I’m Sorry, Doug Pederson
Doug Pederson is first and foremost, a human being. He’s done nothing to me or anyone I know. I don’t him or anyone who knows him. But, I’m agitated by the Eagles front office and I’m taking it out on him when with a group of friends, in text messages, emails, phone calls, pretty much any form of communication. In what is probably one of the happiest days in his life, I’m a dark cloud sending negative thoughts out into the universe. For that, Doug Pederson, I’m sorry. Unfortunately, I’m probably not the only Eagles fan doing so.
It’s not like us Eagles fans don’t have our reasons. He has to be able to understand our perspective. This hiring doesn’t feel just right. We were told the Eagles fired Chip before the season ended so they could get a head start on the other teams. So, it seems weird when they hire someone, who no other team seemed interested in.
They’re also hiring an offensive coordinator, who doesn’t call plays. They’re hiring an offensive coordinator from a team that ranked 27th in yards. They’re hiring a guy who was the quarterback coach here and the quarterbacks weren’t great during his tenure. Heck, Vince Young may have had is worst years under his tutelage. It’s not like Andy Reid, who was the QB coach for a Super Bowl champion team.
They’re pretty much hiring a guy, who wouldn’t be on anyone’s radar, including the Eagles, if it wasn’t for Andy Reid making calls. That’s what doesn’t feel right, more than all the others. This feels like nepotism, like the boss’ son being handed a company and he’s our supervisor. From our perspective, it looks like they weren’t aggressive enough with Gase and McAdoo and settled for a friend of a friend. He’d have to understand. His resume doesn’t necessarily stand out in a pile. That doesn’t mean he won’t have great success.
Understandably, some of us fans are incredulous. We kind of remember when Andy thought Juan Castillo would be a good defensive coordinator. For obvious reasons, we might not trust Andy’s judgment.
It’s not Doug’s fault, but I fear that he may take the brunt of our collective anger if the team doesn’t succeed. Ask Ryne Sandberg about that.
We’re a rabid fan base without a Lombardi Trophy. There aren’t may like that. I wish him the best. If he succeeds, we succeed. I will attempt to go into the season with an honest wait-and-see attitude. Going into the season dejected or apathetic will suck. It’ll be better for all of us.
Once again, I’m sorry Doug Pederson. May you carry a Lombardi trophy down Broad Street!