BOCA RATON, Fla. — There’s a noticeable absence from this year’s NFL owners meetings.
No Hawaiian shirt.
Andy Reid couldn’t attend the annual event this year as he awaits surgery to get a knee replacement in his right leg following an infection. Instead, Reid spoke to reporters via conference call on Tuesday morning.
The next morning, his protégé, Doug Pederson, will sit down with reporters during an hour-long breakfast session, along with the rest of the NFC’s coaches.
While Reid and Pederson won’t get to speak in person this week, the two have spoken since Pederson became the Eagles' head coach, a position once held by Reid for 14 years. He just hasn’t needed to offer Pederson much advice.
“We’ve talked,” Reid said. “I basically just check on him periodically and see how he’s doing and he’s doing great. Listen, he doesn’t need a lot of guidance. That’s not where we’re at. He knows what he needs to do.
“When you first come into a place, you’re up to your neck in it. You’re fighting every day for time. I’m not in a position where I’m going to take any time from him. I want him to be able to let him get everything done he needs to get done. I understand that and respect that. I know he’s enjoying it and he’s got a good staff. I know he’s enjoying that. A first year is tough, but it’s also a lot of fun. It’s a great challenge. He’s in it and he’s rolling with it and that’s a good thing.”
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Reid and Pederson have a long history together that has been well-documented. Reid coached Pederson with the Packers and Eagles, then added Pederson to his coaching staff in Philly. Then he took him with him to Kansas City as an offensive coordinator.
This offseason, Reid thought Pederson was ready to be a head coach.
And that’s what he told the Eagles when they asked.
“They had asked me about Doug and I thought Doug was ready to be a head coach,” said Reid, who claims he’s never had bitter feelings toward the Eagles after they fired him.
“[Pederson] had kinda done everything he could do here. I hated losing him because of our relationship, but I’m very happy and proud of him for the opportunity that he has to lead the Birds there.”
One of the things owner Jeffrey Lurie said he wanted in his next head coach was “emotional intelligence” and the ability to open his heart to players. These were perceived knocks on former head coach Chip Kelly.
Meanwhile, Pederson is perceived to be the anti-Chip, more like Reid, who was always able to communicate and relate to his players during his days in Philadelphia.
“I think you’re all in as a head coach. You jump in and you go,” Reid said. “You have relationships with these guys. You’re dealing with a lot of different issues; these are human beings. There are real-life things that come up that you have to deal with and part of that emotional intelligence comes back to that. You have to be able to handle that in a certain way. Be real with them and still be the man in charge there. There’s a fine line on how you do that. I think Doug possesses the ability to do that.”
When asked why he thought Pederson was ready to be a head coach, Reid pointed toward a few things. He mentioned Pederson’s preparedness in football matters, his knowledge of the personnel side of the game, and his ability to deal with the media.
“I just thought it was a win-win for both parties," Reid said. "For Doug and for the Eagles."