Andy Reid Claims he is the Man ‘In Charge’ and that LeSean McCoy’s Contract Talks are ‘Heading in the Right Direction.’
The Philadelphia Eagles may have massively underachieved from what were excessively high expectations for last season, but this year Andy Reid believes his team will turn it around. After starting the season 1-4 through the first five games, Philadelphia won their last four games to finish 8-8 on a positive note last season.The Eagles head coach landed the man he wanted in Fletcher Cox in the first round of the 2012 NFL draft. The Mississippi State defensive tackle went number 12 overall and looks to provide a big lift for an already strong defensive front line.Andy Reid joined 97.5 The Fanatic in Philadelphia with The Mike Missanelli Show to discuss the Philadelphia Eagles being an improved team based off their draft, the Eagles having a great draft class, the Eagles not coming together as a football team last year, being in full control of the Philadelphia Eagles personnel decisions and getting LeSean McCoy signed long term.
Why do fans think your team is going to be better than the 8-8 record last season based on the draft?
“I think we finished on a positive note. You can’t excuse that for the 8-8 record. I understand that, but what it allows you to do is go into the off-season with some positives and the positive is the attitude where you dominated those teams down the stretch and that’s what the guys have done. We’ve had an opportunity as coaches and players, a lot of these guys for the first time to go through an off-season program with us and mini camps. I think that adds up and you had the training camp that’s coming up, which will be very demanding and we should be able to put out a good show for our fans.”How did you feel about the NFL draft? You got the guy you wanted in Fletcher Cox. I can’t find a flaw?“I think we did pretty good. Time will tell. Like any of your rookie classes it takes a year or two to figure it out and see how you did. I think we have a few guys in this group that have a chance to contribute and we look forward to adding them into the mix, which are all positive things.”Why didn’t it work out last year after going 8-8?“I think as coaches and players we would all tell you that we didn’t come together as a football team until it was too late. You had too many moving parts.
One of which was the part that I was telling you. I expected the offense to contribute sooner and put more points on the board than what we did. It’s that simple and we were getting use to…most of the changes that took place on the defensive side was between coaches and players. That’s where you had the most moving parts and that was going to take a little bit of time to come together.”There were some rumors about a power struggle in the front office. Are you in full control of this football team? “Well I am the man in charge. All the arrows go right here that you are going to shoot. If you are going to shoot them? Shoot right here. I am good with it.”So then are you going to take control of LeSean McCoy’s contract situation if he starts to have an issue this season similar to what didn’t happen last year with DeSean Jackson?“I take charge of all the things that happen there. DeSean’s was no different than LeSean’s will be, so as far as my hand on it? It’ll all work out. He knows we appreciate him and we are working through those negotiations and I think good things will happen.So will you guys avoid a potential holdout with LeSean?“Well we’ve had him up here the whole time, so he’s been here working out. He and I have talked. I can’t share that with everybody, but I will tell you it is heading in the right direction. That’s all I can tell you.” Listen to Andy Reid on 97.5 The Fanatic in Philadelphia [Interview begins at the 1:23:20 mark]Tags: 97.5 the Fanatic in Philadelphia, Andy Reid, LeSean McCoy, NFL, Philadelphia Eagles, The Mike Missanelli Show
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