Andy Reid failed was in drafting Kolb in the first place. Because investing that highly in a quarterback means that he is your de-facto Quarterback of the Future. And it was obvious from the get go that Reid absolutely viewed him as such.

But after a couple of years on the bench, and some sub-par relief appearances and preseason work, it became apparent to Reid that he was not in fact, who he thought he was (Thanks, Dennis. And Coors Light). Which set off a whole chain of events, not the least of which being that at the slightest nudge he was “forced” to go with Mike Vick, who rode into town on his “Goodwill and Change Grand Tour”, successfully duping many of us, Reid included, with a mirage of quality quarterbacking that he just could not sustain (I don’t blame Vick for this in any way. He did his best with what he had but as they always say, “he is what he is”: an abnormally athletically gifted quarterback with subpar pre-snap and post-snap recognition skills. Like I said, we all got duped).

So perhaps one can blame Reid for poor clock management and timeout usage, for boring press conferences and an “I’m smarter than you are” demeanor. Or for too often having his eyes in the future, with a constant focus on cap space and not crippling your team now so that, if need be, moves can be made at a later date. But maybe, just maybe, the real reason we can blame Andy Reid is for allowing too much Andy Reid to enter the conversation.

Like most things in life, too much of a good thing is, well, too much. And it often leads to tunnel vision and a loss of situational context. The NovaCare Complex is Andy’s castle, and Andy is the all-seeing, all-knowing Lord of that castle. The problem now is that, with no one else to blame, the only one in danger of losing his head is going to be Andy.

From Sean McDermott taking over after Jim Johnson’s untimely and unfortunate death (Has a franchise ever struggled so mightily after losing a defensive coordinator? I don’t know that it’s possible to overstate how important JJ was to this franchises success in the early 2000’s), to promoting Rory Segrest to run the Special Teams and then the defensive line, to hiring Juan Castillo to run the defense, and then firing him during the season. These are Andy decisions and Andy choices made inside the vacuum that is Andy World, and there’s no longer any goodwill stored up with which Andy can fight this now losing battle.

Andy Reid has far and away been the greatest coach this city and this organization has ever seen. He’ll always hold a special place in the hearts of those of us who remember what it was like watching the team under Rich Kotite and Ray Rhodes. What he has done, and the sustained success he’s brought should not be underestimated or understated. There were some truly wonderful years.

But now, the tough decisions must be made, and Jeffrey Lurie must maintain an eye for the future while making shrewd decisions for the present. And like the old saying goes, “With absolute power, comes absolute responsibility”. And now, the time’s yours, Andy, to start taking responsibility for your decisions.

When the Eagles used their third-round pick in the 2002 draft to select a smallish I-AA running back with two significant knee surgeries, you could understand why many fans, draft experts, and front office personnel around the league were left scratching their heads. And the skeptics had valid concerns. What could a 5-8 running back with a repaired ACL out of Villanova really do for an offense? The answer, of course, was everything. Westbrook compiled 5,995 yards and 37 rushing touchdowns which are admirable numbers for sure, but what made Westbrook an elite back was his ability to line up anywhere on the field and create mismatches in the passing game. Whether it was in the flat as he left linebackers’ Nikes left twisted in the turf, or terrific cuts and vision in the screen game, Westbrook was a menace for opposing defensive coordinators. His 426 catches, 3,790 receiving yards, and 29 receiving touchdowns are a testament to that. While the recently departed Steve Van Buren and Wilbert Montgomery are oft considered to be the Eagles’ best running backs in team history, Westbrook’s 9,785 yards from scrimmage—in addition to his reliable blocking skills, return explosiveness, and flare for the dramatic—each suggest otherwise. His stats speak for themselves, but it’s moments, not numbers, that define the truly beloved players who are forever embraced by a city. So let’s take a look back at some of the moments that made Brian Westbrook one the Eagles’ all-time greats.

5. Westbrook Goes Down On Dallas

It’s Week 15. Fantasy leagues around the country are in the midst of the playoffs. Thousands of teams across the country with Brian Westbrook on their rosters are deadlocked in tight battles. The 5-8 Eagles hold a 10-6 lead over the 12-1 Cowboys. Now, I wrote extensively above about Westbrook’s extensive statistics, but he could have easily added another rushing yard and touchdown to those totals. With 2:19 left in the fourth quarter and the ball on the Dallas 25-yard line, Westbrook took a handoff, found day light and appeared headed for the end zone when…he stopped on the one-yard line. No doubt that play probably got Westbrook some death threats, and at the very least, disgruntled fantasy owners were enraged. Still, it was the ultimate act of unselfishness as the cerebral Westbrook made it mathematically impossible for Dallas to win the game, and mathematically impossible for thousands of fantasy teams to win their games, too.

4. We’re Going To Win…I think

For some reason, I was a McNabb fan. But I was an even bigger Westbrook fan. So it’s really no surprise that Brian Westbrook’s 10-yard touchdown reception that tied the game at 14-14 late in third quarter is one of my fondest memories. It was vintage Westbrook. McNabb threw a rare picture-perfect pass between the arms of linebacker Mike Vrabel and safety Dexter Reid. The Eagles were in survival mode, but I remember at that moment thinking for sure that they would somehow find a way. As you know…

3. Minnesota Gets Screened

The ability to turn a short pass into a home run was what really made Westbrook special. There was that apparent 2006 game winner against Tampa Bay that was spoiled by a ridiculous 62-yard Matt Bryant Field goal. So let’s skip ahead to happier times during the 2008 playoffs. With 6:53 left in the fourth quarter at their own 29-yard-line against a raucous Minnesota fan base and potent defense, Donovan McNabb drifted back and flicked a screen to Westbrook. 16 seconds and 71 yards later, the Eagles would secure their first of two impressive road postseason victories that season. You can see that play here at the 4:13 mark.

2. Westbrook Ruins Giants’ Season(2006 Playoffs)

Don’t loathe the Giants, so when the Eagles met up with them in the Wild Card Round of the 2006 playoffs, this was a game I badly wanted them to win. Trailing 7-0 after a Plaxico Burress touchdown grab, Westbrook ignited a stagnant offense with a 49-yard touchdown run to tie the game. He finished the game with 141 yards rushing and David Akers would have never hit a 38-yard game-winning field goal as time expired without the running back’s monster game. Check that out that highlight at the 1:48 mark.

1. Miracle at the Meadowlands Part II

Many recall the 2003 regular season as wildly successful as the Eagles sprinted a 12-4 final record. But things weren’t always so easy, particularly early in the season. Donovan McNabb was suffering through one of his worst games as an Eagle and the offense couldn’t move the football against a suffocating Giants defense. Trailing 10-7 with 1:34 to go in the game, Brian Westbrook wiped away nearly four full quarters of frustrations when he took a Jeff Feagles punt on a bounce at the 16-yard line and raced down the sideline towards the end zone. A mere 18 seconds later not only did Westbrook save the Eagles season, he also emerged on the scene as one of the league’s premier playmakers after making one of the most memorable plays in team history. Today, during his press conference in his typical team-first fashion, Westbrook thanked his teammates for setting up that play. “I made a couple guys miss here and there, but it was 10 guys blocking,” he said.

This is the hot thing to do right now. First it was Brian Dawkins and Tra Thomas, next it will be Brian Westbrook who retires as an Eagle. The Eagles announced this morning that Westbrook will officially retire as a member of the team tomorrow at an 11:30 am press conference. Westbrook will be honored at halftime when the Eagles host the Redskins two days before Christmas.

Westbrook took to Twitter to thank Eagles fans shortly after the ceremony was announced.

“Thank you everyone!!It was a Great pleasure to be an Eagle for 8 years I Truly appreciate all of the support!! Love you guys,” he tweeted.

Westbrook was a dynamic player, equally dangerous in the receiving game as he was on the ground. In eight seasons with the Eagles, Westbrook tallied over 9,500 total yards and 66 touchdowns from scrimmage.

A statement from team owner Jeffrey Lurie praised the two-time Pro Bowler and 2007 All-Pro back.

“I will always remember Brian for the electrifying, game-changing plays he made during his great career in Philadelphia,” he said. “He was one of those players you knew could score from anywhere on the field and one of the most exciting players I have ever watched. He was a great runner, receiver and returner and was certainly a fan favorite.”