Sources: Reid won’t be back as Eagles’ coach
Andy Reid is out after 14 years coaching the Philadelphia Eagles, three people familiar with the decision told the Associated Press following Sunday’s 42-7 season-ending loss to the New York Giants.
Reid is scheduled to meet with owner Jeffrey Lurie today to discuss his future and an official announcement will come afterward, according to one person, who spoke on condition of anonymity because a final agreement hasn’t been reached. That person said there’s a chance Reid might remain with the team in some capacity.
Reid is due to make $6 million in 2013 in the final year of his contract. He said he wants to coach next year, but it’s possible Lurie could persuade him to take a season off and perhaps help out in the front office in an “advisory” role.
Eagles spokesman Derek Boyko denied several reports that Lurie has already fired Reid, saying it’s “absolutely, 100 percent” untrue.
The Eagles (4-12) finished their worst season under Reid by losing 11 of their last 12 games. They missed the playoffs two straight years for the first time under Reid.
After the ugly loss to the Giants (9-7), Reid sounded like a man who knew he was going to lose his job.
“We weren’t very good,” Reid said. “That’s my responsibility and I take complete blame for it.”
Asked if he wants to return in 2013, Reid said: “I’m all in.”
Good and the bad
Drew Brees has passed for more than 5,000 yards, making him the only player to do so in a season three times.
The Saints quarterback surpassed the coveted yardage mark with a touchdown pass to Jimmy Graham in the third quarter of Sunday’s game against the Carolina Panthers. That was also the 41st scoring pass for the season for Brees, the only quarterback to pass for 40 TDs in consecutive seasons.
On the other hand, the Saints’ last-ranked defense allowed more yards in a season than any defense in NFL history.
They gave up 530 yards on Sunday for a total of 7,042 for the season. The previous record was 6,793 held by the 1981 Baltimore Colts.
Firefighters honored
The Buffalo Bills affixed a “WWFD” decal on the back of their helmets for Sunday’s game against the New York Jets to honor two fallen West Webster, N.Y., volunteer firefighters.
Michael Chiapperini and Tomasz Kaczowka were killed in a Christmas Eve ambush when they arrived at a scene of a fire in the Rochester, N.Y., suburb. William Spengler set his lakeside home ablaze before shooting down Chiapperini and Kaczowka and killing himself.