The NovaCare Spin Zone

By John McMullen

Has anyone noticed the Philadelphia Eagles now run their organization like a political party?

It’s gotten so bad I am actually searching for James Carville at the NovaCare complex because he’s got to be on the payroll.

Consider this -- The Birds now actually disseminate talking points to media members perceived as soft and easily manipulated, while the real big wigs in the organization only grant interviews to “allies” (See Big Red’s love fest with a gushing fan posing as a WIP radio host on Thursday).

It’s straight out of the Rajin Cajun’s playbook.

But, no matter how carefully an organization plots a public relations strategy, there is always room for human error. And that’s what happened during Andy Reid's visit with Howard Eskin in the most over-hyped interview in 610 history.

At first, things were moving along swimmingly as Eskin took to his role as flunky for a day seriously. As planned, nothing of real note was coming from the discussion. -- it was just a chance for Andy to defend his head-scratching decision to punt the team’s season away in a friendly environment.

Eskin was an unprepared and unprofessional as the Birds PR staff had hoped -- spending more time playfully needling Reid about his weight than offering any real substantive dissent.

Then it happened -- Andy slipped up.

With the potential of a quarterback controversy ever looming, Reid played dictator and pushed Donovan McNabb's mute button. McNabb has spurned the spotlight since a season-ending knee injury on November 19 against the Tennessee Titans but had planned to break that silence on Friday .

Reid scuttled that.

"I saw nothing that would be beneficial for him to stand up there," Reid said. "I wanted him focusing on taking care of his business and his leg, and that's all that matters right now. He doesn't need to talk to anybody. He needs to take care of his business. That starts with his leg and that's where it ends. I'm the head coach and I get to make those decisions."

Of course, I certainly understand what Andy was doing-- nothing good could have come from McNabb talking with reporters on Friday.

DMac would have been poked and prodded with questions concerning the team’s improved running game, Jeff Garcia’s superior leadership skills and even the blogging ability of his own Mother.

It was a no-win situation and Reid knows he and his quarterback share the same affliction. They come off as distant, detached, unfriendly and cold -- even when they are really trying to communicate.

Quite frankly, Reid understands that’s how he and his protege are viewed and tried to save Donovan from himself.

An admirable attempt, perhaps, but McNabb will have to talk eventually.

And when he inevitable occurs and No. 5 firmly plants his foot-in-mouth -- wouldn’t it have been nice to have Carville and Company on hand to “spin” into action?

-You can “spin” about all things Eagles with John McMullen at jmcmullen1@comcast.net.


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The Phanatic