Reid's steady hand guided turnabout of the Eagles

Sporting News, The, Jan 1, 2001 by Dan Pompei

In the 2000 season, no coach risked more and was rewarded more than the Vikings' incomparable Denny Green. Rookie Jim Haslett of the Saints showed us how it's supposed to be done, and when his best players were taken away, he showed us another way.

Jim Fassel coached the Giants to the best record in the NFC, which was kind of like making chicken cordon bleu out of chicken salad.

Nothing could stop the Broncos' Mike Shanahan, who trudged through the storms of the season like an old-time postman.

Jon Gruden has been the definition of leadership while blending the tradition of the Raiders with modern thinking.

Dave Wannstedt convinced the Dolphins they could go places that Dan Marino's passes could no longer take them.

Winning with Trent Dilfer qualifies Brian Billick of the Ravens for some kind of medal, or at least a paperweight.

Each of these head coaches did an outstanding job.

The one who stood above the rest, though, was Andy Reid. Because of Reid's influence, the Eagles have a chance to keep surprising people through the playoffs, possibly even up to the Super Bowl.

Reid turned 5-11 into 11-5 not with sleight of hand but with a steady hand. "What he's done is he hasn't lost games," former Redskins coach Norv Turner says. "He has done a great job of managing that team. The week-to-week consistency is impressive."

The journey that should lead to coach of the year honors began one month before the season, when Reid noticed a flaw in the Cowboys' kick-return team. On the season-opening kickoff, Reid called for an onside kick, and Eagles receiver Dameane Douglas recovered at the Philadelphia 42. The Eagles went on to score, rout the Cowboys and establish their identity.

"That set the tone for the Eagles, that we'd take risks, we'd be on the offensive," team owner Jeffrey Lurie says. "If we lose, it won't be because of lack of aggressiveness in the play-calling. Andy is not risk averse. He'll take a chance and not worry if anyone is looking over his shoulder. (That play) got the whole organization to think outside the box."

If the Eagles didn't think outside the box, they never could have overcome the loss of their best player going into the season. Reid found a way to derive strength from the adversity of losing running back Duce Staley in Week 5. "When Duce went down, (Reid) instilled confidence in us," quarterback Donovan McNabb says. "He told us that we had the people to make up for it, that it wasn't just about one guy who had to take his place."

The Eagles were able to overcome Staley's injury in part bemuse of what Reid had been practicing and preaching since he took the job in January 1999. "With honesty, integrity, work ethic, intelligence, he laid a foundation that created trust in all of us," Lurie says. "When Duce got hurt, the players responded because they believed in those principles."

Cornerback Troy Vincent, a veteran of nine NFL seasons, says he never has been on a team in which the players have such belief in one another, and for that he credits Reid.

"The most impressive thing is he lost the running back, but they still were able to move the ball because he got them playing so hard, with such enthusiasm," says Seahawks coach Mike Holmgren, Reid's mentor. "He's done a fantastic job."

Reid massaged his offense so that he could get value from other running backs, one of whom (Darnell Autry) was serving fruity drinks and potato skins at a Bennigan's restaurant a year ago, another (Stanley Pritchett) who is a fullback by trade and a 32-year old (Brian Mitchell) who has never rushed for more than 311 yards in a season.

"They won 11 games without any offensive weapons," Packers general manager Ron Wolf marvels. "That's utterly remarkable."

Staley's loss would have been insurmountable if McNabb had not been prepared for this opportunity. Reid and quarterbacks coach Brad Childress developed their quarterback as well as the Colts developed Peyton Manning. "We spend time together watching film, seeing how other quarterbacks work within this offense," says McNabb, who is stumping for Reid to be named coach of the year. "He continues to instill in me, `Let the offense work for you.' He tells me I can be the best quarterback in the league."

Eagles director of pro scouting Mike McCartney said players aren't limited by what others think of them because Reid gives them so much confidence. McNabb isn't the only Eagles player who has spread his wings under Reid and his staff. At least a dozen veterans are having their best seasons. In addition to McNabb, they are left tackle Tra Thomas, center Bubba Miller, tight end Chad Lewis, fullback Cecil Martin, defensive end Hugh Douglas, defensive tackles Paul Grasmanis and Brandon Whiting, linebackers Carlos Emmons and Jeremiah Trotter, safety Damon Moore and special teams ace Je'Rod Cherry.

Reid does more than talk about confidence in his players. He shows it. For instance, Pritchett had a fourth-quarter fumble against the Steelers that resulted in a touchdown by linebacker Joey Porter and a 20-13 Steelers lead. It was the kind of play that has mined games and players. But Reid went right back to Pritchett, giving him the very next handoff. In fact, he got the ball to Pritchett 10 times the rest of the game, and the Eagles won in overtime.