Bad Sad Dad

it was not surprising that Eagles Head Coach Andy Reid's sons had drug relapses that have now landed them in jail. No, the most shocking development of this family tragedy is Reid's apparent willingness to overlook the problems under his own roof. It was the sentencing judge's jarring judgment that the Reid's are "family in crisis" and that there is "no family structure" that most clearly laid out the underlying problems of the father, and was a powerful repudiation of those that have suggested that Andy was essentially blameless in the run-ins his two knucklehead twentysomething sons, being adults themselves, had with the law (and drugs).

What did Andy Reid know? And when did he know it? With Andy, like his post-game press conferences...we'll never know. And now that the kids have been sentenced, there is no legal venue to further explore the home life impact on the sons. Of course, we could see a confessional book from Britt or Garrett at some point in the future ( a father and sons intervention/reconciliation on Oprah?) but that is most likely after Reid is no longer Eagles coach.

Speaking of which, at this point, the prospects of Andy Reid resigning before the end of the season are preposterous. Why? What good would come of that? More to the point, both his sons are in jail each for at least the next two months. Reid would resign for the purposes of doing what exactly? Visiting his sons in jail? Sitting around stewing and pining for more pass plays?

I think it entirely conceivable now that Reid does resign after the season, or we could be looking at an NFL-first season long (2008) leave of absence by a head coach.

Note: I don't mean to suggest that Andy Reid has not tried to help his sons. I think he and his wife have been trying to both deal with and help each of their children under incredibly trying circumstances. In that context, i think it amazing that Reid has been able to accomplish professionally with the Eagles what he has while wrestling with tough, terrible personal problems at home.