Eagles legend Andy Reid is back on football's biggest stage for the second straight year, looking for his second Super Bowl ring with the Chiefs.
It's a strange time for Eagles fans, who watched Reid coach their team for so long only to have his protege, Doug Pederson, be the guy to bring a ring to Philadelphia - and now Pederson is gone after just five seasons, while Reid is coaching the best team in the NFL.
Very odd! And it's probably very odd for Reid as well, knowing he was let go from his time with the Eagles because he couldn't win the big one, and then watching a good friend get fired despite bringing a trophy to Philly.
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On Monday evening, Reid was asked during Super Bowl media availability whether he'd been able to talk with Pederson, who he's known for decades, since Pederson was fired by the Eagles last month.
Reid gave a classic Big Red answer:
"Yeah, so I have talked to Doug, he's doing well. Things happen in this business. I'm not privy to the behind-the-doors issues, and I don't really want to get involved in those issues. I have enough things that you have to take care of with your own team. I don't need to deal with the other part.
"But I was proud of him for winning a Super Bowl there. I think it was great for the city of Philadelphia, and great for the actual organization of the Eagles. Well-deserved by everybody there. I just think it was time, and I'm so happy for the people of Philadelphia."
NFL
It may be a little obvious that Reid and Pederson have chatted in the three weeks since the Eagles made their decision, but it's still cool to hear. Reid's been a busy man for the past three weeks; it wouldn't have been totally shocking if Reid said they hadn't connected yet.
But, in true Andy fashion, of course he reached out to his guy.
I wonder if Reid and Pederson chatted about the reported Seahawks job that Pederson was considering, or if they tried to avoid work talk. Reid notably dove head-first into the Chiefs job without taking a break following his Eagles ouster in 2012. After five seasons in a pressure cooker like Philadelphia, it's understandable that Pederson is going to take a season off - but I wonder if he went to Reid looking for advice just to be sure. It's not a bad idea.
Oh, and slightly unrelated, here's how Reid looked for his Tuesday morning media availability:
What a legend. Go win another one, Andy.
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