After dealing with family troubles, Reid rejoins Eagles
Andy Reid Returns to the Eagles
PHILADELPHIA -- Andy Reid sounded a lot like a football coach when he talked about his sons' legal troubles.
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Take everything one day at a time. Hit trouble head on. Eliminate distractions.
Sounds like someone who's prepared for both the Giants and a giant personal crisis.
Reid returned from a temporary leave of absence Friday, five weeks after leaving the Philadelphia Eagles because his two oldest sons face criminal charges. Reid returned to his duties full time, in time for the NFL owners meetings in Arizona next week.
Reid took leave on Feb. 12 because his sons were embroiled in legal troubles stemming from separate arrests on Jan. 30.
"It's good to be back," Reid said. "I thought it was very important that I took a little time and had the chance to spend the time with my family."
While Reid used a leave of absence to pull his family together, his sons' serious legal issues are far from over.
Britt Reid, 21, faces a felony charge of carrying a firearm without a license and misdemeanor drug charges stemming from a road rage incident in which he allegedly pointed a gun at another motorist.
Garrett Reid, 23, faces charges he injured a woman in a traffic accident while under the influence of heroin.
Because of the pending legal issues, Reid said little about his sons and his personal life. Speaking in his usual quiet, calm tone, and wearing a button-down striped shirt with an Eagles logo, Reid asked a jam-packed auditorium to try to keep the questions related to football.
"We're doing well," Reid said. "We're working through this."
Reid said he never seriously considered quitting and never got to the point where he wanted to walk away.
"Family, obviously, is the most important thing in my life," Reid said. "To say walking away, I can't say it doesn't cross your mind. I knew I needed to take some time and to make sure I addressed the issue."
Despite being away from the team, Reid maintained daily contact with the Eagles during the start of free agency and has been available to participate in personnel decisions. Reid said he kept in contact with team president Joe Banner and owner Jeffrey Lurie, and said he didn't think he "completely shortchanged" his job.
The Eagles lost wide receiver Donte' Stallworth and quarterback Jeff Garcia; signed free agent receivers Bethel Johnson and Kevin Curtis, and defensive tackle Montae Reagor; and re-signed or gave extensions to their own players, such as quarterback A.J. Feeley and running back Correll Buckhalter.
"I feel like we've got a pretty good football team coming back," said Reid, also the head of football operations.
Reid has led the Eagles to the playoffs six times, including four trips to the NFC championship game and one Super Bowl, in eight seasons as head coach. He's dealt with several challenges the past two seasons from the Terrell Owens soap opera and a series of key injuries in 2005 to losing five-time Pro Bowl quarterback Donovan McNabb in Week 11 this past season.
Despite McNabb's injury, the Eagles won their final five games behind Garcia, finished 10-6 to capture their fifth NFC East title in six years and reached the second round of the playoffs. Many considered it Reid's best coaching job in Philadelphia. Players credited his steady approach for helping them overcome a difficult midseason stretch and the season-ending injuries to McNabb and star defensive end Jevon Kearse.
Reid thanked the organization and other friends, fans and colleagues for all their support.
"You turn the situation around and make it as much of a positive as you can and say that it strengthens you in both areas, both as a father as a coach," he said.
Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press
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