Reid not nostalgic on return to Philly
His new team faces his old team tonight
Andy Reid cleared his throat, uttered some familiar phrases and downplayed his return to Philadelphia. Same old Andy. “That’s not where I’m at right now,” Reid said when asked if it’s going to be emotional when his Kansas City Chiefs (2-0) take on the Eagles (1-1) tonight.
“I don’t feel that way. If we weren’t playing a football game against a good football team, maybe your mind goes there. I don’t see my mind going there. My mind is going to be on the job at hand and what we’ve got to get accomplished in a tough place to play.”
Clearly, Reid is still a stoic guy. But he also has to be aware of the spicy plot in which he is the centerpiece?
Reid led the Eagles to nine playoff appearances, six division titles, five NFC championship games and one Super Bowl before he was fired after going 4-12 last year in his 14th season.
While he’s off to an excellent start with the Chiefs, who were 2-14 last year, Chip Kelly has reinvigorated the Eagles and their fans with his fastpaced offence and all-around energy.
“I have great respect for Andy,” Kelly said. “If you’re a coach in the NFL, anybody head coaches in one spot for 14 years, you kind of look to them and say, ’Holy Smokes!’ I
“f you just walk down these hallways and look at the championships, the division championships, the conference championships, what he’s done, he’s had a huge impact on this organization.
“There’s not a lot of guys out there in this profession that carry themselves, from a coaching standpoint, when you get a chance to be around them, like Andy Reid.”
The AP”s Pro Pick for tonight
The coach Philadelphians couldn’t get rid of fast enough in January probably will get a big ovation from those same fans Thursday night.
He’ll be subjected to a torrent of boos once more if he walks out of the Linc a winner.
Reid claims that’s all he’s concentrating on this week: the football.
“In this business you’re focused in on getting ready to play,” he said, “and so that’s where my energy is going. I haven’t really thought about the other part at all.”
Also back at the Linc will be Donovan McNabb, who quarterbacked most of Reid’s teams and will have his No. 5 jersey retired at halftime.
Kansas City, a 3-point underdog to Philadelphia (1-1), went 2-14 a year ago, earning the top overall draft pick. So you could say Reid’s tenure already is a success.
In Philadelphia, Kelly, brought his quick tempo offence from Oregon, and it has been dynamic so far. The issue has been on defence, where the Eagles can’t seem to cover or tackle in the open field.
So let those boos rain down around midnight.
CHIEFS, 33-30