Give it up, Andy

By Tim McManus

The City Championships Forgot is getting squeezed right now when it comes to their Birds and Andy Reid.

Half of you sees coach Reid's continued missteps in his offensive play-calling, knows that 75 percent of the coaches in the NFL are superior at game management. This part of you wants to scream out for his head.

The other half realizes, though, that there have been far darker days than these. The memory of four straight NFC Championship appearances and one recent ticket to the Big Show remind you that this has been the most successful tenure in Eagles history. One thought of Rich Kotite or Joe Kuharich and you quickly fall back in line.

So we know a couple things: That it's borderline impossible for this team to win it all while making poor in-game decisions and setting up the pass with the pass. And that Reid is one of the more valued commodities in the league and the single biggest reason that this franchise has thrived for as long as it has.

So what do we do?

There is one solution: Pry the play-calling from Reid's tight grip. It can still be his offense -- his plays, his input, his ingenuity -- only someone else (read: Marty Morningweg) would control which play goes where in-game. T

his solves numerous problems:

1) Reid, no matter how much he vows to run the ball in the offseason or midweek, simply cannot help but go right back to his baby; this takes away that option.

2) The chain loses a link. No Morningweg (suggestion) to Reid (decision) to McNabb (execution). Morningweg calls it in, McNabb calls it out, the offense gets to the line with plenty of time to spare (imagine that).

3) Reid's attention can be directed solely on managing the game, therby reducing the amount of timeouts, personnel miscues and poor overall decisions.

The Eagles are not that far off. The offense is the best (statistically) in the league, it just needs more balance and less turnovers. The defense simply needs less time on the field and more green behind them once they get on it.

Super Bowl this year? Why not. Top-flight QB, top-notch coaching staff, serviceable defense, immensely dangerous running back, less-than spectacular conference... It's all there for the taking.

Reid just needs to learn that sometimes you need to give certain things up to get something back.