An 'emotional' Andy Reid bids Eagles goodbye

Wideout Jeremy Maclin drops a pair of cleats into a box of shoes that will be given to the Camden High School football team. "As a team, I feel like we let Coach Reid down," Maclin said. (MICHAEL S. WIRTZ / Staff)

Michael Vick on Reid: "He's meant a lot to my career . . . We had a close connection. I'm going to miss him."

GALLERY: Michael Vick on Reid: "He's meant a lot to my… (MICHAEL S.…)

By Zach Berman, Inquirer Staff Writer

Posted: January 01, 2013

Andy Reid held a meeting with his team after he was fired that players described as "emotional." He also met with many players individually. Reid told the Eagles to treat their next coach with the same respect they afforded him.

Some of those players pointed the finger at themselves when reflecting on why Reid's 14-year tenure in Philadelphia ended on Monday.

"This whole team felt like we put his job in jeopardy," guard Evan Mathis said. "And if we don't feel that way, we should."

The Eagles remained largely loyal to Reid even after the 12th loss of the season, although their comments during the last week revealed that even they were coming to grips with the inevitable. So Monday's news was not as much a shock as it was a chance to say farewell to the only NFL coach many of them have known.

"Each guy's different, but I know there are guys who were upset about Coach Reid being let go," wide receiver Jeremy Maclin said. "As a team, I feel like we let Coach Reid down."

Rookie quarterback Nick Foles would not speculate on how he would fit in a different offense, devoting all of his attention to Reid. He praised the coach and his staff for their work with him this season.

Reid acquired every player on the roster. He shouldered responsibility for their errors and was generally known as a players' coach. Running back LeSean McCoy told reporters that he loves Reid like a father - a sentiment shared by other players.

No one on the roster might be more closely aligned with Reid than quarterback Michael Vick. It was Reid who vouched for the quarterback in 2009 and gave Vick the chance to start again.

"He's meant a lot to my career, meant a lot to my life as far as helping me make a lot of decisions that are positive, rethinking situations through, someone I could always talk to walk into his office at any time," Vick said. "We had a very close connection. I'm going to miss him."

Like Reid said on Sunday, this is the business he chose. The Eagles' defensive players dealt with their coordinator's dismissal earlier this season. The defensive linemen also dealt with their position coach's firing. Stay in the league long enough and days like Monday occur.

"Unfortunately it happens in our business," Vick said. "Everything won't last forever. For none of us."

Contact Zach Berman at zberman@phillynews.com. Follow on Twitter @ZBerm.