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Despite missing the playoffs and 2011 marking the third straight season without the Eagles winning a playoff game, Jeffrey Lurie announced on Wednesday that Andy Reid will be returning for a 14th season. 

When team owner Jeffrey Lurie stepped to the just for the occasion Presidential Podium atop the stage at the Novacare Complex on Wednesday and labeled the 2011 season “The most frustrating during my term as owner,” he summed up the feelings of a borderline apathetic fanbase.

However, by announcing that Andy Reid would return for a 14th attempt at capturing the Lombardi Trophy for the first time in franchise history, Lurie failed to show the aggressiveness necessary to turn the tide of an organization that has become stale and has been stuck in neutral for several years.

During a speech that harkened imagry of Lurie naming Reid Time’s Man Of The Year, the Owner cited Reid’s recent track record as evidence that swayed him to bring him back one more year. Andrew Walter’s track record since 2005 is flimsier than the paper that this piece is printed on. Over that span the Eagles are just 62-49 in the regular season and a disappointing 3-4 in the playoffs. What’s worse, Philadelphia has not won a playoff game since January 11th 2009 against the New York Giants.

True, no team in the NFC has made the playoffs more since 2006 than the Eagles. Also correct is the fact that Reid is the winningest coach in franchise history. Yet, to cite recent results as the impetus to extend Reid’s tenure that has been less than stellar over the past four years is quite telling.

Coaches with stonger, Super Bowl winning pedigrees have been fired. Jon Gruden, Brian Billick, and Tony Dungy have all been handed pink slips. Yet, Reid who has not led a parade down Broad Street, appears wrapped in Teflon.

“Andy Reid will remain in Philadelphia as long as he wants,” ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter. “If he’s ever let go in Philadelphia, he’d have a job somewhere else in the league the very next day.”

The simple fact is that organizations in the NFL that win championships have done so in recent years by taking risks. Mike McCarthy in Green Bay, Mike Tomlin in Pittsburgh and Sean Payton in New Orleans are all examples of Head Coaches that have won Super Bowls who were unheralded assistants and relative unknowns prior to being hired as the head man of their respective teams. Rather than take such a risk on rebuilding the foundation of the franchise by searching for a fresh voice, Lurie settled for the status quo.

The message was loud and clear from One Novacare Way as anything that has been uttered in the last decade and a half, that making the playoffs is the goal by which this organization operates.

“If we are in the tournament, then we have a chance for a Super Bowl victory” Lurie repeated multiple times throughout his press conference.
Further evidence that the Eagles remain in neutral is the fact that despite lackluster drafts (particularly on the defensive side of the ball) in recent years, Reid will retain final say over all player and personnel decisions. Howie Roseman remains general manager, but Reid will have final say over who ultimately suits up in midnight green.

Drafting Brandon Graham over Jason Pierre Paul or Earl Thomas. Ignoring a glaring weakness at the linebacker position despite implementing a system along the defensive line that puts an onus on playmaking linebackers. Further exasperating the problem at linebacker by starting rookie Casey Matthews at middle linebacker, who was woefully unprepared for such a tall task and didn’t have the benefit of OTA’s or minicamps. Promoting Juan Castillo from offensive line coach to defensive coordinator after being forced to fire the overmatched Sean McDermott last season. All decisions made by Reid in the past 24 months that helped shape the current stat of the franchise.

Yet, despite his consistent taking of responsibility and despite the underwhelming results of these choices, Reid will not be held accountable. Instead, the status quo reigns supreme.

So after a season that fell short of lofty expectations, and saw the NFC East won by the New York Giants who won only nine games this season, in the end no one will be held accountable. Sure, Reid may choose to part ways with or demote Juan Castillo, but such a move would be nothing more than making a scapegoat of a man promoted to his position by Reid himself last offseason and the third defensive coordinator in four seasons.

Lurie’s press conference and decision to bring Reid back once more, as he enters 2012 with two years remaining on his contract, it is that the status quo remains the same and mediocrity, not excellence, is the standard that is accepted and sought after.

Jeffrey Lurie Press Conference Audio