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The recent mid-term elections in this country got me thinking about change.
The conventional wisdom in Washington is that President Bush was left weakened and more isolated by Tuesday's thumping at the hands of Democrats. 'Dubya' even acquiesced to his critics and handed them a trophy, the scalp of defense secretary Donald Rumsfeld.
But, why are the country's liberals happy?
I didn't see any prominent democrats campaigning with liberal ideology. There was no talk of repealing tax cuts, no talk of cut and run in Iraq and no talk about left wing Supreme Court judges.
Why ? -- Those things aren't really all that popular amongst centrists, the people you need to woo in order to win any election.
So is anything really going to change?
Which brings me to Andy Reid.
The conventional wisdom regarding Philadelphia's football coach is that he has lost his team. And, I have helped perpetuate that thesis because, quite frankly, I believe it.
But that doesn't mean jettisoning Reid for another coach would improve things for the Birds.
Thing about it -- the 2006 Eagles are either a really good team that has woefully underachieved or an average club that got off to rousing start because of the schedule.
The final eight games will be the ballot box that decides that question but it's clear -- exit polls are pointing to the latter.
This team just isn't as talented as you all think it is.
The running game is still nonexistent. The offensive line is pedestrian. The receivers lead the league in drops. The interior of the defensive line is softer than Chris Webber's defense. All the outside linebackers do is give Joe Conklin material, and the strong safety has gone from the Pro Bowl to the outhouse in record time.
None of that speaks well of Reid's performance as dictator of the NovaCare Complex. But, assuming the rotund one is the problem -- Who are you going to bring in to replace him?
Sports, like politics, dictates you go in the opposite direction.
If you dispense of a player's coach , you need to bring in a disciplinarian or vice versa. And more often than not you end up setting yourself back years.
Because the players don't change.
One thing we know unequivocally is that Reid has won with good players. We won't be able to say the same thing if the Birds bring in a new coach.
So, to me, the answer is simple -- Get better players and keep Andy.
Sometimes the devil you know is better than the devil you don't.
-You can reach John McMullen at jmcmullen1@comcast.net or john@phillysportsline.com
