The Daily Examiner » Andy Reid Quit Watch

Garrett Reid’s Problems Have Reached Disturbing New Levels

A.J. Daulerio — Thu, 01 Nov 2007 19:03:56 +0000

The Reid boys just can’t seem to get to their sentencing date without having even more charges added to their already lengthy rap sheets. This time, it’s Garrett (again) who will most likely go through a more thorough inspection — with rubber gloves and a flashlight — the next time he heads back to jail. KYW breaks the worrisome news:

Meanwhile, there’s been a startling revelation in Garrett Reid’s case. Officials say 89 pills were found in Garrett Reid’s cell on Thursday morning, apparently having been secreted in a body cavity. For that, Garrett will have to face additional sentencing.

KYW also reports that Garrett told the sentencing judge he’s not who he used to be and didn’t want to be known as the spoiled, overdosing son of the Eagles football coach. Clearly, he’s a changed man.

Pills Found in Garrett Reid’s Cell [KYW]

Eagles Say Reid Staying Put

A.J. Daulerio — Fri, 05 Oct 2007 17:38:35 +0000

So, the Philadelphia sports media are braying that rumors of Andy Reid’s sooner-than-later departure are not true. One reporter even disrupted his own personal vacation to look into it. Collectively, they wholeheartedly agree that the Daily Examiner’s “sources” are not credible. And their opinions are relevant because they, esteemed press-pass-necklaced media members with “locker room access,” are more in touch with the team than somebody who’s apparently not “a member of the media here in Philly.”

For the record, the always accommodating Derek Boyko, Eagles public relations genius, called us yesterday to respond with an adamant and exasperated “No, no, no” to said rumor.

All right. But, with the team losing thanks to glaring inconsistencies on both sides of the ball, Andy Reid’s personal life and state of mind are being discussed on a daily basis by both the organization and the players, who are just waiting for the other shoe to drop. We’ll stick with our source and wait until after the bye week like everybody else to see if anything’s changed.

Forget all the rumors: Reid is not leaving [Inquirer]
Eagles Deny Rumors that Reid Is Resigning [PhillyBurbs]

And Now for Some Potentially Bad News in Philadelphia Sports …

A.J. Daulerio — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 14:00:59 +0000

It’s been a constant rumor all year, but after Sunday night’s loss to the Giants, sources close to Andy Reid and the team say there’s a strong possibility Reid may get off the sidelines sooner than expected. All year, Reid’s family troubles have been taking a noticeable toll, and many of his players are biding their time until Big Red makes an announcement. With Marty Mornhinweg already assuming much of the offense, Reid’s a lame-duck coach at this point, just poking around on the sidelines to keep his mind off of his woes. The likely scenario is inserting Mornhinweg in the coach’s seat so Reid can ride out the rest of his contract as Executive Vice President of Football Operations, leaving him more time with his fractured family.

Also, sources are saying with Donovan McNabb most likely spending his last year in Philadelphia, this bye week might be the best possible time for the organization to officially switch gears. McNabb will continue to start (for now), but regardless of how the season turns out, this is most likely his victory lap in Philadelphia.

Anybody that surprised?

PHOTO: CNN

Smerconish Writes About Point of Contention in Paolantonio Flap

A.J. Daulerio — Thu, 30 Aug 2007 16:19:33 +0000

On Monday, the Daily Examiner reported on the on-air fight between Michael Smerconish and ESPN analyst and (former) frequent guest Sal Paolantonio that got Paolantonio booted off the Big Talker’s morning show. The nasty breakup originated in a debate about the media’s coverage of Andy Reid’s sons — Sal Pal claiming the coverage was fair, Smerconish stating it wasn’t. Today the talk show host devotes his Daily News column to that very topic.

Smerconish opines that Reid’s kids (or, in this case, son Britt) don’t deserve front-page status given the extent of their crimes. He argues that there are more important issues in Philadelphia — the murder crisis, for one, of course — and that the media is feeding off of this story just because his father’s famous.

Sal Pal wouldn’t divulge his feelings on the matter when we interviewed him — still upset, still miffed about the whole thing — but one listener during the on-air spat remembers that Paoalantonio was stridently defending the coverage of Reid and got increasingly aggravated by Smerconish’s defense.

Hopefully, Paolantonio won’t read today’s Inquirer, or he’s likely to set something on fire.

Unfair Spotlight on the Reid Boys [Inquirer]
Paolantonio Torpedoes Self Again With On-Air Smerconish Fight [Daily Examiner]

PHOTO: Comedy Central Insider

Britt Gets Tested; Coach’s Future Still Uncertain

A.J. Daulerio — Tue, 28 Aug 2007 15:30:15 +0000

Yesterday’s Britt Reid saga concluded with 33 (or some say as many as 200) pills found by police in the truck he smacked into a shopping cart with in Plymouth Meeting last Thursday. Today, Britt is in Montgomery County for mandatory psychiatric testing, which may have an impact on the charges filed in his latest dustup — or, at least, give some clue as to what’s knocking around that head of his. But with the pre-season about to close, it still begs the question: Will Andy Reid stick around?

Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio says that the Reid’s family situation has to be a real concern for Eagles fans: “Apparently, the time that Reid took off earlier this year hasn’t solved the problems of at least one of his sons,” Florio tells the Daily Examiner, “and it’s fair to wonder whether Reid will resign after the season so that he can devote more time to getting both of his sons on the right track.”

So far, the Eagles (or Reid) have not addressed whether the coach will be here for this season, but sources say that his taking some significant time off — or leaving football altogether — has been discussed.

“This is Reid’s ninth season with the team, which is virtually an eternity for NFL head coaches, ” Florio says. “If he was already thinking about whether it might be time to move on, the events of last week could be enough to push him toward doing so.”

Reid blood test results not ready [Times Herald]
More than 200 Pills Seized from Britt Reid’s Pickup [NBC10]

Andy Reid’s Departure Is Likely Inevitable

A.J. Daulerio — Fri, 24 Aug 2007 17:17:39 +0000

The Andy Reid Quit Watch has officially begun. The head coach of the Eagles has had a tumultuous family life since the start of 2007, and it just got worse, thanks to his 22-year-old son, Britt, getting arrested on suspicion of driving drunk in a shopping center parking lot. Although the professionally guarded coach (and equally guarded organization) has declined commenting on his private life, his family’s unraveling suggests a leave of absence for Big Red is forthcoming.

Kevin Katz, of the Philadelphia Sports Chronicles, also sees this as bad sign for the 2007 Eagles: “[I]‘m sick to my stomach thinking that Britt’s cries for attention might force Reid to take an inopportune vacation and hinder our chances to put ourselves in the best position to win each week.” Maybe that’s a selfish thought on the part of an Eagles fan, but it’s one shared by many.

After Reid’s leave of absence last February, when both Britt and his brother Garrett were mired in legal and personal drama, it was obvious that the coach needed to rearrange some priorities at home. Now, with the latest alleged transgression, Reid really has no other option but to bow out of this season. The one month he took off last winter wasn’t enough.

In fact, sports blog The NOIS has suggested that Roger Goodell suspend Andy Reid before anything worse happens:

“The time has come for Mr. Reid to either voluntarily, or through the invocation of the conduct policy, step away from the game and get his household in order. It’s time for Andy Reid to follow the example set by Michael Vick.”

The crux of the NOIS blog is that Reid’s children — even though they’re technically young men — are causing enough of a disturbance that Goodell needs to hold Reid accountable to the same personal responsibility policies he demands of NFL players. As a policy argument, it’s a total reach, but the message is still the same: Andy Reid needs to take some real time away from professional football and the Philadelphia Eagles for 2007. We’ll know soon enough.

Britt Reid taken into custody on suspicion of drunk driving [Inquirer]
Reid’s family woes are a reminder that coaches are human, too [USA Today]
NFL: Suspend Andy Reid [NOIS]
Will Britt Reid Ruin Our Season? [PennLive]