The Last Four Games Won’t Determine Andy Reid’s Fate

The growing majority of fans have reached their boiling point with Eagles’ head coach Andy Reid after a disastrous 4-8 start to what was once (Week 1) a promising season.

Numerous draft busts, blind faith in unprepared and undeserving coaches and missed free agent signings have transformed the Eagles from a team thought to have an embarrassment of riches into one that can be described as nothing short of a mess.

Who’s to blame for the chaotic and turbulent flight that was destined for a crash landing just shortly after takeoff?

Andy Reid

and Howie Roseman

, of course.

But we already knew that. What we don’t know is the ultimate fate of Reid, his coaching staff, or players. Reid has already been crucified in the court of public opinion. If this was Salem in the 1700s, Reid would have been long dangling from the rope. John Proctor, bro.

But the reality is that only three opinions truly matter when it comes to whether Reid will stay or go, and fortunately for Reid, they aren’t part of the lynch mob. Jeffrey Lurie and Joe Banner aren’t looking at this situation from the perspective of a frustrated fan. They’re looking at it, particularly Lurie, as investors who bought a company in 1994 for $185 million dollars that is now valued by Forbes Magazine at a shade over $1 billion. So remember as rumors concerning Reid’s future run rampant that Lurie, Banner, and general manager Howie Roseman are the only three men that truly have a feel for what’s going to unfold here.

While writers can speculate, talk to team sources, and merely guess that there will be a new head coach in place next season, they have no idea. That’s why they hedge their predictions with statements like, “Reid could Reid return if the Eagles don’t quit on the coach over the last four games.”

What the hell does that even mean? How can someone write that line at this point in the season? It’s lazy, cover-your-ass writing.

Philly fans talk about being passionate and knowledgeable. I generally find that to be true. But people are kidding themselves if they buy into the notion that the final four games of this season are going to have an impact on Reid’s future.

The Eagles are 4-8, they laid down in Seattle last week in a game that was their proverbial last gasp at a playoff run, and things don’t figure to get much better this weekend when they travel to Miami to play a red-hot Dolphins team.

Reid’s sins have already been committed. The Bryan Smith’s (Google it) of the world have been drafted, Michael Vick has been paid, and Juan Castillo was foolishly called upon to serve in a role his resume didn’t warrant. As they say, whoever “they” is, the hay in the barn.

Aside from the fact it’s impossible to judge effort from a team with nothing to play for, the final record isn’t going to alter the perspective of the general fan, nor will it erase the disappointment of what has transpired in 2011. What’s the difference between 8-8 and 4-12? Nothing. End of the season momentum (or a lack thereof) has no significance on a team moving forward. Every season is different in the NFL.

For instance, take this little nugget of wisdom: Andy Reid has had only three losing campaigns (1999, 2005 and 2007). In each of the following seasons, Reid’s teams rebounded to not only make the postseason, but win at least one game in it, too.

Strong arguments can be made both in favor and against Reid, and those arguments have been made on local airwaves and blogs and city newspapers ad nauseam. But one thing should be clear–whatever Reid’s fate is, it has already been determined. Front office personnel don’t react or evaluate the entire direction of their franchise based on four meaningless games in December. So for those of you out there set to watch the final four games just to see if Reid hangs for this debacle, well, you’re just going to have to find another reason to watch.