Adrian Fedkiw
Kansas City Chiefs head coach, Andy Reid, started Tuesday’s conference call with reporters just like any other press conference, discussing injuries.
Reid is dealing with one himself. He wasn’t able to attend the owners meetings in Boca Raton, Florida this week due to failed knee replacement, but he still took the time to discuss a variety of topics including new Philadelphia Eagles head coach Doug Pederson and quarterback Chase Daniel.
Reid claimed that he had no bitter feelings about how his tenure in Philadelphia ended and discussed what he told the Eagles when they approached him about Pederson’s potential as a head coach.
“They had asked me about Doug and I thought Doug was ready to be a head coach,” he said. “I hated losing him because of our relationship, but I’m very happy and proud of him for the opportunity that he has to lead the Birds there.”
Reid stated that he checks in periodically on his former pupil.
“Listen, he doesn’t need a lot of guidance,” he said. “When you first come into a place, you’re up to your neck in it. You’re fighting every day for time. I’m not in a position where I’m going to take any time from him. I want him to be able to let him get everything done he needs to get done.”
When the Eagles were originally looking for Chip Kelly’s replacement as head coach, owner Jeffrey Lurie said that he wanted a coach with “emotional intelligence,” one that would open his heart to the players. Reid weighed in on that.
“These are human beings. There are real-life things that come up that you have to deal with and part of that emotional intelligence comes back to that. You have to be able to handle that in a certain way. Be real with them and still be the man in charge there. There’s a fine line on how you do that. I think Doug possesses the ability to do that,” he said.
As for Daniel, Reid believes that he can be a starter in the NFL.
“He’ll know the offense as well or better than anybody, He’ll know the defense he’s playing against as well as or better than anybody. That’s just how he goes about it. He builds confidence in people around him. He can win games when he’s in charge there,” he said.
Reid is awaiting surgery for another knee replacement after an infection caused the one he had put in last year to be removed.
Get well soon, Big Red!