Props to the Inquirer for their in-depth look at the Eagles decision makers. In an article that explores the relationship between Andy Reid and Joe Banner, it becomes clear that coach does not make all the decisions. In fact, Joe Banner is the man.

According to an internal source quoted in the article, “Joe’s the guy. Case closed.” Now, we are taking that out of context, but that is a strong quote. In context, the source discusses what irks Reid about banner is what Boston Joe says publicly sometimes. Still, the source indicates that Joe rarely loses any real internal debates.

Joe Banner and Andy Reid have worked to make the Eagles a top NFL franchise. Who has the final call? A source says it's Banner.

There is plenty of other juicy stuff in the article — and some boring crap as well. For now, let’s read into this one little portion. If Joe wins out on everything, and he is the one who says what the Eagles can offer players — as Sheldon Brown is quoted as saying — then you’d have to think that if Reid had his way, Brian Dawkins and, possibly, Donovan McNabb are still in Eagles uniforms.

Reid won with Dawkins and McNabb. You think he likes the prospect of entering next year without either guy?

While Reid may or may not have though McNabb was mentally right for Philly, you can bet he’d feel more comfortable with mcnabb behind center, especially if his job could be on the line. And, make no mistake, it is.

Banner is the one who said last offseason, “The definition of insanity is doing the same thing and expecting different results.”

If you don’t think that quote had something to do with McNabb being shipped to Washington, you’re kidding yourself. Banner basically took the Tampa Bay Bucs mindset that caused Tony Dungy to move to Indianapolis. Dungy had turned around the franchise but couldn’t get the Bucs past the NFC title game. They fired him, traded for Jon Gruden and won a Super Bowl. I’m sure we all remember that year as it was the Eagles second of four straight NFC Title game appearances.

Tampa made an unpopular move and won a title. Honestly, the Eagles run to the NFC Title game in 2008 likely kept McNabb and Reid here last year.

Now, how was moving McNabb Banner’s decision and not Reid’s? Reid said after the year that McNabb was the starting quarterback. He knows what Mcnabb can do. He, like the rest of us, don’t know Kolb’s full potential or lack thereof. Two games does not make a career. Last year at this time, we all though Kolb was the next second round bust in the Reid era.

Our guess is that, all things being equal, Reid would have made another run with McNabb. But, he also wasn’t going to put his job on the line to keep the only QB he’s known. Banner wanted McNabb dealt and once he inserted his own protege, Howie Roseman, as GM, No. 5 received a one-way plane ticket out of town.

Hard to believe it, but this pipsqueek is the most powerful man of our NFL franchise.

Reid is the guy who brought good football sense to Philly and he’s publicly touted as The Man at the NovaCare Complex. But, Banner is the guy who ultimately determines how the roster is constructed in terms of dollars and cents, and that does play a role in who is on the team. If not, Dawkins, Brown and McNabb are likely still here.

Sunday’s article confirms what we’ve all known for the last three years — Banner runs the team, not Reid. The only question now is this: Is it Super Bowl or bust for Reid? Is there a Jon Gruden on Banner’s radar?

From the time he was booed at the NFL Draft, and his subsequent reaction, Eagles fans always questioned whether or not McNabb was made for this town. Was he tough enough to sustain the criticism that goes with being the starting quarterback in a town starving for its first Super Bowl championship, and first NFL title since 1960? Or, as Andy Reid calls it, was he “wired for Philadelphia?”

Ashley Fox has a great, in-depth look at Andy Reid today that focuses more on the off-field issues involving his sons that he’s had to deal with the last three years. Tucked into the piece is a bit of football talk in the form of the quarterback situation, and drafting players that can thrive playing in front of a demanding, passionate, intelligent fan base.

Donovan McNabb sulks after being replaced by Kevin Kolb in Baltimore in 2008. Andy reid says he drafted McNabb because the Syracuse grad was "wired for Philadelphia." In the end, does Reid believe that?

He’s quoted in the piece as saying, “(McNabb) had the ability to laugh things off that needed to be laughed off and not take things too serious from the outside influences. At the same time, he was able to focus on the job at hand. You have to be able to do that here.”

He thinks Kolb has the mentality to survive the disappointing Sundays surely to come this year when he goes throw the ups and downs all first-year starters face.

He said, “They probably get to it a different way, but [Kolb] has that ability to not let the outside things influence his game inside. I think that’s important.”

Having read both quotes, you have to question if McNabb ended up having the mentality Reid envisioned when he tied his credibility to the quarterback’s arm in the 1999 draft. While we’re one of McNabb’s supporters and were against the trade, clearly McNabb had trouble accepting blame and dealing with the perception people had of him during his time in Eagles green.

He was upset when the Eagles drafted Kolb. Reports indicated he and Reid barely talked that offseason. While one can understand being upset at a player drafted to eventually succeed you, a professional should embrace the challenge and step up a bit more.

Also, look at last year when the Eagles got pounded by Dallas. McNabb referred to the young guys and implied it was their fault as much as his. A veteran who is “wired for Philadelphia” doesn’t deflect any attention or blame to young guys just learning the pro game. DeSean Jackson was in just his second year, and Jeremy Maclin was a rookie. Let them be.

So, was McNabb “Philly wired?” Clearly not. And, Reid implies just as much in his quotes above. He says Kolb “goes at it in (a) different way.” Then Reid uses the key word — “but.” he continues to say that outside issues don’t affect Kolb. Is he implying that McNabb couldn’t block out the media and fans perception of him? Was McNabb another Mike Schmidt — highly successful but just never felt comfortable in this city?

Want a chance to meet some of Philly’s sports personalities and raise money for a great cause? Magee Rehabilitation Hospital in Philadelphia will host its tenth annual Night of Champions event to raise money for wheelchair sports programs on May 7.

Philadelphia Eagles coach Andy Reid, fresh off trading Donovan McNabb, will join other celebrities from the Philadelphia sports world, including NBA Hall of Famer Billy Cunningham, A10 Coach of the Year Fran Dunphy, Howard Eskin, Adam Taliaferro, Mike Mamula, Scott Palmer, Joe Conklin, Pat Morris, Dave Shultz, Jon Harris and Brian Propp.

The event, which begins at 6:30 pm, will once again be held at the Sheet Metal Workers Union Hall at 1301 South Columbus Blvd, Philadelphia.

Andy Reid will attend Magee Rehabilitation Hospital's annual Night of Champions event to support wheelchair sports on May 7. No word on whether or not he'll bring any leftover Donovan McNabb memorabilia for the live or silent auctions.

Magee Rehabilitation Hospital will present its 2010 Champion in the Community Award to the Katie Samson Foundation for its constant support of Magee’s Wheelchair Sports Program.

Sports offered through Magee include wheelchair basketball, rugby, tennis, and soccer. The Philadelphia 76ers and Philadelphia Eagles sponsor the Magee Eagles Wheelchair Rugby team, while the 76ers sponsor the Magee Sixers. Both squads have fielded championship-caliber teams in recent years.

The Katie Samson Foundation was created after local Pennsylvania lacrosse player Katie Samson was paralyzed from the chest down as a result of a sledding accident in 2000. Since then, Katie, her friends, family and supporters have run the annual Katie Samson Lacrosse Festival, bringing dozens of men’s and women’s lacrosse teams and thousands of fans together in Radnor, Penn., each year for a one-day celebration of the game.

Proceeds are given to Magee and other charities that support spinal cord injury research, care, and quality of life improvements to those with spinal cord injuries. To date, the Katie Samson Foundation has raised more than $1 million. This year’s festival will be held April 24 at Radnor High School.

For more information on the Night of Champions, or to inquire about sponsorship opportunities, call 215-587-3090 or visit MageeRehab.org

Brian Westbrook says he is preparing to return to the Eagles next year. However, after two lackluster seasons in which he was injured and appeared to have lost the explosiveness that made him the Eagles ultimate weapon, questioning whether or not he will be back is fair game.

The fact is Westbrook is scheduled to make north of $7 million next year. Even in an uncapped year, that is a lot to spend on a player who may or may not make an impact. Would that money be better spent elsewhere?

The Eagles need another back to pair with LeSean McCoy, who will enter the season as the starter — with or without BWest36.

LaDainian Tomlinson will be looking for a new home this year.

Two names to keep an eye on are LaDainian Tomlinson and Reggie Bush. Before you point out that neither is a feature back at this point, keep in mind the Eagles don’t need that.

Tomlinson will not be back in San Diego. He will need to go elsewhere to chase the Super Bowl championship that has eluded him. LT is not the explosive back he once was. However, he can still get the job done in short-yardage situations.

Last year, he averaged a pedestrian 3.3 yards-per-carry, but still managed to find pay dirt 12 times. If the Eagles want a guy who can come in and get the tough yards and bull his way into the end zone when they get in the red zone, LT may be there guy. However, he’ll need to take a severely reduced salary no matter where he goes.

Bush, meanwhile, is in jeopardy of being waived by the Saints as he is due to make $20 million the next two years. Bush has certainly not lived up to expectations and will never be the next Barry Sanders. He just isn’t good unless he gets into open space.

That is precisely why he would fit in with the Eagles, as long as the price is right. Andy Reid loves to run the screen pass and the Eagles were great at it with Westbrook. With Bush’s speed and elusiveness, he may just be the perfect WCO compliment to McCoy.

Also, Bush is a threat in the return game. Adding him could help the Eagles keep DeSean Jackson fresh by limiting the number of hits he takes when returning punts.

Whether or not the Eagles are serious contenders for LT or Bush, running back is a position to keep an eye on this offseason.

By FRANK WARD
DailyPhiladelphian.com Editor

Andy Reid, Donovan McNabb, Joe Banner and the rest of the Eagles better have been paying attention to the Super Bowl tonight. They must learn a lesson from the Saints and head coach Sean Payton: Be aggressive and don’t be scared to fail.

The Saints got off to a slow start, trailing 10-0 at one point, but they never got down. They never doubted themselves. And, if they did, coach Sean Payton wouldn’t let his troops roll over.

They Saints are hoisting their first Lombardi Trophy tonight because they were aggressive and took chances. That is often the difference between winning and losing.

Andy Reid and the Eagles need to get back to believing in themselves and not being scared to fail.

There was a point early in Andy Reid’s tenure in Philadelphia when he would gamble like Payton did on Sunday. He started his second season as Eagles coach with an onside kick in Dallas. The Eagles followed Reid’s confidence en route to spanking the Cowboys 41-14 as Duce Staley piled up more than 200 yards on the ground. That play was the spark that ignited a string of five straight playoff trips, four NFC title games and a Super Bowl appearance.

Reid also tried an onside kick against the Chiefs to start the second half in a game a year later.

The point is that Reid took risks and usually made the most of them. His players believed in themselves because of his play calling.

In recent years, Reid has gotten too conservative. He is scared to fail and when you prepare and play that way, you lose. It’s that simple.

Sure, Big Red tried an onside kick to start the game against the Redskins in November, but that was against a bad team. Reid knew failing in that situation likely wouldn’t cost his team the game. He had nothing to lose.

Would Reid try that or another risky play in a bigger game? A playoff game? A Super Bowl?

That’s the question he and his quarterback need to ask themselves today. If they need proof on the impact gutsy, risk-taking play calling can have on a team, all they have to do is watch the tape of Super Bowl XLIV. They have the next five months to do so.

With Tom Heckert leaving town to take the Cleveland Browns general manager position, the Eagles are expected to promote current Vice President of Player Personnel Howie Roseman to succeed Heckert.

Can Roseman duplicate the success that Heckert had in finding players, especially in the draft as the Eagles have done the last few years?

That’s debatable, and we are — fortunately or unfortunately — about to find out.

Howie Roseman next Eagles GM.

From our standpoint, there are questions surrounding Roseman’s credentials as an evaluator of talent. And, now is not the time to take a chance on someone without a proven track record.

Roseman has been with the team for ten years, however, he’s been more on the business end of the team until recently. He started as a salary cap assistant to Joe Banner in 2000. Three years later he was elevated to director of football administration — whatever that is (it’s probably safe to assume he shuffled some papers or something). In 2006, he was promoted to vice president of football administration.

While he learned something about how to negotiate contracts in those positions, how much interaction he had with the scouting department and those who evaluate talent and structure the team’s roster is open to debate.

In any event, in May 2008 he was elevated to vice president of player personnel. According to the bio on the Eagles web site, Roseman currently “manages the college scouting staff, organizes and runs draft meetings, and scouts the top college prospects from throughout the country.” He also helped Heckert and Reid in free agency.

Can Howie Roseman find the next Brent Celek?

The bottom line is that while he helped Heckert, who knows what kind of ability he has to find the diamond in the rough. Scouting the best prospects is easy. Pay attention to the Heisman race and go see those players. However, you get graded on your ability to draft in rounds three through seven.

While Reid has final say, the fact is he is too busy throughout the season to watch NCAA football and relies on his GM and scouting department.

Roseman, who has a Jurist Doctorate degree from Fordham Law School, has gone from salary cap assistant to general manager in ten years. That’s quite a fast rise for a lawyer who joined the Eagles with no scouting experience and went straight to the front office. He’s never paid his dues as a low level scout.

For his part, Reid says the notion that Roseman isn’t a true “football guy” is hogwash.

“I have a tremendous personnel staff and Howie is one of those guys,” Reid told Les Bowen and other reporters today. “I have a bunch of guys that have really done a nice job there. I’m not with you on that comment. However, I will tell you, without slighting Howie at all, that he’s done a nice job.”

While it’s nice for Reid and Banner to promote their boy, they need to make sure the scouting department respects Howie and will support him. If not, morale will suffer and this is a critical point in the future of the team.

With offensive and defensive lines that need, a linebacking corps that regressed this year, an aging corner in Sheldon Brown, the need for a second back to compliment LeSean McCoy, and the possibility that the team will move on from McNabb, the next GM better be in a position to make plays and fill those holes. And, he better be ready to perform in a hurry.

For Reid and Banner’s sake, Roseman better be up to the challenge.

“If you continue to do the same thing, you will get the same results.”

Eagles pipsqueak President Joe Banner said those words following the team’s loss to the Cardinals in last year’s NFC Championship Game.

Andy Reid displays his frustration during Sunday's 20-16 loss to Dallas.

Andy Reid didn’t get the memo because 11 seasons into his tenure he still wastes timeouts, challenges plays he shouldn’t and wouldn’t know clock management skills if they were a bacon cheeseburger on a plate right in front of him.

Granted, Donovan McNabb didn’t have the best game of his career Sunday night, but Reid’s lack of saving timeouts for the end of a close game certainly played a part in the team’s 20-16 loss to the Cowpokes on Sunday.

After burning a timeout early in the third quarter, Reid twice challenged the spot of the ball and lost both. With the challenges went the team’s final two timeouts. The Eagles then couldn’t stop the clock on Dallas’ final possession.

Big Red entered the dreaded Mike Martz territory on Sunday. Martz was notorious for challenging every play he could, including the spot of a ball. Your Daily Philadelphian can’t recall anyone other than Martz losing two challenges regarding where an official placed the ball twice in one game. Well, your head coach now holds that distinction as well.

Not only should the Eagles have lost the first challenge, they should have had the ball moved back even further, as pointed out by Al Michaels on Sunday Night Football on NBC.

When will Andy realize he needs to conserve timeouts for later in games, especially close NFC East battles? Especially when first place is on the line.

Then again, if he hasn’t learned that in 11 years, what makes us think he’s going to change? Next week, he’ll probably challenge the amount of mustard placed on his hot dog at halftime. I hear the San Diego vendors can be pretty stingy with their condiments, especially during a recession.

Hey, Andy, you’re notorious for saying “Time’s yours.” When are you going to realize the time is ours and stop pissing away our timeouts? Maybe then, Donovan will have enough time to actually drive the team down the field in the waning minutes of a game.

If you don’t learn this lesson and quick, you might as well kiss that extension goodbye because you’ll be sitting in an IHOP next to Martz sooner than you’d like to.

In an effort to knock the Phillies off the front page, the Eagles acquired Will Witherspoon on Tuesday.

In an effort to refocus the Philly sports spotlight on themselves today, the Eagles have made a trade at the deadline to solidify themselves as championship contenders.

Will Witherspoon was acquired to add needed depth at the LB position. We’re sure this move will knock J-Roll, Ryan Howard and the Phillies off of the front page of Wednesday’s papers. The Eagles are obviously jealous of the Phillies ability to win a ring and pursue a second, and made this move to take back their town.

The zero time Pro Bowler will surely fill the gap created when Stewart Bradley tore his knee to shreds during a charity fund raising event in August.

This move is significant for two more reasons. First, Omar Gaither is clearly more injured than the team suspected, and the Eagles couldn’t rely only on Jeremiah trotter to man the middle as the team gets into the NFC East schedule.

Second, Reggie Brown will now play an active role in the Eagles offense and is finally ready to realize his potential.

To get Witherspoon, the Eagles traded Brandon Gibson and a future fifth round pick to St. Louis for Witherspoon. Gibson, a late round pick this year, was ahead of Brown on the depth chart. Andy Reid and company wanted to get Brown in a position to make plays.

Why else would the Eagles pick up Witherspoon and the $5 million he is owed in each of the next two years?

“This is my fault; I need to put my players in a better position to make plays.”

For more than a decade, Eagles fans have been subjected to that patronizing statement from coach Andy Reid after every loss.

This is one week we must accept that line simply because it’s true. Sunday’s embarrassing 13-9 loss the the Raiders — a team whose only other win was against a winless Chiefs team — started with Reid the GM and ended with Reid the coach.

Coach Andy Reid is to blame for Sunday's 13-9 loss to the Raiders.

From purely an Xs and Os standpoint, the Eagles were not ready to play. Granted, the Raiders have talent on the defensive side of the ball, but their offense is putrid.

Outside of Justin Fargas, Michael Bush and Zach Miller, they don’t have an offensive player who would play a prominent role on the Eagles, the Giants, the Saints or any other winning franchise. Even Fargas and Bush are pushing it.

Yet, the Raiders beat the Eagles.

The Raiders don’t have a legitimate NFL quarterback or receiver.

Yet, the Eagles were so bad that Raiders signal caller JaMarcus Russell was one of Peter King’s offensive players of the week in his Monday Morning Quarterback column.

On defense, the Eagles’ ineptness at covering the tight end was again demonstrated when Zach Miller shaked-and-baked his way past the Axeman and the Eagles defense on the way to an 86-yard touchdown.

The offense couldn’t do anything because the offensive line looked like Hiroki Kuroda pitching against the Phillies line-up. Jason Peters left the game with a knee injury in the first quarter and didn’t return.

King Dunlap replaced Peters and the Raiders took the Santa Monica freeway to Donovan McNabb the rest of the day. The Eagles offensive line at that point had just one projected starter playing — center Jamaal Jackson. Peters was out of the game and Todd Herramans has yet to suit up this season.

Then, there are the Andrews brothers — Shawn and Stacey. This is where Reid went wrong. He counted on Shawn who has been bothered by back injuries and depression the last two years. We all know that Shawn is in Los Angeles right now. Stacey was coming of of ACL surgery, yet Reid signed him to a six year, $40 million contract. Stacey started the first game, but then was relegated to the second team because he couldn;t get his blocking technique down.

Reid the GM is responsible for the Eagles lack of depth on the line that resulted in yesterday’s loss.

Reid the coach was responsible for not having his team ready, and not taking advantage of the one thing that did work — the running game. Brian Westbrook rushed the ball six times for 50 yards, an eight yard-per-carry average.

Reid is quoted on PhiladelphiaEagles.com as saying they should have run more.

“Coming out, I thought we could have run a little bit more, yes,” Reid said. ”I think we had 14 runs, we could have had a few more than that. But we did what we thought would help us win the game. But looking back we probably could have run the ball a little bit more.”

Not running the ball is purely the fault of coaching; personnel is purely the fault of the GM.

For the Eagles, they are both Reid. They are both why the Eagles loss to an inept, inferior organization yesterday.

The Los Angeles Clippers and Arizona Cardinals have been bumped down the list of professional sports most dysfunctional organizations. The top spot now belongs to the Philadelphia Eagles opponent for this week — the Oakland Raiders.

In the last year, owner Al Davis fired one coach he accused of being a liar and replaced him with one who is under investigation for knocking out one of his assistant coaches. Tom Cable also faces sanctions from the NFL if he is found guilty of assaulting defensive coach Randy Hanson.

On the field, the Raiders aren’t much better and the Eagles should set the tone for a banner Philly sports day that will culminate with a Phillies win over the Dodgers on Sunday night (weather permitting).

Brian Westbrook will look to help the Eagles run past the Raiders on Sunday.

Quarterback — Edge: Eagles. Raiders QB JaBustus Russell  is averaging 121 yards passing per game with an impressive 4:1 touchdown-and-interception ratio. Oh, yeah, four is the number of interceptions he’s thrown. He actually has thrown twice as many picks as Lord Favre. That’s pretty bad. By comparison, Eagles signal caller Donovan McNabb has thrown five touchdowns and one interception in two games this year.

Running Back — Edge: Eagles. Darren McFadden, the Raiders version of Reggie Bush, is out with an injury. Justin Fargas and Michael Bush are left to carry the load. Bush is an underrated, bruising back. However, with no passing game to speak of, the Raiders run game will go nowhere. Brian Westbrook and Shady McCoy should each get a touchdown this weekend.

Wide Receiver — Edge: Eagles. Javon Walker is a has been who doesn’t even appear on the team’s official depth chart. Darrius Heyward-Bey is a never will be. Heyward-Bey, Oakland’s first round pick this year, has two more receptions this year than his grandmom. The raiders top producing wideout is Louis Murphy, who has ten more receptions than Heyward-Bey. For the Eagles, rookie Jeremy Maclin had his coming out party last week, and teams with DeSean Jackson to give opposing defenders nightmares due to the wideouts’ speed. Jason Avant is an underrated slot receiver.

Tight End — Edge: Push. For the Raiders, Zach Miller is a solid, young receiver. Put him in an Eagles uniform with McNabb and Kolb throwing to him, and he’d probably be as productive as Brent Celek. The Eagles young gun is clearly have the better year. However, this is about production this week, and the Eagles linebackers have not stopped a tight end all season.

Offensive Line — Edge: Push. OK, it’s not really a push, but your Daily Philadelphian started feeling sorry for the Raiders. Give the Eagles the edge here, too. Robert Gallery is out for the Raiders. He is their most noteworthy lineman.

Defensive Line — Edge:Push. The Raiders line up two ancient, walker-dependent cagey veterans at defensive end in Richard Seymour and Greg Ellis. The two have combined for six sacks so far this season. Eagles starting defensive ends Trent Cole and Victor Abiamiri have combined for 4.5 sacks. The run stopping ability of each club is comparable.

Linebacker — Edge: Push. This is more of an indictment on the Eagles inability to cover a tight end than it is an attempt to give the Raiders any props.

Secondary — Edge: Eagles. Nnamdi Asomugha is a very good corner back, but he doesn’t get much publicity because he plays in a Black Hole for a team that has been lost for years. The usual suspects of Samuel, Brown and Mikell are clearly a step above the Raiders secondary.

Special Teams –Edge: Eagles. DeSean Jackson is always the x-factor. Plus, we’ll take David Akers over Seabass these days.

Wildcat — Edge: Raiders. They don’t run the gimmick offensive formation as much as the Eagles.

PREDICTION: Eagles 37, Raiders 16. The game is only this close because Andy Reid will call off the dogs by the start of the fourth quarter.