From: Sheridan, Phil
To: Lyon, Bill; Gonzalez, John
Subject: Invisible ownership
I'd be shocked if any coach, in any sport, who was contemplating a change involving the franchise's most visible and highly paid player didn't run it by his bosses first. The most interesting aspect of that, if true, is that it confirms Andy was building up to this for a while.
Which makes going back to No. 5 even more perplexing and illogical.
From: Lyon, Bill
To: Gonzalez, John; Sheridan, Phil
Subject: Invisible ownership
Sooner or later the owner is going to have to surface and speak about his coach. The circumstances will dictate when. It could be when they officially part ways, which has now become a matter of when, not if. Or it could be anytime in the near future - the dreaded vote of confidence. Either way, only turmoil and tumult lie ahead.
They have been reluctant to speak publicly because neither Lurie nor Banner is fond of the spotlight - think the antithesis of Jerry Jones. Banner is the money man, and Reid doesn't have to answer to him. Lurie's studied avoidance of microphones and cameras is due in part to an innate shyness and uncertainty, and to past regrettable utterances that, like pizza at midnight, have come back to haunt him - think "the gold standard" and "pedal to the metal."
From: Gonzalez, John
To: Lyon, Bill Sheridan, Phil
Subject: Invisible ownership
It's a good thing that Lurie isn't Jerry Jones. I covered J.J. for four years in Dallas. I still have nightmares. On the list of plastic surgery screw-ups, it's Michael Jackson and then Jerry Jones.
Incidentally, what did you make of McNabb's crack at the start of his press conference? Someone asked how he found out that he was starting this week's game, and he didn't miss a beat. "The janitor told me," he deadpanned. "We're close."
