Under coach Ken Whisenhunt, whom the Cardinals just fired, Arizona also beat the Eagles last year, and in 2009 upset the favored Birds in the NFC Championship game, denying Reid another trip to the Super Bowl.
"I am frankly flabbergasted that they would even consider hiring him," Paolantonio said.
Donovan McNabb's name also came up, as Paolantonio speculated that Reid might want to revive the career of former Eagles quarterback.
"I would not be shocked at all if Andy Reid brought him in as a backup quarterback to Kevin Kolb," Paolantonio told Burns & Gambo on Arizona Sports 620. "He likes to be loyal to his people. McNabb has never turned in his retirement papers, believes he has unfinished business. Reid had to be talked into trading McNabb to Washington by the general manager, Howie Roseman, kicking and screaming. So I'm just warning you, don't be surprised if it happens. I'm not saying it will, but don't be surprised."
Paolantonio wasn't saying no one should want Reid.
"I can see Kansas City, but after the Cardinals beat up on the Eagles - and it was an Andy Reid-coached team with Michael Vick healthy at quarterback, by the way, and the defense intact - I frankly didn't understand it."
The point got repeated: "It was one of the most embarrassing performances by the Eagles all year long. So, frankly, I was shocked that there was that much interest."
Reid had a nine-hour interview Wednesday with Kansas City on Wednesday in Philadelphia, delaying Reid's expected interview in Arizona.
Not that Paolantonio was forecasting disaster.
"I'm not saying Andy Reid is going to fail in Arizona, I'm just saying, boy, that to me sounds like an awful hard sell to a fanbase dying to turn things around quickly."
Paolantonio said the Eagles' 4-12 record could have been much worse, since they barely beat the Giants, Ravens and Buccaneers.
Profootballtalk.com, which gave the interview some national attention, pointed out that the opener against the Cleveland Browns was tainted, too:
"Actually, calling the win over the Browns 'legitimate' was a stretch. The Eagles luckily recovered a Vick fumble on the game-winning drive, and Browns linebacker L.J. Fort dropped an interception in the end zone that would have sent Philly to 0-1."
Contact staff writer Peter Mucha at 215-854-4342 or pmucha@phillynews.com.
