Andy Reid

FINALLY, there was an opportunity Monday to ask Andy Reid about what Eagles chairman Jeffrey Lurie said a week earlier, that Lurie didn't hold general manager Howie Roseman accountable for the Birds' anemic-looking 2010 and 2011 drafts because Roseman didn't have final say on draft decisions those years. "I think everybody's got to be pulling in the same direction," Reid said, during a conference call with Philadelphia reporters, a few hours after he was introduced as the new coach of the Kansas City Chiefs.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Given perhaps one last chance to throw someone from the Eagles under the bus, Andy Reid took the road he traveled for 14 years in Philadelphia. But the ex-Eagles coach, upon his formal introduction as the Chiefs new head coach, subtly gave some insight into why it all went so wrong during his last two seasons. Asked if the decline could have been avoided if he had more say on the direction of the team, Reid said no. But he did intimate that the "joint effort" of the Eagles' decision-makers was no longer producing the desired results.

There is no precedent for Andy Reid. It is as futile to predict his chances for success in Kansas City based on prior coaches' records as it was to forecast an eventual Super Bowl in Philadelphia because Bill Cowher took 14 years to win one. Reid's immediate predecessors failed spectacularly after leaving the Eagles. Buddy Ryan was a disaster in Arizona. Rich Kotite was a debacle with the Jets. Ray Rhodes was a debasticle - so bad we need to create a new word - in his lone year in Green Bay. You could argue that Reid, like Rhodes, could use a year off to decompress.

The reaction to Andy Reid's hiring in Kansas City has been overwhelmingly positive. "Excited for the new hiring," said defensive back DeQuan Menzie, who spent most of his rookie season on injured reserve. "Looking forward to playing for such a highly respected coach. " Tight end Tony Moeaki tweeted, "Andy Reid though? That's sweet!" Left tackle Eric Winston also took to Twitter when he was asked his impression, and said: "Excited. Proven winner. " Winston even said he was looking forward to April and the start of offseason work.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Given the opportunity to say goodbye, Andy Reid ducked out the back and four days later resurfaced here of all places. The divorce was a long time coming and it got nasty at the end, with the chants and the papers bags and the banners. But when Reid chose not to have one final news conference it was as if he wanted to deny Eagles fans their chance at closure. Fourteen years is a long time in one place for any NFL coach, but perhaps nowhere as long as in Philadelphia.

Clearly, the Kansas City Chiefs have not paid attention to the fine details of Andy Reid's tenure as head coach of the Philadelphia Eagles. Otherwise, there is no way they would have let general manager Scott Pioli walk out the door moments before Reid walked in as the new head coach on Friday. I'm not saying Reid was a bad hire. Despite the way things ended, his resumé over 14 years as the Eagles coach is impressive. He didn't win a Super Bowl, but he won more games than any coach in Eagles history, made the playoffs nine times, reached five NFC Championship Games and made it to a Super Bowl.

Andy Reid is the Chiefs' new chief. The former Eagles coach came to an agreement with Kansas City to become its next head coach. The Chiefs tweeted a photo of Reid and Chiefs owner Clark Hunt signing the contract on Friday night. "Andy Reid and Clark Hunt make it official," the tweet said. "Reid becomes the Head Coach of the Chiefs. " Reid and his wife, Tammy, boarded a private plane with Hunt and were flown to Kansas City Friday afternoon. When the Reids touched down at Kansas City airport, camera crews were already waiting for the new coach, according to local reports.

During the slow death march that concluded Andy Reid's long career in Philadelphia this fall and winter, something interesting happened: Despite my sports fanaticism, I found myself not caring about the actual games - how many times did I have to watch an overpaid cornerback amble after a fleeing receiver? - but eagerly awaiting the coach's postgame news conferences. After each debacle, the stoic, tight-lipped coach would trudge to the podium and mouth the same platitudes, for which he would be pilloried in the media.

All signs point to Kansas City as Andy Reid's next stop. The ex-Eagles coach reportedly was "on the verge" of signing a deal with the Chiefs after meeting with the Kansas City brass for nine hours Wednesday in Philadelphia. "The major issues have been discussed and agreed upon," a source told ESPN. Some reports said that Reid still planned to interview with the Arizona Cardinals and San Diego Chargers, but neither team has confirmed such a meeting. Arizona president Michael Bidwill had said that the Cardinals would interview Reid, but those plans appear to have been put off for now. The Cardinals already interviewed Ray Horton, their defensive coordinator, and reportedly have scheduled an interview with Pittsburgh Steelers offensive coordinator Todd Haley.

The idea that Andy Reid always had final say is a bit of a myth, according to former Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb. Before being ousted in June, team president Joe Banner sometimes exercised more authority than Reid, who was fired Monday, McNabb said Thursday on Comcast SportsNet's Daily News Live . As reported earlier today , McNabb also said on the show that the Eagles should hire a defensive-minded coach, not offensively innovative...