Andy Reid needs long leave of absence

[Southpaw]

Ouch.

Reid needs long leave of absence

November 4, 2007
BY JAY MARIOTTI Sun-Times Columnist

Andy Reid doesn't need to be coaching football games for the Philadelphia Eagles. He needs to be saving his sons' lives. It's unconscionable that he and his wife allowed their two ``boys'' -- as he calls them, though they're grown men in their 20s -- to wreak havoc and basically run a drug-and-weapons shop inside the family home.

The Reid brothers, Garrett and Britt, have been sentenced to prison terms after a county judge described the home as a ``drug emporium.'' A harsh assessment? Not at all -- considering the heroin, syringes, painkillers, steroids, guns and ammunition found in the home, which is accompanied by Garrett Reid's stunning self-glorification of his drug-dealing in the rougher areas of Philadelphia.

``I liked being the rich kid in that area and having my own high status life," he said. ``I could go anywhere in the 'hood. They all knew who I was. I enjoyed it. I liked being a drug dealer.''

His father has been one of the NFL's best coaches of the decade. But the ordeal has had an adverse impact on his performance and threatens to end his reign before its time. While anyone with a heart must be sympathetic to a family's plight, Philly isn't a town that will have much patience for Reid as the Eagles stumble out of playoff contention -- looking comatose Sunday night in a lopsided home loss to Dallas. With Reid firmly saying he intends to stay on the job, the team owner, Jeffrey Lurie, owes it to his coach and his franchise to insist on a coaching leave of absence for as long as necessary. Britt Reid, who pointed a gun at another driver last winter, received a jail sentence of eight to 23 months. Garrett Reid has been sentenced from two to 23 months, but could be staying longer after he was charged with smuggling 89 pills into jail last week -- in his rectum, according to his cellmate.

``There isn't any structure there that this court can depend upon," Judge Steven O'Neill said of the Reid household. ``I'm saying this is a family in crisis."

The job can wait. By continuing to coach, Reid isn't helping the Eagles, his family or his sons. ``As parents, we have huge concerns for our two boys,'' he said. ``This has been a battle we have dealt with here for a few years and I'm sure we'll continue to address the situation. Our prayers are obviously with the boys, for their future, and to make sure things work out, where they can live a normal life down the road.''

The chances of that happening are much better if they have their father's full and undivided attention.

As for the nonsense that Reid should be suspended via the NFL's personal-conduct policy, please stop it. He hasn't been arrested. He isn't using drugs. He isn't wielding guns. His kids are, and while the parents should have been more diligent in maintaining a safe haven, the league can't punish him for the actions of his offspring. Anyone who yells double-standard doesn't have children or functioning brain cells.

 

[RugbyMuffin]

Let'em rot.

Two scumbag, spoiled brat kids with all the oppourtunity in the world, yet they care more about being drug dealers, and "being cool".

The money, and power they had out in the free world is not going to save their (literally) butts this time.


WOW!
"As for the nonsense that Reid should be suspended via the NFL's personal-conduct policy, please stop it. He hasn't been arrested. He isn't using drugs. He isn't wielding guns. His kids are, and while the parents should have been more diligent in maintaining a safe haven, the league can't punish him for the actions of his offspring."

HIS "KIDS" ARE IN THEIR TWENTIES!!!!!

And safe haven ? Are you kidding ? The guy has millions. The kids have been in private school, and have had plenty of attention, and given all they need.

They are spoiled. The only thing the didn't get is a massive beating. UNBELIEVABLE.

 

[chicards11]

Let'em rot.

Two scumbag, spoiled brat kids with all the oppourtunity in the world, yet they care more about being drug dealers, and "being cool".

The money, and power they had out in the free world is not going to save their (literally) butts this time.


WOW!
"As for the nonsense that Reid should be suspended via the NFL's personal-conduct policy, please stop it. He hasn't been arrested. He isn't using drugs. He isn't wielding guns. His kids are, and while the parents should have been more diligent in maintaining a safe haven, the league can't punish him for the actions of his offspring."

HIS "KIDS" ARE IN THEIR TWENTIES!!!!!

And safe haven ? Are you kidding ? The guy has millions. The kids have been in private school, and have had plenty of attention, and given all they need.

They are spoiled. The only thing the didn't get is a massive beating. UNBELIEVABLE.

if i've said it once i'll say it a thousand times......

JAY MARIOTTI IS A WINDBAG

nobody respects his columns in Chicago....he has managed to get himself banned from the united center and U.S. Cellular field for his columns and constant beligerance. He's a hack....and pretty soon will be out of a job.

The man loves throwing gas on the fire.....pure sensationalism. Chalk it up to being a jag his whole life.

 

[Southpaw]

if i've said it once i'll say it a thousand times......

JAY MARIOTTI IS A WINDBAG

nobody respects his columns in Chicago....he has managed to get himself banned from the united center and U.S. Cellular field for his columns and constant beligerance. He's a hack....and pretty soon will be out of a job.

The man loves throwing gas on the fire.....pure sensationalism. Chalk it up to being a jag his whole life.

Hee hee. I think Jay is great. The guy comes down on those ChiTown losing teams and the fans who don't care about a winner hate his ass for it. This article has nothing to do with Chicago.

Depending on where one lives , Reid's property could be seized as part of a criminal enterprise. Ain't gonna happen. I remember seeing an NFL puff piece on one of the networks about 5 years ago where they highlighted Andy Reid as a great father who was serious about giving his kids all the extra time and attention they needed in spite of his job. Video of him at football games where his kids were playing and him just being a regular guy. What happened?

 

[ANDY440]

What could he do now thats going to straighten these guys in "their 20's out. If jail dosen't do it I doubt there is anything Andy could do no matter how much time he takes off.

 

[40yearfan]

Those kids need to get the crap kicked out of them, but it should have been done before this happened.

Spare the rod and spoil the child. A perfect example.

 

[slanidrac16]

My feelings go out to Ried. We all know being a head coach is a demanding job that takes you away from your family for long periods at a time.
That being said, it is also a job that allows you to live a life that only a handful of us could even imagine.

It doesn't matter who you are or what you do. When a "Child" is growing up we know there will be temptations that will pass in front of them. As much as we warn them about the temptations and the ramifications of following them, our kids will succumb to some of them. Whether it's stealing a candy bar from the corner store or stealing a car, we only hope they learn about the ramifications long before it gets to stealing the car.

I don't care if you are a head coach or a Pastor, you can't monitor your kids 24 hrs a day. You can only hope they learn from your guidance and make the right decisions most of the time. We just learn the sonof one of our pastors got his girlfriend pregnant. I've been to their house. I see the life they live and the example his parents have tried to set. I'm sure they have talked to their children about the ramifications of sex before marraige. Didn't matter.

Reids 2 sons are way beyond his help. They needed to be tossed out and into severe rehab a LONG time ago. It looks as though they will finally learn about the ramifications of their decisions. No matter what you do as a parent , eventually your kids grow up to be socially responsible for themselves.

For a sports writer to put into a newspaper that Reid should quit is quite stupid and irresponsible. Who the hell does Mariotti think he is? Does he own a degree in family psychology? And what possible good can come of his article? HE is an idiot. When I do get the Chicago Sun Times , I don't even read the headline to his story.

 

[Southpaw]

For a sports writer to put into a neewspaper that Reid should quit is quite stupid and irresponsible. Who the hell does Mariotti think he is? Does he own a degree in family psychology? And what possible good can come of his article? HE is an idiot. When I do but the Chicago Sun Times , I don't even read the headline to his story.

Mariotti didn't say that at all. He said the opposite, He said " take a leave of absence ".

Reid needs long leave of absence

Helluva difference. I can't imagine better advice.

 

[RedViper]

Those kids are just violent career criminals. Reid deals with them at his own risk. If he's facilitating them committing crimes by letting them deal drugs and possess illegal weapons out of his house, then he is committing crimes himself. I don't feel for Reid or his kids any differently then I feel about violent criminals or their parents. They need to get the same punishment anyone else would get for their crimes. End of story.

 

[Mulli]

Those kids are just violent career criminals. Reid deals with them at his own risk. If he's facilitating them committing crimes by letting them deal drugs and possess illegal weapons out of his house, then he is committing crimes himself. I don't feel for Reid or his kids any differently then I feel about violent criminals or their parents. They need to get the same punishment anyone else would get for their crimes. End of story.

Really, 1) Reid has done enough damage to the kids already, 2) Reid has done all he can do as parent, and it hasn't worked, or 3) somewhere in between.

 

[D-Dogg]

JAY MARIOTTI IS A WINDBAG

nobody respects his columns in Chicago....

Very few in the nation respect Mascariotti.

 

[Capital Card]

I thought the courts could confiscate the home of someone dealing drugs or running a criminal enterprise from. This sounds exactly like what the Reid kids are doing, but I guess those rules don't apply to NFL coaches.

 

[cardsfanmd]

I thought the courts could confiscate the home of someone dealing drugs or running a criminal enterprise from. This sounds exactly like what the Reid kids are doing, but I guess those rules don't apply to NFL coaches.

They would have to prove either that Reid was aware of what his kids were doing or that the money they were making was being put towards the house.

 

[cardsfanmd]

These kids weren't real drug dealers. They were addicts who bought enough that they could get high on their own supply and still make their money back.

 

[dreamcastrocks]

Really, 1) Reid has done enough damage to the kids already, 2) Reid has done all he can do as parent, and it hasn't worked, or 3) somewhere in between.

Exactly. The kids are already in their 20's. Things needed to get done, before they were that age. Why would he need to take an absence?

 

[Skkorpion]

Those kids are just violent career criminals. Reid deals with them at his own risk. If he's facilitating them committing crimes by letting them deal drugs and possess illegal weapons out of his house, then he is committing crimes himself. I don't feel for Reid or his kids any differently then I feel about violent criminals or their parents. They need to get the same punishment anyone else would get for their crimes. End of story.

You tell the truth.

 

[Shane]

You tell the truth.

Yes he does. I find it next to impossible to believe that Andy Reid and the mother of these two boys had no clue's at all as to what was being done under their own roof. Its possible maybe. But Highly unlikely!

 

[Rivercard]

Yes he does. I find it next to impossible to believe that Andy Reid and the mother of these two boys had no clue's at all as to what was being done under their own roof. Its possible maybe. But Highly unlikely!

You vastly underestimate a young man's ability to hide things from his parents. Plus I assume Mr Reid is not home very much considering his job. Who knows what's up with the mom.

 

[Shane]

You vastly underestimate a young man's ability to hide things from his parents. Plus I assume Mr Reid is not home very much considering his job. Who knows what's up with the mom.

I know all about kids ability to hide things. Pr9oblem is there are signs you can see. You dont just need to see the drugs and guns to know whats going on.

 

[Southpaw]

The Pro athlete lives in a fantasy world. Includes coaches. I'll bet Andy Reid couldn't even buy his own underwear if he had to.

 

[Mulli]

The Pro athlete lives in a fantasy world. Includes coaches. I'll bet Andy Reid couldn't even buy his own underwear if he had to.

1) That is the closest the word athlete has ever been used in relation to Reid.

2) His underwear are probably huge and probably have to be specially ordered.

 

[Rivercard]

1) 2) His underwear are probably huge and probably have to be specially ordered.

I hope a savvy reporter thinks to address this question at the next press conference.

 

[Cbus cardsfan]

if i've said it once i'll say it a thousand times......

JAY MARIOTTI IS A WINDBAG

nobody respects his columns in Chicago....he has managed to get himself banned from the united center and U.S. Cellular field for his columns and constant beligerance. He's a hack....and pretty soon will be out of a job.

The man loves throwing gas on the fire.....pure sensationalism. Chalk it up to being a jag his whole life.

Exactly. I guarantee he was beat up by the athletes all through high school years. I read the Tribune and Suntimes online everyday and always skip Moronotti's column.

 

[Jersey Girl]

I know all about kids ability to hide things. Pr9oblem is there are signs you can see. You dont just need to see the drugs and guns to know whats going on.

Is this because you are a parent or because you are a police officer?

I agree with the other posters that have mentioned that you can't control your kid all the time. And, at what age are parents off the hook? These kids are in their 20s. Okay, so they lived at home. Who cares? They are still adults and are accountable for their own actions.

Having Andy Reid take a leave of absence now, when his sons are heading to the slammer, is moronic. He can't do anything to help them now. And, who knows? Maybe he'd prefer to have them in jail and out of his house. Who knows? And, by taking a leave in the middle of the season, he does nothing good to help the team (not that the team is doing great anyway).

For Mariotti to sit there in Chicago and talk about the way another person should live his life is sad, pathetic and unnecessary.

 

[82CardsGrad]

I could be wrong, but these days it seems much more common for young adults in their early 20's to still be living at home with their parents...
That said, as far as I'm concerned I don't care how old you are. You step one foot in my house and you are immediately subjected to my rules. That's the way I was raised and it's the way I live my life today. Don't like my rules? Get the F out!

None of us really know what was going on with Mr.& Mrs. Reid, and why their kids would be able to pull this off... I'm a parent and I like to think that I know all things all the time. However, I also know that with some degree of ingenuity, my kids can probably pull some crap that I might not ever know about. I also would like to believe that my wife and I have raised them in such a way that gross conduct like what happened to the Reids is simply not possible - but again, I know some of this is simply a crap-shoot...
Mr. & Mrs. Reid have some serious 'splanning to do... And as for their kids - SEE YA!