What They’re Saying About the Eagles

Here’s the weekly roundup of what the national media are saying about the Eagles.

The Eagles are a study in miscalculation, writes ESPN.com’s Dan Graziano:

As we look back on it now, though, not much the Eagles have done in assembling their roster over the past couple of years has worked. There’s the occasional DeMeco Ryans or Fletcher Cox, sure. The DeSean Jackson contract is a good one for them, and I don’t think it was necessarily wrong for them to spend resources this past offseason locking up cornerstone pieces like Trent Cole, LeSean McCoy and Todd Herremans for the long-term. But in terms of building a Super Bowl contender in the short term, Reid and the rest of the people who run the Eagles have failed spectacularly. The product they’ve put on the field simply isn’t as good as they believed it to be, and they are likely to pay for their run of miscalculations with their jobs.

SI.com’s Don Banks hands out midseason awards, including one to Andy Reid:

IT’S ALL YOUR FAULT AWARD — Andy Reid fires defensive coordinator Juan Castillo, fixes what ain’t broke: The Eagles’ primary problem this season hasn’t been their defense, so it was more than a bit curious for the embattled Philly head coach to lower the boom on Castillo during the team’s Week 7 bye. It wasn’t exactly a miracle cure for what ails the Eagles. That week at home against undefeated Atlanta, Philadelphia allowed the Falcons to score on their first six possessions en route to a 30-17 defeat, dropping the Eagles to 3-4 on the season. As first impressions go, new defensive coordinator Todd Bowles’ debut was a dud.

SI.com’s Peter King puts DeMeco Ryans on his midseason All-Pro team:

Rededicated himself after trade from Houston; he’s the MLB the Eagles have needed for years.

Clark Judge of CBSSports.com put out his list of midseason underachievers, which includes the Birds:

Fans in Philadelphia aren’t happy unless they have something to complain about, and there’s plenty of material here. The offense is floundering. The defense can’t make critical stops. The special teams have been a disappointment. The coach is under fire. The quarterback is under fire. The owner is under fire. In short, it’s a miserable situation. But look at that schedule, and tell me these guys can’t dig themselves out — because they can. But it’s not their opponents that’s the issue. It’s the Eagles themselves.

Brian Billick of FoxSports.com has the Eagles 22nd in his power rankings:

Another game, another pair of red-zone turnovers. I can’t recall another team that was picked to have so much success and then fail so miserably. My bad.

Pete Prisco of CBSSports.com has the Eagles 20th:

With that offensive line, Nick Foles might get killed if he plays. Mike Vick’s feet are essential now.

Gregg Rosenthal of NFL.com puts Reid 28th in his coach power rankings:

It’s remarkable that the Eagles are lucky to be 3-5. Firing defensive coordinator Juan Castillo was an admission of failure on one of Reid’s biggest choices, and the defense has only grown worse since.

Adam Schein of NFL.com doesn’t think Michael Vick will ever be a starter after this season:

Looking at the bigger picture, I think Vick is done. He has totally regressed as a player and a leader on this rudderless ship. As former Eagles running back Brian Westbrook told me on SiriusXM Blitz, “This team doesn’t have heart or leaders.”

After the Eagles part ways with Vick, I don’t think he’ll ever be an unquestioned starter again.

Elliot Harrison of NFL.com has the Eagles 23rd in his power rankings:

You thought Cam Newton looked defeated in recent postgame press conferences? Oh man, Andy Reid looked like a guy who had to sit through a Lifetime movie marathon on Monday night. Going 0-for-5 in the red zone will do that to a man. So will gaining 447 yards and only having 13 points to show for it. So will losing five of six games.

Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk has the Eagles 25th:

They now have to go 5-3 to be just good enough to get Andy Reid fired.

ESPN.com’s Mel Kiper looks at the Eagles’ draft needs:

I don’t expect Vick to be back in 2013 (will Reid?), but we can’t just assume Nick Foles will be handed the keys because the roster has enough talent to win. The Eagles could find a QB to develop, but could they swing a trade for one, as well? Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie could be elsewhere and Nnamdi Asomugha is getting older, so corner will also need a look.

There’s no sourcing, but the crew at National Football Post thinks the Eagles could be interested in Jon Gruden:

The buzz on the street is if Andy Reid doesn’t survive in Philly, one potential replacement could be Jon Gruden. Of course Gruden worked for the Eagles as offensive coordinator before Reid arrived, and bringing him back would be a popular move. However, the rumors about Chargers management sniffing around about Gruden are off base, according to those in the know. Chargers owner Dean Spanos and general manager A.J. Smith have too much respect for Norv Turner to start looking for his replacement while he still is coaching for his job. Undermining the head coach is not Spanos’ style.

Follow Sheil Kapadia on Twitter and e-mail him at skapadia@phillymag.com.
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