Reid isn't big on introspection, but he said he took apart the past season and came to some conclusions. One of the conclusions was that he can still do the job to the best of his ability, something that was seconded by the owner. That those abilities have not yet won a championship is frustrating for everyone involved. Barry Switzer won a Super Bowl and he couldn't coach a dog to scratch itself.
It must be particularly galling for Jeffrey Lurie to once again see the Patriots and Belichick in the Super Bowl. Lurie grew up a fan of the team and tried to buy the Pats before he bought the Eagles. Instead of enjoying another championship ride, Lurie found himself defending his decision to keep Reid for a 14th season and making excuses for his coach's poor performance in news conferences.
Winning makes that sort of thing unnecessary. If New England wins on Sunday night, it will be Belichick's fourth Super Bowl championship, and no one cares that his news-conference demeanor makes Reid seem like Fred Rogers in comparison.
How long Lurie will continue to believe in Reid makes for popular parlor conversation, but despite the current wisdom that - this time for sure! - the coming season is especially crucial, that might not be the case. Reid never has two clunkers in a row, and if the team shows progress, well, what's an owner to do?
"As close as Jeffrey and I are, as close as Joe [Banner] and I are, I understand that the bottom line is to win football games," Reid said Tuesday. "That's why I'm here, to win football games and win a Super Bowl. I'm not afraid to stand up and look that in the face. I think [Lurie] sees, going forward, we have an opportunity to do some good things. And so I'm speaking for him, but that's why I think I'm sitting here at this time."
