Andy Reid spoke and the media listened.
One day after feeling a need to deliver a statement to confirm that Mike Vick is the starting quarterback for the Philadelphia Eagles, the coach re-iterated that fact to reporters. He said he never even thought about benching him.
“I wasn’t upset with Michael Vick. I was upset with myself,” Reid said. “My point wasn’t that I wanted to bench Michael Vick, my point was that I needed to step back. We need to win football games and I need to coach to win football games.”
Reid actually said, after watching the tape, that he thought Vick played one of his best games of the season. Vick threw one touchdown and didn’t turn the ball over once.
Reid, who previously stated that he would be evaluating everything and everyone, said there are no lineup changes coming. Danny Watkins will likely be out again due to his lingering ankle sprain and Damaris Johnson will replace Mardy Gilyard (hamtring) on punt returns. Reid also confirmed that Mike Patterson will practice.
“We’ll work him in the rotation there,” Reid said.
Team meeting called
You know things aren’t going well when players feel the need to call a team meeting.
That’s exactly what the Eagles did Wednesday, according to quarterback Mike Vick. A players-only meeting was held with six players standing up and addressing the team: Vick, Cullen Jenkins, Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, DeMeco Ryans, Trent Cole and Jason Avant.
No one wanted to discuss what was said in the meeting, but the Eagles do plan to use it as a springboard to get this season back on track.
“People talked about their issues,” Brent Celek said. “If you have something to say, say it. We’re all a team here. It was good that it happened. It’s over now, we’re hoping it helps us get a win.”
Patterson expects to play
Injured defensive tackle Mike Patterson, who is coming off brain surgery, expects to play Monday night in New Orleans. Patterson is more of a run-stopper than a pass-rusher, but he feels like he can make an impact — if he plays.
“You never know, depends on your position on defense. I feel like, as a player, I can make a difference. We’ll what happens,” he said.
Patterson said he feels good running around and plans to give it his all.
Babin upset at a few bad apples
Jason Babin took to Twitter to call out a few Eagles fans this past week. In one message, he posted the definition of loyalty. In another, he wrote: “There are 17 teams with the same record or worse than us. Thanks for being loyal fans … We’ll get it right.”
On Thursday, Babin defended his comments and spoke about what prompted them. He said the fans at the Linc were chanting more than just “Fire Andy.”
“The fans were chanting some foul things,” Babin said. “Some of the worst stuff I’ve heard in my life, not just on the football field, in my life. I don’t want to even repeat any of it — and I’ve got a pretty high threshold for adult jokes.”
Babin was quick to point out that it was just a “few bad apples” and he didn’t want to lump all of Eagles Nation into that group. He blamed it on a three-game losing streak.
“Winning takes care of everything,” Babin said.
