THIS PROBABLY isn't going to go over too well with those of you out there still shoveling down Prilosec to quiet the acid reflux caused by the announcement of Andy Reid's contract extension a few weeks back. But a pretty good case can be made for "Big Red" to be the NFL's coach of the year.
There are a lot of good candidates out there this year. The Colts' Jim Caldwell is 14-1 in his first season as head coach, though Peyton Manning has had a little something to do with that.
The Cardinals' Ken Whisenhunt managed to avoid the letdown that so often has struck Super Bowl runners-up and has guided Arizona to its first double-digit-win season in 33 years.
The Chargers' Norv Turner righted a ship that was 2-3 in mid-October and has it riding a 10-game win streak.
The Bengals' Marvin Lewis resuscitated an 11-game loser and won just the franchise's second division title since sometime around the birth of Jesus.
Bill Belichick has the Patriots back in the playoff saddle and Sean Payton's Saints have won an NFC-best 13 games and Mike McCarthy has transformed the Packers from double-digit loser to double-digit winner and Brad Childress has the Vikings back in the playoffs for the second straight year and Jeff Fisher nearly got the Titans into the playoffs after an 0-6 start.
But Reid deserves to be right there in the discussion. While many of you continue to think he's the village idiot because he doesn't save his timeouts for a rainy day, or throws the ball a little too much, or seldom is forthcoming in press conferences, the truth is he probably has done one of his best coaching jobs this season.
In case you haven't noticed, the Eagles have rebuilt their team without missing a beat. Nineteen of the 53 players on their roster are in their first year in midnight green. Another nine are in only their second season here. Eight of their 22 starters last week against Denver either weren't with the team or didn't start in last January's NFC Championship Game loss to the Cardinals. Four of those eight were rookies.
Reid lost his defensive coordinator, Jim Johnson, to cancer during the summer. He has had to deal with a nonstop flurry of injuries. Starters and key role players have missed 79 games this season to injury.
And yet, and yet, the Eagles are going to the playoffs for the eighth time in the last 10 years. They have reeled off six straight wins. If they make it seven Sunday against the Cowboys, they will earn a first-round bye.
