There’s no question that the Eagles are trying to clean up the public relations damage that team President Joe Banner did last week when tried to argue that the Steelers hadn’t outperformed the Eagles in the last decade.
Banner was on the radio yesterday claiming that he never meant to give the impression that the Eagles had been superior to the Steelers in the last decade.
Head Coach Andy Reid sat down with Comcast Sportsnet’s Reuben Frank and addressed the impression of many Eagles fans that the Eagles organization is satisfied with not winning a Super Bowl but just being in the hunt every year
“I’ve been lucky enough to win a Super Bowl in my career (as an assistant with the Packers in 1995), and when you’ve done that, you want that every year,” Reid told Frank. “That’s what you want. Every year. So when you go to the conference championships and if you lose those games or you win it and go to the Super Bowl and lose that game, you’re not happy. That’s not a good thing.”
“I am every year shooting to get to the Super Bowl and win the Super Bowl. Now, we went through a pretty good run there (from 2000 through 2008), and the players got a little bit older and we made some changes, so is it going to happen right away? Well, it might not. But that’s not my mentality. My mentality is that we’re going to get that thing right and go. And if you hit it right, 
anything’s possible.”
I think Reid wants to win a Super Bowl but at times I do think the Eagles plan long-term with the mentality of staying in contention every year as compared to going after it each year with everything they’ve got. They don’t want to sacrifice next year or the year after that or the year after that in order to try to win a Super Bowl this year.
I think there are times when overpaying a veteran player who meets a need is worth doing even though in the long-term it might not make sense. Relying on the draft is the right move, but if you miss on some draft picks at a certain position, you have to go out and acquire the necessary talent via free agency.
“I like this football team,” Reid said. “I like where we’re going. We’ve got to do some things better as coaches and players, and we’ve got to look at the personnel and make sure that part’s right, and we’ll do that. That’s how we’re going.”
“I don’t think anybody, except maybe those guys in that [locker] room, probably thought that we’d get quite as far as we did this past year, but everybody pulled together and worked as a team and we got a couple breaks here and there and things worked out pretty well, and I think everybody going into this offseason is really fired up about this next year and what it presents.
Reid’s point about the fact that nobody thought they were going to make the playoffs doesn’t mean anything here in Philadelphia any more. The fans have seen them make the playoffs for more than a decade. They’re not excited by the playoffs, Eagles fans are only interested in the Lombardi Trophy.
“I think Reid wants to win a Super Bowl but at times I do think the Eagles plan long-term with the mentality of staying in contention every year as compared to going after it each year with everything they’ve got. They don’t want to sacrifice next year or the year after that or the year after that in order to try to win a Super Bowl this year.”
This is exactly how I feel. I honestly believe they want to win. I know many say they don’t and just want to be good enough to keep people buying tickets. I definitely don’t believe that. But I do think sometimes, they don’t go all out with a sense of urgency because of long term plans, continued success and believing that it doesn’t take much more than what they do to win. I’m not one that will say they don’t spend money and stuff because I believe they spend when they really want someone. I just wished that they would show the urgency more often. Since the 2004 season we really didn’t make a big splash to show we were trying to win it all. Before that, we didn’t at all because Reid thought the team was good enough and afterwards we have done things like Samuel and traded for Peters. But since the Super Bowl year we only made 1 big move for an impact player (not counting Vick) and that’s what disappoints me. Sure we’ve had some good offensive drafts lately but I’m talking about making moves for impact players who are already in the league. We don’t do that enough in my opinion.
So I do think they desperately want to win, but sometimes the offseason actions and having guys like Chad Hall playing in playoff games when you McCoy and Jame Harrison and not taking LB seriously really makes it seem like they will just try to get by. Not saying that’s how they feel. But just what perception is.
I am not even sure that it matters anymore.. Whats the big deal anyways
You play 16 games, You have fun and agonize on Sundays watching and following your favorite team.. Does it really matter in the end…Does your quality of life really change for the better if they go on and Win even for the most
passionate of fans …
He wants to win badly as long as its HIS way. If he wants it every year then going into seasons without a punt returner and centers wouldnt happen. Obviously he wants to win, but he wants it HIS way. Pass Happy.
After Scorps post..there is nothing left to add…damn… well said my friend
“Reid’s point about the fact that nobody thought they were going to make the playoffs doesn’t mean anything here in Philadelphia any more. The fans have seen them make the playoffs for more than a decade. They’re not excited by the playoffs, Eagles fans are only interested in the Lombardi Trophy”.
Well said G, Well said my man. That’s exactly how I and other eagles fans feel. The Lombardi trophy is all that matters. Good article G.
I too believe that reid and the front office want to win… the question is……. How bad? How bad do they really want to win? I agree with most of what has been said in here so far….especially the part about Reid winning HIS way.
I still believe Reid hasnt done everything he can to optimize his offense and his defense..
He has a few very well known flaws and he doesnt seem to be about to fix any of them…
how many years have we been hoping/saying “maybe Reid balances the attack this year” or “maybe Reid gets serious about our linebackers for a change”…
he eventually did get some receivers, so I give him credit for that, but he took soo long that the defense has faded and now the offense looks stronger than the D…
Anyway, I think want to win the big one, but Im not sure they have accepted the fact that they need to ADJUST and break themselves in certain instances in order to win more games and super bowl
My biggest problem with Coach AR is his stubbornness when it comes to his schemes and game plans.. He is always going to think he can out-coach and out think his opponents with his Imbalanced,gadget plays that have shown over the years that they don’t work versus the better teams in the NFL..
I think in early 2000’s, Coach AR was innovative and ahead of the curve plus the NFC was much weaker as a Confernce, but in the last 5 years, Coach AR’s teams,play-calling, have become stale and predictable..
At first I agreed that maybe it takes a few years to get the right players to fit his system and schemes,, But now after 12 years, I don’t think it’s the players as much as his Scheme… I don’t the Eagles Offensive system is condusive to winning playoff games to Win a Super Bowl.. How many years now do everyone say the same thing,, We can’t run the ball in short-yardage or red-zone, EAgles settling for FG’s instead of being able to punch it in..
HAve a tall WR who can catch a few east Alley-Oop passes that every other teams seems to be able to do, manage the clock,time-outs and challenge beanie bags better.. I am done with it after 12 years…
Scorp – excellent post.
I STILL THINK HE LIKES PRIME RIB MORE THAN THE SUPER BOWL.
Anyone who has ever wanted something REALLY bad knows the difference between wanting something and being completely obsessed and driven. Having unspent cap money while having holes to fill or upgrade each year does not suggest true obsession. When they feel as though they can’t live without a championship is when they’ll get one. Worrying about what happens in future years should take a backseat. WIN NOW!!!!
It’s one thing to want to win a Super Bowl, Andy would be a complete idiot to say anything but his desire to win one. It’s another to have the ability to lead a team to a Super Bowl victory, something he has shown time and again he doesn’t have the ability to do. Be it coaching blunders or bad decisions on play calling and game clock management he continues to prove each season he is not the Coach who can lead the Eagles to the promised land. The only thing he has proven is he has a knack for finding young talent through the draft and his most prized ability to Jeffrey Lurie, an ability to be successful during the regular season which keeps the seats full. I could accept him as a GM at this point but he has proven to me he is not suited to be the Head Coach.
On a final note: If he ever says “We’ve got to do some things better as coaches and players” again he should be fired on the spot.