PHILADELPHIA - Michael Vick, as only he can, applied the brakes a split second after his glowing endorsement of Eagles head coach Andy Reid included "and every good thing comes to an end."

"If that is the case," Vick said after the Wednesday morning walkthrough. "We don't know. And the same thing goes for me."

The formal announcement on the future of Reid almost certainly won't come until Monday, at the soonest. He's not likely to return for a 15th season, the last on his contract.

The Eagles are 4-11. They've missed the playoffs in consecutive years for the first time under Reid. Owner Jeffrey Lurie very publicly leaned on the playoff streak during the news conference in which he also said Reid gave the Eagles the best chance to win this season. Seemed liked a good idea at the time.

Reid has lost 10 of his last 11 games after a 3-1 start. The Eagles would like to send him out a winner Sunday against the New York Giants at the Meadowlands. A victory would make Reid 140-92-1. A loss and his winning percentage dips from .603 to .598.

The victories total ranks 22nd on the all-time NFL list. With Reid calling the shots the Eagles have won six division titles, reached the conference championship round five times and appeared in Super Bowl XXXIX.

"If you look at his track record, the things he's been able to accomplish it's going to be hard to top," Vick said. "It takes a lot of hard work, a lot of commitment. And the one thing I can say is that he's committed himself to being the best coach he can be and having his players in the best possible position week in and week out to try to win games."

"And you don't win them all. You don't win them all. And every good thing come to an end...if that is the case."

The Giants (8-7) are favored by seven points over the Eagles. Washington has to beat Dallas, Minnesota and Chicago has to lose for the defending Super Bowl champion Giants to qualify for the playoffs.

And of course the Giants have to beat Vick, who in his last game at the Meadowlands sparked the Birds to a 38-31 victory so dramatic it earned its spot with Miracles of the Meadowlands I and II.

During the 2010 season DeSean Jackson's 65-yard punt return as time expired completed a rally that began with the Giants hold a 31-10 with 7:29 remaining.

What a difference a couple of years make. The Eagles and the Giants both were 2-1 when they last met on Sunday night in Philadelphia. The Eagles survived, 19-17, when Lawrence Tynes was short on a 54-yard field goal attempt with eight seconds left. Reid, you may recall, called time to ice Tynes right before the kicker was wide on his first 54-yard attempt.

The Eagles exited with a 3-1 mark - and the respect of their counterparts.

"At that point in time I thought they were definitely going to be the team to beat," Giants leading receiver Victor Cruz said on a conference call. "They had everything going. They were on a nice winning streak. And they were doing some good things. So in my mind I was thinking they were definitely going to be the team to beat."

While the Eagles would lose their next eight games, the Giants would go on a four-game win skein. The view from afar is interesting.

"I think it's a matter of just injuries and turnovers and things that have gone on within the organization that I can't speak of obviously that just haven't resulted in W's," Cruz said. "At the end of the day there have been a lot of close ball games and they just haven't come away with the W. I don't think it's indicative of the type of team they have."

Vick has completely cooled off after that dramatic win over the Giants at the Meadowlands. After winning eight of his first 10 starts he's 10-15, including the playoffs. That's 18-17 overall for a guy making $12.5 million in base salary.

The Vick era likely will end Sunday along with the coach who gave him the second chance following his 22-month jail stint for operating a notorious dogfighting ring. It sure sounded like Vick had one foot out there door.

"My time has been great," Vick said. "I've enjoyed being here. I've enjoyed the teammates I've had. Some have come and gone but given the opportunity I was able to go out and be productive in 2010, finish strong in 2011 and this year was a roller coaster ride. We had a lot of ups and downs. We had a lot of guys who got hurt."

Well, every good thing comes to an end.

If, of course, you believe that is the case for the Reid-Vick partnership.

PHILADELPHIA - Think the Eagles are talented?

NFL players, coaches and fans disagree.

The Eagles had no one selected to the NFC Pro Bowl squad Wednesday marking the first time in the 14-year Andy Reid era they've been shutout.

The last time the Eagles didn't have a player selected to the Pro Bowl was 1999. That was for the 1998 season, Ray Rhodes' last with the squad.

Among Eagles who had a chance, kicker Alex Henery lost out to Blair Walsh (Vikings), guard Evan Mathis was defeated by Mike Iupati (Niners), Jahri Evans (Saints) and Chris Snee (Giants) and middle linebacker DeMeco Ryans lost out to Patrick Willis and NaVorro Bowman. The latter are from the Niners, who had nine players elected, most in the league. The Texans led the AFC with eight selections.

"Most of the time if you don't win your guys pretty much don't get in," Eagles linebacker Jamar Chaney said. "I mean, Shady McCoy had a great year last year. Jason Peters, too. Jason Babin. Most teams that have the best records have the most players in the Pro Bowl."

The Eagles are 4-11.
In the AFC the Chiefs are 2-13 and all but assured of the first overall pick in the draft. They had five players voted into the Pro Bowl.

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Victor Cruz leads the Giants with 82 receptions for 1,040 yards (12.7 average) and nine touchdowns.

While those numbers are comparable to last year, Cruz feels he and his teammates could have done more to avoid the situation they're in.

To reach the playoffs the defending Super Bowl champion Giants (8-7) need to beat the Eagles. They also need the Redskins to beat Dallas and for the Vikings and the Bears to win.

It shouldn't have been so difficult that the Eagles have to play

"I'll be looking at our scoreboard first hoping we get a good lead and maintain a good lead and make sure we win this ball game," Cruz said on a conference call Wednesday. "But I'll definitely be peeking up a little bit (at the scoreboard) just naturally as a human being. I'm going to be looking at the other scores to stay in the hunt. I'm definitely going to be peeking at that scoreboard a little bit."

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Contrasting the Giants' 52-point outburst in a win over the Saints to being shut out the following week in a loss to the Falcons, head coach Tom Coughlin blamed inconsistency on his team's struggles.

The Giants have won just two of their last five games.

But Coughlin became cranky when asked if an inconsistent team such as the Giants would be playoff-worthy.

"That's a bogus question," Coughlin said. "If we win and get in we're worthy. That's the way the system has been set up. My point with our team is I'm not as interested in all of these scenarios as I am in our team playing well."

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NOTES: The Eagles have beaten the Giants in two straight games and eight of the last nine in the series ... Eagles wide receiver Jeremy Maclin (knee) practiced on a limited basis Wednesday. Rookies Mychal Kendricks and Fletcher Cox are out with concussions. With just one game remaining Reid was surprised and amused when asked what stage of the concussion protocol the duo was in. "No stage right now. They're going through all their exam stuff right now." ... With Cox out the Eagles signed defensive tackle Antonio Dixon to a two-year contract. They cut him during training camp. "The system, the weight," said Dixon, who claims to have trimmed down from 330-plus pounds to 325. "They wanted me faster. But I know it's a business. I've seen a lot of people get cut. I was one of them. It's a business and you can't be mad for a long time. You've just got to get over it." ... Throat cancer survivor Tony Corrente referees Eagles-Redskins Sunday at the Meadowlands (1 p.m., Fox29).

TEMPE, Ariz. - The Arizona Cardinals will give Brian Hoyer his first NFL start, less than three weeks after the team claimed him off waivers from Pittsburgh.

Coach Ken Whisenhunt said Wednesday the former Michigan State quarterback and New England backup will start in the season finale Sunday at San Francisco.

"He's been in the league, he's a veteran guy," Whisenhunt said. "He did a nice job in last week's game and this is an opportunity to see what he can do with a week of practice and where he can go from there."

Hoyer, who spent three seasons as a backup to Tom Brady in New England and was out of a job for most of this season, will be the fourth starter at quarterback for the Cardinals this year. He'll be operating an offense that ranks last in the NFL.

Arizona also has gone with John Skelton, Kevin Kolb and rookie Ryan Lindley at the position. Kolb is out for the season with a rib injury. The other two were benched for poor play.

"It's no secret. We haven't gotten the production out of that position that we've needed," Whisenhunt said. "I think it's actually more than four if you consider back and forth, the way guys have started. We've got to get consistency at that position and this is an opportunity to see how Brian measures up."

After failing to make it on an NFL roster to start the season, Hoyer was signed by the Steelers when Ben Roethlisberger was injured, then waived after three weeks when Roethlisberger returned. The Cardinals signed him on Dec. 10, a day after losing 58-0 at Seattle. Hoyer has appeared in 14 NFL games, 13 with the Patriots, then last week in Arizona's 28-13 loss to Chicago.

"It's a crazy business, but to me it's the best job in the world," Hoyer said after Wednesday's practice. "I'm excited and going to work hard this week and try to put as much into it on the practice field and the film study and studying the books, and go from there."

Arizona (5-10) has lost 10 of 11. After Lindley's pass was intercepted by the Bears' Charles Tillman and returned 10 yards for a touchdown on Arizona's first series of the second half, Hoyer came in and completed 11 of 19 passes for 105 yards with one interception and no TDs.

"He has a good knowledge of the game, good timing on his throws," Whisenhunt said. "He did a good job in the game last week, making some accurate throws, some quick throws. Obviously the interception wasn't one of those, but it will be interesting to see how he stacks up with a week to prepare. I know he's going against a tough defense. It will be a tough situation, but it's a great time to evaluate him and see where he is."

Hoyer said that when the Cardinals picked him up so late in the season, he figured he would get a chance to play. He said he didn't practice with the Arizona offense at all before going into the game last Sunday. Now he will benefit from a full week of practice with the starters.

"Football is football and when you can read it off the wrist band it's not like you have to worry about making a mistake in the play call," he said. "Once I could read it off the wrist band, I could translate it and relate it to what I know and kind of just go from there - and play football."

Hoyer said he learned a lot as Brady's backup.

"The hard work that he puts in, that's not what people get to see on the field," Hoyer said. "What they see on the field is kind of the result of the time he puts in. Obviously being there, being experienced, being there for so many years, he knows everything that's going on out on the field. For me it's a little bit different situation, but I can still prepare the way that I learned from him and try to take all the guesswork out of it."

Whisenhunt said his decision was based on the combination of wanting to see what Hoyer can do and believing he gives the team its best chance to win.

"I wouldn't put him in there just to play him and see what he is," the coach said. "This isn't a tryout. I think he merited that based on the way he played last weekend. It is an opportunity to see how he handles that with a week of practice. There's no question about that, but I also think from what we saw last week, he did some nice things in the game and see if he can build off of that."

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - Dorell Wright scored 28 points and Spencer Hawes had 20, season-highs for both, and the Philadelphia 76ers snapped a six-game road losing streak with a 99-89 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday night.

Wright, who was starting his fifth game of the season, was inserted into the lineup for Jason Richardson, who sat out with a low back strain. Wright was 8 of 11 from the field, part of the Sixers shooting 52 percent, including 9 of 16 outside the arc. Wright hit 5 of 8 from long range.

Thaddeus Young and Jrue Holiday had 13 points each for Philadelphia, Holiday adding nine assists. Nick Young finished with 12 points. Hawes blocked five shots, part of Philadelphia recording a season-high 12 rejections.

Zach Randolph led the Grizzlies with 23 points and nine rebounds, while Marc Gasol had 18 points and eight rebounds. Quincy Pondexter scored 13 and Mike Conley had 10 for Memphis, which lost its second straight.

The Grizzlies played the game without leading scorer Rudy Gay, who was not with the team. Team officials listed his absence as "personal reasons."

The Sixers took control of the game in the early stages of the fourth quarter, when they built the lead to as many as 15 points, enough of a buffer to endure a Memphis rally later in the period.

The Sixers, who trailed by 10 points in the second quarter, rallied for a 49-47 halftime lead as Wright had 13 points, including 2 of 4 from outside the arc.

Philadelphia scored the final eight points of the half to erase a six-point Memphis lead.

The real burst came from Hawes entering the game. Gasol had scored 12 first-quarter points against Lavoy Allen. Hawes not only shut down Gasol in the second quarter, but added 11 points, hitting 5 of 7 shots, part of the Sixers connecting at a 50 percent clip in the first half.

The teams remained close though the third period as Wright continued to connect. The teams were tied at 64 after Conley made a 3-pointer for Memphis.

The Sixers, who were maintaining a 50-percent shooting touch, were able to use a late mini-rally to carry a 75-70 lead into the fourth period.

Philadelphia extended its lead to 83-73 with consecutive 3-pointers from Royal Ivey and Young and a baseline jumper from Hawes.

Memphis brought the bulk of its starting lineup back at that point, but it didn't stop the Sixers rally. The lead would eventually reach 15 points on Ivey's second 3-pointer of the period with just under 8 minutes to play.

Memphis got no closer than eight points the rest of the way.

PHILADELPHIA - As an organization on the verge of a major overhaul enters its final few days under the old management - even an organization as insular and authoritarian as the Philadelphia Eagles - the underlings start to drop the company line and let some real thoughts and desires slip out.

Thursday, a coach and a player within the iron gates of the NovaCare Complex decided to push cliché aside and offer some opinion about this year's disaster and anticipation about what a post-Andy Reid world might look like.

The coach was special-teams coordinator Bobby April, who said he wasn't complaining, but then made some unflattering comments about the way front offices force draft picks onto special-teams units, and specifically his extremely lousy gang of bad tacklers.

"You don't keep as many veterans as you used to," April said. "We keep most of our draft picks. When I first got in the league in Atlanta, I had the same team almost verbatim ... for three straight years. We had a guy who was an eighth-year guy, and we had a guy we drafted in the second round. That second rounder had to beat that guy out.

"Now, you keep most of those guys."

Asked if it was a money matter, April said, "I don't know. I don't make those decisions."

The Eagles rate near the bottom of the NFL teams in punt coverage this season - their 37.0 net punting average is fourth-worst in the league and the 9.7 yard differential between gross and net punting is by far the NFL's largest disparity. The 2012 draft actually offered the Eagles next to nothing in terms of special-teams assistance. Fourth-rounder Brandon Boykin returns kicks and plays on coverage, in addition to being a nickel corner. Beyond that, the Eagles have not asked for much from the rest of their 2012 draft picks on the unit.

Colt Anderson, who graduated from special-teams guru to starting safety in the season's final month, wouldn't go where April went with the theory about the hard fall the Birds have taken on that unit.

"That's nothing you can worry about," Anderson, who was undrafted, said. "To me, special teams is an attitude. They need all 11 guys going hard."

Meanwhile, in the locker room, the player sounding off about what the future will hold was defensive end Brandon Graham, whom the Eagles drafted with the 13th overall selection in the 2010 draft. After making just 4.5 sacks and 32 combined tackles in his first 27 NFL games, Graham has had 21 tackles and four sacks in his last four games. Despite the marked improvement in December, Graham has been considered a disappointment from a draft where the two players taken after him, Seattle safety Earl Thomas and Giants defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul, have developed into Pro Bowlers.

However, many scouts on the day he was drafted considered Graham a better prospect as an outside linebacker in a 3-4 defense. When Graham was asked how he would feel if the likely overhaul of the organization resulted in the Eagles changing to a 3-4 defense, he didn't hide his excitement.

"I've always wanted to go back to being an outside linebacker," Graham said. "Being a defensive lineman is a role I can do, but I like the thought of being out in space. I think I can play there.

"I do think about it. I'd be hyped to be able to go and do that."

Graham, whose true height is no more than an even 6-feet, has shown an ability to rush the quarterback and pursue running plays, but his size makes taking on running plays at him difficult and his height makes him virtually a non-factor when it comes to batting down passes or getting a hand in the passing lanes.

So, perhaps it's a good thing that Graham acknowledges a switch to outside linebacker in a 3-4 defense would enhance his skills. He said he already has plans to shed some pounds over the summer and work on becoming quicker. And there are those in the organization who believe rookie defensive tackle Fletcher Cox would be ideally served as a defensive end in a 3-4. That, however, will be a decision left to the next head coach and his defensive coordinator.

NOTES: Offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg gave an unsurprising assessment of Michael Vick's future as an NFL quarterback, "There is no question that Mike is going to be a heck of a quarterback for several more years." Cox and linebacker Mychal Kendricks (concussions) didn't practice, and after being limited Wednesday with a sore knee, wide receiver Jeremy Maclin was held out of workouts Thursday. And to make the already messy tight end situation messier, Evan Moore - who was just signed eight days earlier to fill the hole left when Clay Harbor was lost for the season - was held out of workouts with a weak back.

PHILADELPHIA - From the moment Jason Peters went down with a season-ending injury before training camp had even started, to the MRI of Nick Foles' hand showed a fracture that would mean Michael Vick won't get out of Philadelphia without making one more start, this has been a lost season for the Eagles.

No one was spared. They had exactly zero players named to a Pro Bowl that usually winds up begging players to attend.

LeSean McCoy will be in the backfield Sunday against the Giants. Unless he figures out a way to roll up 205 yards at the Meadowlands his streak of consecutive 1,000-yard rushing seasons will end at two. It didn't help that he missed four games with a concussion. But even without taking the late-game shot to the head in a blowout loss at Washington - an incident that only stoked the flames of fury for Andy Reid detractors - McCoy had been having a season that already had stalled his rise up the list of elite running backs.

A year ago, McCoy had 17 rushing touchdowns in 15 games. He enters the season finale with two rushing TDs in 11 games. A year ago he tore up the Cowboys with an 185-yard rushing performance and had 241 yards in two games against a championship-quality Giants defense. He has had just three 100-yard rushing days this season, one against a laughably bad Browns team, the other against a Saints defense that was hobbled in the offseason by suspensions and fines for a bounty program. In 2011 he averaged 4.8 yards per carry; this season that total is down to 4.2.

There are plenty of reasons behind the drop off. Losing Peters was a huge blow, and the handful of other injuries along the offensive line didn't help, either. That said, Bryce Brown did rush for 350 yards in his first two starts replacing McCoy, that nagging inability to hold onto the football aside.

McCoy had been one of the best at his craft last season. There was a feeling he might emerge as the best running back in the NFL this season. But that has not been the case.

As McCoy stood in the locker room at the NovaCare Complex Thursday he told reporters that he doesn't really pay attention to how other teams are doing. But other running backs?

"I like to watch other running backs," McCoy said. "It gives me a little motivation, to see those guys in the playoffs."

Who will he see in the playoffs? Well, there is a chance he will see Minnesota's Adrian Peterson (1,898 rushing yards), who went from being the best running back on earth, to being considered banged up and perhaps washed up, and back to being the best running back on earth this year. He will see Marshawn Lynch (1,490 rushing yards), who has been good enough to give a rookie quarterback in Seattle enough support to turn the Seahawks into a point-scoring machine.

He will see Alfred Morris (1,413), who as a rookie in Washington takes a publicity backseat to the phenomenon known as RGIII, yet has been an invaluable sidekick for another rookie QB as he adjusts to the NFL. He will see Arian Foster (1,328), the incumbent "Best Running Back in the NFL" who finally has a championship quality team around him in Houston.

There will be Frank Gore with San Francisco, and Stevan Ridley in New England in the postseason. Those are the running backs McCoy will watch, will study. Those are the competition.

There will be a lot of work to do in order to get the Eagles back to respectability. It could be a long road back, or it can be a quick fix. It's tough to say which path they will take. But one thing is certain: If the Eagles are going to bounce back quickly from this disaster of a 2012, then Shady McCoy must zip past a few of those aforementioned names on the short list of top running backs.

"As frustrated as I would be about comparing myself to other backs," McCoy said, "I would be overlooked because of the year we're having.

"You think about it after the season is over. I just have to work hard next year and try to stay healthy."

Health matters. The team around him matters. But the bottom line is this: In 2013, McCoy can't be good. He needs to be great.

That is a must if the Eagles want to return to respectability.

PHILADELPHIA - Andy Reid won't go down without a fight.

One way or another, with or without the Eagles, Reid intends to do his thing next season. It's what he's done for 14 years.

"Yeah, I want to coach," Reid said Friday. "I mean, that's what I want to do. I do want to coach."

It's been an excruciatingly difficult year for Reid, starting with the death of his oldest son, Garrett to a heroin overdose during training camp. Authorities launched an investigation after finding heroin and steroids in the room of Garrett Reid, who was assisting the team's strength and conditioning coach.

Shortly thereafter, Reid's agent had a miscommunication with the Eagles about his client's contract, prompting a statement from the organization that the coach would be evaluated at the end of the season.

After a 3-1 start this year, the Eagles lost eight straight games, along with two coaches, when Reid fired defensive coordinator Juan Castillo and defensive line coach Jim Washburn.

Including this season, the Eagles (4-11) have missed the playoffs in consecutive years for the first time with Reid as their head coach. The Eagles are 141-101-1 (.582) on his watch.

If Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie has had the dreaded conversation with Reid, the coach is denying it.

NOTES: Eagles wide receiver Jeremy Maclin (knee) returned to practice and is probable against the Giants, who are favored by anywhere from 7 to 9½ points, ... Tight end Evan Moore (back spasms) was unable to work. He's doubtful. Running back Chris Polk (toe) is questionable ... Defensive tackle Fletcher Cox and linebacker Mychal Kendricks both are in Phase 2 of the concussion protocol. They're out this weekend. Reid said he was unaware of Kendricks' concussion until after the game "when the symptoms showed up."

PHILADELPHIA - Michael Vick isn't a stats freak, with one exception. The slightly fragile quarterback is 9-0 against NFC East teams in games he's started and finished with the Eagles.

"That's something I can take with me," Vick said Friday. "Obviously this week it's a totally different ball game. You've got to go out there and do it again and make it happen. And I'm pretty sure that we have the tools in this locker room to do it."

This Sunday the Eagles (4-11) take on the New York Giants at the Meadowlands. The Giants (8-7) still are in the playoff hunt but to get in need a win over the Eagles and a small handful of other teams to lose.

The last thing the Giants need is to eliminate themselves before the other results are in. Vick knows this and how tough he's been on division foes. It should be interesting.

"I think they're going to be excited," Vick said. "They've got a lot to play for. We do as well. It's going to make for a great game."

Vick has tried to downplay it but he has everything in the world to play for this week. Unless the Eagles hire Tony Dungy to be their next head coach they're unlikely to pay Vick a $15.5 million base salary to return as a backup next season.

Though Vick probably won't have to make a decision, he would be open to returning to the Eagles next season basically only if he got a chance to win the starting job. Again, that would be reflected in the paycheck.

"Absolutely, I want to be a starter in this league," Vick said.

"I can't see myself not being a starter right now. I just feel like I have too much talent, too much to offer. But that's not the gist of this conversation right now. I think it should be directed toward winning this game this week."

The Eagles lost four of the five games Vick missed after sustaining a concussion against the Dallas Cowboys.

Rookie third-round pick Nick Foles has been up and down as the starter in those games. A broken hand is keeping him out of the season finale. Typically Vick is the guy who gets hurt.

"I have to just sit back and think about what has transpired and look at the situation as a whole," Vick said. "Of course you would like to come back and play. I love the organization and I love what they've done for me. That's genuine, and I'm not just saying that. Outside of football, the relationships that I've been able to develop and the personalities that are in the building ... I've never been so close to so many people that I've worked with. If not it's been wonderful and I understand the nature of this business. At some point we all have to move on."

The bittersweet season ends for Vick and head coach Andy Reid this weekend. Reid isn't expected to return, although he's vowed to continue coaching.

Vick and Reid are inextricably linked. It was Reid who gave Vick the opportunity to return to the NFL after the veteran got out of prison. Vick was incarcerated for 22 months for operating an illegal dog fighting ring. He's since spoken out against the activity on behalf of the SPCA.

"I'm just happy for him, besides the football part, that his life is in order and he's living the way he wants to live and that's positive," Reid said. "That's the most important thing. He's handling that well right now. The football part, both of us would have loved to win more games this year than last year.

"But it's just getting his life back in order. And he's done that."

NEW YORK - Lots of questions, but still no answers in the NHL labor fight.

The league and the players' association spent much of Saturday talking to each other via conference call. The conversations were strictly for the purpose of sharing information regarding the new contract offer the NHL made to the union late Thursday. The initial thought was that the sides would get together Sunday in New York to hold official negotiations for the first time in weeks, but those hadn't been scheduled as of late Saturday afternoon.

"Some more informational sessions in the morning," NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly told The Associated Press regarding Sunday. "Nothing planned beyond that."

The union pored over the latest NHL proposal aimed at ending the lockout that reached its 105th day Saturday and saving the delayed hockey season. The league would like to reach a deal no later than Jan. 11, which would allow training camps to start the following day, and a 48-game season to begin Jan. 19.

Saturday's conference calls were scheduled Friday night so the union could ask league officials questions about the nearly 300-page proposal. Whether enough progress will be made to lead to face-to-face talks remains to be seen.

The sides haven't gotten together since Dec. 13 with federal mediators. Bargaining sessions with only the NHL and union involved haven't been held since Dec. 6, when talks abruptly ended after the players' association made a counterproposal to the league's previous offer. The league said that offer was contingent on the union accepting three elements unconditionally and without further bargaining.

The NHL then pulled all existing offers off the table. Two days of sessions with mediators the following week ended without any progress made.

The players' association's executive board and negotiating committee went over the new proposal during an internal conference call Friday.

A person familiar with key points of the offer told The Associated Press that the league proposed raising the limit of individual free-agent contracts to six years from five - seven years if a team re-signs its own player; raising the salary variance from one year to another to 10 percent, up from 5 percent; and one compliance buyout for the 2013-14 season that wouldn't count toward a team's salary cap but would be included in the overall players' share of income.

The person spoke on condition of anonymity because details of the new offer weren't being discussed publicly.

The NHL maintained the deferred payment amount of $300 million it offered in its previous proposal, an increase from an earlier offer of $211 million. The initial $300 million offer was pulled off the table after negotiations broke off earlier this month.

The latest proposal is for 10 years, running through the 2021-22 season, with both sides having the right to opt out after eight years.

The lockout has reached a critical stage, threatening to shut down a season for the second time in eight years. All games through Jan. 14, plus the Winter Classic and the All-Star game already have been called off. The next round of cuts could claim the entire schedule.

The NHL is the only North American professional sports league to cancel a season because of a labor dispute, losing the 2004-05 campaign to a lockout. A 48-game season was played in 1995 after a lockout stretched into January.

It is still possible this dispute could eventually be settled in the courts if the sides can't reach a deal on their own.

The NHL filed a class-action suit this month in U.S. District Court in New York in an effort to show its lockout is legal. In a separate move, the league filed an unfair labor practice charge with the National Labor Relations Board, contending bad-faith bargaining by the union.

Those moves were made because the players' association took steps toward potentially filing a "disclaimer of interest," which would dissolve the union and make it a trade association. That would allow players to file antitrust lawsuits against the NHL.

Union members voted overwhelmingly to give their board the power to file the disclaimer by Jan. 2. If that deadline passes, another authorization vote could be held to approve a later filing.

Negotiations between the NHL and the union have been at a standstill since talks ended Dec. 6. One week later, the sides convened again with federal mediators in New Jersey, but still couldn't make progress.

The sides have been unable to reach agreement on the length of the new deal, the length of individual player contracts, and the variance in salary from year to year. The NHL is looking for an even split of revenues with players.

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - There was no happy ending for Andy Reid, the Eagles surrendering a 42-7 decision to the New York Giants Sunday at the Meadowlands.

It was one of their worst beatings in the Reid era that formally will come to a close this morning after 14 seasons and a record of 140-102-1, according to a source.

The Eagles surrendered touchdowns on five of the Giants' six possessions in the first half.

Eli Manning threw four of his five TD passes to give the Giants a 35-7 lead into the intermission.

The Eagles had their moments.
Reid ordered an onside kick to open the game and Brandon Hughes recovered Justin Tyron's muff on the 47-yard line of the Eagles.

But the march blew up after Michael Vick recovered his own fumble, and on the next play overthrew tight end Brent Celek.

Stevie Brown returned the interception 48 yards to set up Manning's two-yard pass to Rueben Randle. Eagles wide receiver Jason Avant exited with an injured knee trying to bring Brown down.

It was Vick's 10th interception and 15th turnover of the season.

Later in the first quarter Manning arched a ball over Nnamdi Asomugha, who seemed to be in the middle of Giants celebrations most of the day, and into the arms of Randle from 38 yards out to give the Giants a 14-0 bulge. Asomugha was benched after a second damaging interference penalty in the fourth quarter.

Manning threw his third scoring pass with 1:18 left in the first frame. This one was a 15-yarder over linebacker Jamar Chaney to running back David Wilson.

Manning competed 6 of 7 attempts for 116 yards, three TDs and a perfect 158.3 rating in the first quarter.

The Eagles battled back behind Vick and McCoy, the latter turning a short pass into a 36-yard gain setting up Vick's seven-yard scoring throw to Maclin.

But the Eagles couldn't get a stop.

Giants running back Ahmad Bradshaw capped a 10-play, 73-yard drive with a one-yard run boosting the Giants to a 28-7 advantage with 6:26 left in the first half.

The Eagles got a stop late in the half but it was too little, too late.

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) - Andy Reid is out after 14 years coaching the Philadelphia Eagles, three people familiar with the decision told The Associated Press following Sunday's 42-7 season-ending loss to the New York Giants.

Reid is scheduled to meet with owner Jeffrey Lurie on Monday to discuss his future and an official announcement will come afterward, according to one person, who spoke on condition of anonymity because a final agreement hasn't been reached. That person says there's a chance Reid might remain with the team in some capacity.

Reid is due to make $6 million in 2013 in the final year of his contract. He said he wants to coach next year, but it's possible Lurie could persuade him to take a year off and perhaps help out in the front office in an "advisory" role.

Eagles spokesman Derek Boyko denied several reports that Lurie has already fired Reid, saying it's "absolutely, 100 percent" untrue.

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - Andy Reid is out after 14 years coaching the Philadelphia Eagles, three people familiar with the decision told The Associated Press following Sunday's 42-7 season-ending loss to the New York Giants.

Reid is scheduled to meet with owner Jeffrey Lurie on Monday to discuss his future and an official announcement will come afterward, according to one person, who spoke on condition of anonymity because a final agreement hasn't been reached. That person says there's a chance Reid might remain with the team in some capacity.

Reid is due to make $6 million in 2013 in the final year of his contract. He said he wants to coach next year, but it's possible Lurie could persuade him to take a season off and perhaps help out in the front office in an "advisory" role.

Eagles spokesman Derek Boyko denied several reports that Lurie has already fired Reid, saying it's "absolutely, 100 percent" untrue.

The Eagles (4-12) finished their worst season under Reid by losing 11 of their last 12 games. They missed the playoffs two straight years for the first time under Reid.

After the ugly loss to the Giants (9-7), Reid sounded like a man who knew he was going to lose his job.

"We weren't very good," Reid said. "That's my responsibility and I take complete blame for it."

Asked if he wants to return in 2013, Reid said: "I'm all in."

Lurie said after the Eagles went 8-8 in 2011 that he considered firing Reid. He gave him another chance, but said before this season that 8-8 would be "unacceptable."

"I go in eyes wide open," Reid said of his meeting with Lurie. "Either way, I understand. Whatever he chooses will be the right thing. He always does things for the best interests of the Eagles."

Reid won more games (140) than any coach in franchise history. He led the Eagles to nine playoff appearances, six division titles, five NFC championship games and one Super Bowl loss.

But he couldn't win the big one and that's how he's measured in a city that hasn't celebrated an NFL title since 1960.

The Eagles haven't won a playoff game since 2008 and took significant steps backward the last two years. They entered both seasons with high expectations only to fail miserably.

"We had quite a run," offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg said.

Players said they expect changes, but continued to support Reid.

"He's a great man and I love him to death," said quarterback Michael Vick, who could've played his last game with the Eagles. "I wish I could've done more. A lot of players wish they could've done more. Coaches can't play the games."

The Eagles talked all week about wanting to win one for Reid. Instead, they suffered another embarrassing loss to cap a dismal season.

"We came, we stunk it up and we lost. It was terrible. No heart," defensive tackle Cullen Jenkins said.

Like Jenkins, Vick also questioned his teammates' desire before trying to clarify his comment.

"It's frustrating," Vick said. "It's difficult because, me, I leave it all out on the field and I give everything I got. Sometimes, I wish I could play other positions, but I can't."

Vick was 19 of 35 for 197 yards, one TD and one interception in his first game since Nov. 11. He missed the previous six games, sitting out the first five with a concussion and then being inactive last week. Vick only got the start because rookie Nick Foles broke his hand.

Vick is due to earn about $16 million next year, but the Eagles can release him without taking a financial hit. He wants to be a starter and is unsure whether he even wants to come back.

"I don't know. I have to take time to think about everything that's happened," Vick said.

This already was a difficult year for Reid. He endured a devastating loss weeks before the season opener when his oldest son, Garrett Reid, died at training camp after a long battle with drug addiction.

In October, Reid fired close friend and longtime assistant Juan Castillo, who was in his second season as defensive coordinator after coaching the offensive line for 13 years. He later fired defensive-line coach Jim Washburn.

After beating the defending Super Bowl champion Giants on Sept. 30, the Eagles lost eight straight games - their worst losing streak in 42 years.

Before coming to Philadelphia, Reid was an offensive assistant for six seasons under Mike Holmgren in Green Bay and was instrumental in Brett Favre's growth. Reid inherited a team that went 3-13 under Ray Rhodes in 1998 and was a laughingstock in the NFL. He was an unpopular choice among fans in Philadelphia. But Reid won them over quickly by turning the Eagles into a playoff team in just his second season.

Reid drafted Donovan McNabb with the No. 2 pick in the 1999 draft and developed him into a six-time Pro Bowl quarterback. Reid and McNabb guided the Eagles to five straight playoff appearances from 2000-04. They went to the NFC title game four consecutive years, finally winning one in January 2005 over the Atlanta Falcons. But the Eagles lost to the New England Patriots 24-21 in the Super Bowl, and have missed the playoffs in four of the last eight years.

Reid's tenure in Philadelphia included several controversial decisions. He brought in star wide receiver Terrell Owens here in 2004, finally giving McNabb a legitimate target. T.O. had an outstanding year, overcame a late-season injury and returned to have an excellent game in the Super Bowl. But Owens feuded with management and McNabb the next season and Reid kicked him off the team in November 2005.

In 2009, Reid and Lurie gave Vick a second chance in the NFL after the former star quarterback had spent 18 months in federal prison for dogfighting charges. Vick took over as the starter in 2010, had a remarkable season and led the Eagles to the NFC East title.

The decision to switch Castillo from offense to defense may have been Reid's worst mistake. The unusual move was heavily criticized and contributed to the defense's collapse.

"I'll always put it on the players," Jenkins said. "Coaches can only do so much. Players have to step up and make plays."

Reid's stoic personality and bland news conferences annoyed fans and even some members of the media. He refused to call out players and always took the blame after each loss, saying he had to "do a better job" and "put players in better position to perform."

While that didn't make him popular outside the locker room, Reid was respected by his players. They supported him to the end.

"He's a great coach, a great person. I love the guy," safety Kurt Coleman said.

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - If Michael Vick could play cornerback, he might have prevented one, two, three, four or all five of the touchdown passes Eli Manning threw Sunday.

If Michael Vick played defensive tackle, he might have stopped the New York Giants from averaging 5.3 yards per carry in their 42-7 victory over the Eagles.

If he were the kicker, he might not have hooked a 28-yard field goal attempt.

If he were on the offensive line, he might have given the quarterback more time to throw.

"Sometimes, I wish I could play other positions," Vick said at the conclusion of the Birds' 4-12 season. "But I can't. So you do the best you can. That's all you can ask of yourself."

For the first time in seven games Sunday, Vick played quarterback, replacing Nick Foles, who had a broken hand. On his fourth play, he fumbled. On his fifth, he threw an interception. And after the game, he threw open that customarily taboo topic, implying that he could have done better than some teammates, at whatever position.

"Let's clear this up," he said. "I am not saying that my teammates gave a lack of effort and I noticed it. I just know we can play better. That's what I'm saying. I mean, we're down, 21-nothing, and the first quarter is not even over. So what is that? We don't know. But as the same time, you still have to battle through, you still have to fight through.

"I just noticed it. It's a big difference than what we were going through last year and the year before. And it shouldn't be that way. And I have to sit here and be candid right now. And if every guy in that locker room was to come to this podium, they should say the same thing I said, verbatim. So, it is what it is. There is nothing else to talk about. I wish all the guys the best in that locker room. And we'll see what happens."

Vick settled after the first-possession problems, completing 19 of 35 passes for 197 yards, including a touchdown to Jeremy Maclin. He was sacked once, mixed in 25 rushing yards and did enough, it seemed, to meet what had to be his secondary objective.

The first was to win. After that, it was to show that he could still be a useful starting quarterback in the NFL, even though it is not likely to be next season in Philadelphia.

"Listen, I'm proud of him for going out and getting in there and competing," Andy Reid said. "I thought he did some good things. He was a little rusty, I thought, in the beginning. But I thought he did some good things."

In four seasons with the Eagles after being jailed in connection with animal abuse, Vick did plenty of things, many good, some not so much. At 32, it would cost the Eagles $16 million to employ him next season, but only $4 million to set him free. There is also the possibility that he could renegotiate his contract and remain with the Birds at a lower cost.

But when asked Sunday if he wanted to be back, Vick hardly broke into an E-A-G cheer.

"I mean, I don't know," he said. "I have to just take some time to think about everything that happened this season and reflect on it. I can take the positives away, as far as what I was able to accomplish. I wish we could have accomplished more with my teammates but I don't know right now. I just need some rest."

With the Eagles ineligible for the postseason, that rest can begin at once. His problem Sunday was that the Birds, as a team, might have begun resting during the game.

"I don't know how that happens," said Vick, who was replaced by Trent Edwards for the Birds' final possession. "I mean, you watch us play and we don't exhibit the things that we do in practice. So I don't know where that comes from. I know that it's frustrating and difficult because, me, I leave it all out on the field and I give it everything I've got. Football means a lot to a lot of the guys in the locker room, and I know it means a lot to me. And I give it everything I've got whenever I step on the field, regardless of the situation, coming back after eight games, I don't care.

"I give it everything I've got. That's something I can be proud of."

Vick appeared in 10 games this season, throwing 12 touchdown passes and being intercepted 10 times, suffering a concussion and essentially losing his first-string status to Foles.

"Listen," Reid said. "He'll have better days ahead of him."

Reid, too, may have some more enjoyable professional hours, though they will not be in Philadelphia.

"He is a great man and I love him to death," Vick said. "And I wish we wouldn't be having this conversation right now. I wish I could have done more. Hopefully, a lot of players in that locker room right now wish they could have done more. Coach didn't go out and play the games. He coached.

"That's our responsibility to go out and make it right. And we didn't do that."

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - The speedinggolf cart, headlights blazing in a darkened Met Life stadiumcorridor, skidded to a sudden stop, dropping Jeffrey Lurie and HowieRoseman at the door of the Eagles' locker room. Just minutes earlier,their 4-12 regular season had reached its own jarring finish. Atlast, the offseason had begun. That ride will not be as smooth.

By Monday, Lurie will have an openingfor a head coach. Soon, he will have openings for coordinators,assistants and perhaps a quarterback. And by the time they all gatherfor the spring minicamp-a-thon, everything could be different, fromthe players to the playbook. It's the deal Lurie had made with hisclients before the season, when he said he expected substantialimprovement from 2011, then underlined by stressing that an 8-8record would be unacceptable. So that's the deal he will honor.

"Whatever he chooses will be right,"Andy Reid said. "He has always done what is in the best interestsof the Eagles."

Neither the owner nor the generalmanager were visible when those locker room doors would open and thepress would enter. And if that was not unprecedented, it was rare,for even after some of the most tormenting season-ending losses underhis watch, Lurie had made himself immediately accountable, even if itwould be after his head coach had forgotten to run a hurry-up offenseand lose a Super Bowl. That kind of thing.

He had not been available all season - not after authorities said that steroids were found around histraining camp, not after his security guards were accused of makingfans remove an in-stadium sign critical of the operation, not afterthe losses, none of them, one after the next after the next. And sohe wouldn't be available after the most disturbing loss of them all,a 42-7 checkout Sunday against the New York Giants.

But he can't hide, not for much longer,not even for another day. He had gambled that the .500 season of 2011was caused by labor stoppage, multiple personnel changes, injuriesand other football follies, and after a rambling offseason blab-festhe forced Reid on his fans for one more year. The result was asmeared mess that left assistant coaches fired, players injured,seats unoccupied, fans furious and even Reid, himself, aware that hisnext meeting with the owner would be his last as an Eagles employee.

"Listen, I have been doing it a longtime," he said. "I have a lot of respect for Jeff Lurie. My eyesare wide open. I understand. Either way, I understand. This is abusiness that I have chosen. I have been very fortunate to have beenhere as long as I have. If I am here again, I will love every minuteof it."

Reid never was very good at managinghis minutes, which is a massive reason why he won't have that chancefor a 15th season. Always, he behaved as if he would havemore time, even if it meant punting the ball away late in anelimination game in New Orleans. And he did have plenty of chances,for he had Lurie convinced that he would help begin that elusivecollection of golden football trophies.

By the end, though, Reid's message wasgarbled, and so was his professional reputation. By Sunday, in an NFCEast game with some thin postseason meaning, his players rarelytackled with authority, the Giants averaging 5.3 yards per rush andEli Manning flipping five touchdown passes.

"It was nothing to be proud of,"said Michael Vick, who had suggested in the preseason that the Birdshad a potential to build, yes, a dynasty. "You don't go throughspring training and training camp to go 4-and-12."

That is why Lurie will act, and soon,and then begin his search for his next head coach. Professionalfootball teams do lose games. But they cannot lose a reason to beproud.

Reid would like to be back. "I'm allin," he said. But he knew he was to meet sometime before Mondaymorning with the owner - and that his Tuesday schedule would not beso cluttered.

Less than 24 hours after the regular season ended, NFL firings began at a furious pace.

In a span of about 90 minutes before lunch Monday, coaches Andy Reid, Pat Shurmur, Romeo Crennel and Chan Gailey were let go by their teams after losing seasons. None of the moves were surprising, and more are expected.

The Jets decided to keep their coach, Rex Ryan, but fired general manager Mike Tannenbaum.

The Browns made it a clean sweep, dismissing GM Tom Heckert along with Shurmur.

Reid was the longest tenured of the group, let go after 14 seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles.

Gailey was dumped after three seasons with the Bills, Shurmur after two in Cleveland and Crennel was coach of the Chiefs for one full season.

Jacksonville fired GM Gene Smith.

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PHILADELPHIA (AP) - Andy Reid's worst coaching season with the Philadelphia Eagles ended Monday after 14 years when he was fired by owner Jeffrey Lurie, who said it was time "to move in a new direction."

The dismissal came one day after Reid and the Eagles were humiliated 42-7 by the New York Giants and ended their season at 4-12.

"Andy leaves us with a winning tradition that we can build upon. And we are very excited about the future," Lurie said in a statement released by the team.

Reid met with his players afterward and was sent off with a standing ovation.

"It's unfortunate. I feel we personally let him down," wide receiver Jeremy Maclin said. "It's a sad day."

Added rookie quarterback Nick Foles: "It's up to the players to make the plays."

Reid took over a 3-13 team in 1999, drafted Donovan McNabb with the No. 2 overall pick and quickly turned the franchise into a title contender.

He is the winningest coach in club history and led them to a run of four straight NFC championship games, a streak that ended with a Super Bowl trip after the 2004 season - and a loss, 24-21, to the New England Patriots. The Eagles were seeking their first NFL title since 1960.

Still, Reid cemented Philadelphia as a football town and led the team to an unmatched level of success. But the team hasn't won a playoff game since 2008 and after last season's 8-8 finish, Lurie said he was looking for improvement this year.

Instead, it was worse.
Reid sounded like a man who knew he was going to be out of work when he addressed the media after the Giants game.

"I go in eyes wide open," Reid said, referring to his upcoming meeting Monday with Lurie. "Either way, I understand. Whatever he chooses will be the right thing. He always does things for the best interests of the Eagles."

In 2009, Reid and Lurie gave Michael Vick a second chance in the NFL after the former star quarterback spent 18 months in federal prison related to a dogfighting operation. Vick took over as the starter in 2010, had a remarkable season and led the Eagles to the NFC East title. But like rest of the team, Vick regressed the last two seasons.

Reid is due to make $6 million in 2013 in the final year of his contract. He is the franchise leader in wins (140) and winning percentage (.578) and led the Eagles to six division titles and five NFC championship games.. Reid grew up in Southern California and may welcome a return home. He already has said he wants to coach next season.

Aside from team troubles, the year was a painful one for Reid. He endured a devastating loss weeks before the season opener when his oldest son, Garrett, died at training camp after a long battle with drug addiction.

In October, Reid fired close friend and longtime assistant Juan Castillo, who was in his second season as defensive coordinator after coaching the offensive line for 13 years. He later fired defensive-line coach Jim Washburn.

After beating the defending Super Bowl champion Giants on Sept. 30, the Eagles lost eight straight games - their worst losing streak in 42 years.

PhiladelpiaEagles.com posted video of Lurie and Reid addressing team employees, who gave Reid a big ovation. Lurie handed him a game ball.

"I have a hard time standing before people without a few boos involved. But I'm taking it, I'm taking it all in," Reid said. "These have been the greatest 14 years of my life."

He added: "Sometimes change is good. ... I know the next guy that comes in will be phenomenal. The ultimate goal is a Super Bowl. Everybody in this room, I wish you a big ring on the finger in the near future.

"Hail to the Eagles, baby."
___

AP Sports Writer Dan Gelston contributed to this report.

NEW YORK (AP) - The NHL and the players' association are using the final hours of 2012 to try to get closer to an elusive deal that has so far been well out of reach.

Negotiations were scheduled for Monday afternoon at the league's New York office, marking the first time the NHL and the union will be bargaining in nearly three weeks, and the first time they will do so without mediation since early December.

The New Year's clock is ticking while the window to reach a labor agreement to save the season is rapidly closing. No one has said exactly how much time remains, but the belief is the NHL wants a shortened season to start no later than Jan. 19.

That leaves a little less than two weeks to reach an agreement and stage one week of training camp before the puck would drop on a 48-game campaign.

The league and the union had informational discussions - by conference call and in meetings - with staff members that lasted much of Saturday and ended Sunday. Those talks were spurred by the nearly 300-page contract proposal the NHL presented to the union Thursday.

The union is expected to make a counteroffer Monday. These will be the first negotiations since the sides met with a federal mediator Dec. 13.

All games through Jan. 14 have been canceled, claiming more than 50 percent of the original schedule. The NHL wants to reach a deal by Jan. 11 and open the season eight days later.

Bargaining sessions with only the NHL and union haven't been held since Dec. 6, when talks abruptly ended after the players' association made a counterproposal. The league said that offer was contingent on the union accepting three elements unconditionally and without further bargaining.

The NHL then pulled all existing offers off the table. Two days of sessions with mediators the following week ended without progress.

A person familiar with key points of the offer told The Associated Press that the league proposed raising the limit of individual free-agent contracts to six years from five - seven years if a team re-signs its own player; raising the salary variance from one year to another to 10 percent, up from 5 percent; and one compliance buyout for the 2013-14 season that wouldn't count toward a team's salary cap but would be included in the overall players' share of income.

The person spoke on condition of anonymity because details of the new offer weren't being discussed publicly.

The NHL maintained the deferred payment amount of $300 million it offered in its previous proposal, an increase from an earlier offer of $211 million. The initial $300 million offer was pulled after negotiations broke off this month.

The latest proposal is for 10 years, running through the 2021-22 season, with both sides having the right to opt out after eight years.

If this offer doesn't quickly lead to a new collective bargaining agreement, the next round of cuts could claim the entire schedule.

The NHL is the only North American professional sports league to cancel a season because of a labor dispute, losing the 2004-05 campaign to a lockout. A 48-game season was played in 1995 after a lockout stretched into January.

It is still possible this dispute could eventually be settled in the courts if the sides can't reach a deal on their own.

The NHL filed a class-action suit this month in U.S. District Court in New York in an effort to show its lockout is legal. In a separate move, the league filed an unfair labor practice charge with the National Labor Relations Board, contending bad-faith bargaining by the union.

Those moves were made because the players' association took steps toward potentially filing a "disclaimer of interest," which would dissolve the union and make it a trade association. That would allow players to file antitrust lawsuits against the NHL.

Union members voted overwhelmingly to give their board the power to file the disclaimer by Wednesday. If that deadline passes, another authorization vote could be held to approve a later filing.

PHILADELPHIA - It was more like reality TV than a firing.

On the day Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie officially dismissed Andy Reid, whose performance the past couple of years had gone from average to awful, he also announced that he looks forward to the day Reid takes his place in the Eagles Hall of Fame.

That tells you how dysfunctional the Eagles are after 14 years with Reid, his family and their uncommon issues. Not the least of which was the death of their eldest child at Eagles training camp in Lehigh University due to a drug overdose. Lurie didn't go there.

Lurie proudly stated Reid is the winningest coach in Eagles with 140 victories. Didn't mention he's their losingest coach with 102 defeats.

"There is only one coach who can be the winningest coach in the history of an NFL franchise," Lurie said. Especially one that goes that far back as the Philadelphia Eagles. And that's Andy Reid."

There wasn't any applause. Earlier in the day Lurie got an ovation.

The Eagles videoed and choreographed almost every step of Reid's firing.

From 8:30 to 9, Reid got the word from Lurie.

At 10 a.m. Reid addressed his dismissal at the previously scheduled team meeting with players while the Eagles sent out the firing release.

Reid left and Lurie came in and spoke to the players as a whole.

"He told us of the time when he hired Andy and how it was the best decision he ever made," punter Mat McBriar said. "He spoke of their relationship. It was the longest owner-head coach relationship around. There definitely was some reflection there. He also said we're going to move forward and this is unacceptable, what's going on. It was good to hear from the owner. I think everyone knows we need to pick things up."

At 10:45 a.m. Eagles employees gathered to meet with Reid in the cafeteria. Lurie was on hand for the sendoff and said a couple of words, getting a standing ovation according to a team source. Reid thanked everyone and said he would be pulling for them to win a Super Bowl.

Later Reid met individually with various employees. It was an institutional form of grief counseling.

After breezing through the dismissal Lurie said Howie Roseman had proven his ability to evaluate talent in the 2012 draft and would remain as general manager. Lurie blamed the disastrous 2011 draft on someone else, who everyone figured out had to be former Eagles president Joe Banner, now the president of the Cleveland Browns.

While Lurie's penchant for taking the "much higher road" prevented him from identifying whose fault the draft was, Reid had the final say on personnel decisions.

"I'm not going to go into details," Lurie said.

Which leads to this: The new head coach reports only to Lurie, just as in the case of Reid. Roseman only works with the guy.

Though Lurie said the Eagles haven't scheduled any interviews, Dirk Koetter, the offensive coordinator of the Atlanta Falcons, will meet with them according to reports. The coaching search will be exhaustive according to Lurie, and include the college ranks, where the Eagles are interested in Oregon's Chip Kelly according to sources.

Lurie said he will make the final decision on the coach, just as he did with Reid. Roseman and team president Don Smolenski will collaborate to narrow down the list of finalists. The best news is Roseman conceded the Eagles would consult people in the organization like Tom Donahoe and Ted Savage, real football guys, for their input.

Lurie, like someone selling a time-share, went into a rant explaining how the Eagles were one of the most desirable job openings. You were almost expecting someone to hand you a free mug on the way out.

"I'm very confident that this is the most attractive place for a head coach to work in the NFL," said Lurie, who touted the passionate fan base. "This is a huge media market. Prime time games. If you want to be at the forefront of NFL in America this is a top-four, top-five media market. Facilities, about the best facilities in the NFL. History of an owner-coach relationship, I think virtually unmatched. I think that the resources, any coach coming here knows there's no limitation on the resources in any direction, financial or otherwise that's put toward the football program. Everyone knows that in the league. I think that there's a winning culture, an organization used to winning."

Until lately, of course. The Eagles are 12-20 and have missed the playoffs the past two seasons.

The quarterback situation will have to be sorted out by the next coach. Lurie said Reid is impressed with Nick Foles. Remember, of course, Reid is on his way out. If Foles doesn't work out, guess who's culpable?

It was just another day at the NovaCare Complex, where the spin always seems greater than the performance.

And now Lurie is facing his biggest decision ever, one he put off another year because he feared firing Reid, who had two years left on his contract. Reid guided the Eagles to the bulk of their nine playoff appearances in his first seven years. Lurie previously hired Ray Rhodes as head coach, who made two playoff appearances in four years.

"In the end it's going to be a subjective decision on my part," Lurie said. "I take it very seriously. And there is no guarantee that I'll make a great decision. I'm confident I will. It is what it is - you're making judgments about people that you hope to work with 15 years or more."

If the new hire doesn't work out, the story will be chronicled on video. Just pay real close attention to the editing.

Since 1999, Andy Reid would step to the podium to address the media - the oft-hyperbolic conduit to all who dwell and suffer in the Eagle Nation - and, after running through a list of injuries running the gamut from turf toes to torn knee ligaments to concussions, would make his patented pronouncement: "The time is yours."

But the time was never really ours, was it?

There is a way to be informative and respectful to those seeking answers to their heartache (re: Dick Vermeil, the only Eagle taskmaster in my lifetime that I call "coach") without throwing players under the bus.

And there is a way to not act like everything is classified information, as if a pro football team is the CIA, not worthy of the public who indirectly pays your salary.

A lot of nice things are being written and said about Andy Reid in the wake of his firing, which was officially official Monday morning.

I guess that is what we do in our culture. Richard Nixon, the president who lowered the respect level for the job for generations to come, even received posthumous platitudes when he died in 1994.

When it comes to Andy Reid - a man I've called many unprintable names over the years, mostly during brutal game-day decisions - I can't go there.

And I won't now.
Consider me the sober bartender pouring shots of reality.

There is no doubt of Reid's accomplishments. He took the Eagles to five NFC championship games, including four in a row. But he won only one, despite three being at home, and lost his only Super Bowl appearance.

There was a lot of hope in his tenure.

And even more nope.
He won seven NFC East crowns, but that rings hollow when one of our most bitter divisional rivals, the New York Giants, won two Super Bowls during that same time frame.

Miracle at the Meadowlands?
The joke is on us.

The Eagles winning their first title since 1960, five years before I was born, would be the real miracle.

Part of the Praise Parade, from as high up as owner Jeffery Lurie, is this talk about how Reid leads all prior Eagles coaches in franchise wins.

Kids, this is what we call a non sequitir.

When you coach 14 seasons, you better have the most career wins.

The truth, as we set down a second round of shots at O'Glantz's Tavern, is that he 14 seasons was several seasons too many.

After inexcusable losses, and/or stretches of losses, he would tell us - during "our time" - that it "begins with him" and that "he has to do a better job."

It got to be such blah-blah-blah, that we stopped taking it literally.

But we should have.
The NFL keeps no statistics on blown timeouts that led to decisive points being left on the field, or on how offenses don't start moving the chains until after the first 15 scripted plays are used up.

But it does track penalties.
Did you know Andy Reid's Eagles, going back to the beginning, were among the naughtiest third in the league in yellow flags?

That wasn't just when his teams were young and restless, and it goes straight to coaching.

His departure could have come after the loss to Dallas in the 2009 playoffs, when the Cowboys pretty much admitted that Reid's Eagles, despite their equal talent level, were strategically predictable.

Some point to signing Michael Vick as Reid's undoing, but Vick's play in 2010 actually kept Reid around for a few more years.

And really, people, Vick did his time for his crime and always acted with class off the field. On the field, after that one magical season, was another story.

Drink another shot of reality and get over it.

As for Reid being fired, it could have again come after the 2011 season, when his decision to move Juan Castillo from his longtime post as a successful and respected offensive line coach to learn-on -the-job defensive coordinator was only trumped by his decision to fire him once this season was already under way.

Reid suffered a major tragedy this year when his son, Garrett, died of an overdose during training camp. If he had asked for time off - maybe even a season-long sabbatical - the supposedly hard-hearted Eagles' fan base, family-minded types that we are, would have understood.

But he declared himself fit for duty, and clearly was not.

Reid drafted Donovan McNabb 1999 to be the franchise quarterback, and put together an all-star coaching staff. Along with the leaders in place (Brian Dawkins, Troy Vincent, Jeremiah Trotter), and a blue print for success that was innovative for 1999, the assistant coaches - namely defensive coordinator Jim Johnson -- probably propped Reid up a little bit.

Still, fools such as I remained among Reid's chorus of defenders. He wasn't Ray Rhodes and that was good enough for us.

We blamed the burned timeouts on McNabb, not Reid micromanaging him to the point that he was more of an on-field puppet than an on-field coach.

Disillusioned by the championship game loss to Tampa Bay in the final game at Veterans Stadium, the place where I grew up as an Eagles' fan, I started to question Reid during the following season, 2003.

The Eagles fell to 0-2 and didn't start winning until the idea of running the ball with three-headed attack of backs - Duce Staley, Brian Westbrook and Correll Buckhalter - was hammered into his pass-first skull.

Despite only having five touchdown catches by receivers, the Eagles hosted the NFC title game against Carolina.

And lost, 14-3.
For a man who reportedly jokes about the low score he would score on the Wonderlic test, which measures the intelligence of draft prospects, Reid's fatal flaw was thinking he was smarting that everyone else.

In the end, he out-smarted himself.

And we all ended up looking dumb.

It took admitting they needed a real playmaker at receiver, in the person of Terrell Owens, to get over the hump. Those dreams were partially dashed when Owens was injured late in the 2004 season on a horse-collar tackle that, of course, was outlawed the next year as a direct consequence.

He came back and played - and played well - on one leg in the Super Bowl. When not signed to a better deal in the offseason - a mistake, in retrospect - Owens began to act out like the child many superstar athletes are deep down.

They started 3-1 in 2005 but finished 6-10 and out of the playoffs.

The only other year Reid's Eagles started 3-1 but didn't make the playoffs was this past season, and we all know the start was a mirage.

Reid's teams always seemed to struggle out of the starting game, and it cost them other chances for bigger dances as a result.

We'll discount the 0-4 start in 1999. They were 1-3 in 2007 and finished 8-8, but that was only by virtue of a three-game winning streak at the end of the year. Last year, when they also started 1-3, they were 4-8 before the fool's gold of a four-game winning streak put them at 8-8 and kept the pink slip in Lurie's pocket.

There is good 8-8 and bad 8-8, and these seasons were of the ugly variety.

The players all say they loved and respected Reid as a man, and expressed remorse Tuesday.

I can see why.
Over the years, it became apparent - from the days off at training (a direct correlation to the stagnant Septembers) to the breaks during the bye weeks - that the tail was wagging the dog with increasing velocity.

Case in point was Reid's most abysmal coaching decision this season - leaving LeSean McCoy in the game in the final two minutes of a blowout loss to the Redskins, another NFC East rival that has passed the Eagles by.

McCoy suffered a concussion and missed several weeks. Reid gave a nonsensical, "we were trying to win the game" when the "the time was ours" post-game press conference came.

Ridiculed, the rationale was modified to McCoy "wanted" to be in the game.

I'm sure he did, to get his carries and his stats - not as much for his ego, but to prove he is an elite back. And for Reid, a few more carries might mean a few less questions about misusing McCoy. Meanwhile, the franchise back's career was put in jeopardy, as each concussion begets the risk of another.

While NFL coaches rarely get fired during the season, I would have done so on the spot.

Instead, as we raise our last drink in a toast, it happened a day after the season.

The time is ours.
To a New Year.

To a new era.
To us.
Gordon Glantz is the managing editor/sports editor of The Times Herald. Contact him at gglantz@timesherald.com or 610-272-2500, ext. 212. Follow his blog @Managing2Edit.

Since 1999, Andy Reid would step to the podium to address the media - the oft-hyperbolic conduit to all who dwell and suffer in the Eagle Nation - and, after running through a list of injuries running the gamut from turf toes to torn knee ligaments to concussions, would make his patented pronouncement: "The time is yours."

But the time was never really ours, was it?

There is a way to be informative and respectful to those seeking answers to their heartache (re: Dick Vermeil, the only Eagle taskmaster in my lifetime that I call "coach") without throwing players under the bus.

And there is a way to not act like everything is classified information, as if a pro football team is the CIA, not worthy of the public who indirectly pays your salary.

A lot of nice things are being written and said about Andy Reid in the wake of his firing, which was officially official Monday morning.

I guess that is what we do in our culture. Richard Nixon, the president who lowered the respect level for the job for generations to come, even received posthumous platitudes when he died in 1994.

When it comes to Andy Reid - a man I've called many unprintable names over the years, mostly during brutal game-day decisions - I can't go there.

And I won't now.
Consider me the sober bartender pouring shots of reality.

There is no doubt of Reid's accomplishments. He took the Eagles to five NFC championship games, including four in a row. But he won only one, despite three being at home, and lost his only Super Bowl appearance.

There was a lot of hope in his tenure.

And even more nope.
He won seven NFC East crowns, but that rings hollow when one of our most bitter divisional rivals, the New York Giants, won two Super Bowls during that same time frame.

Miracles at the Meadowlands?
The joke is on us.

The Eagles winning their first title since 1960, five years before I was born, would be the real miracle.

Part of the Praise Parade, from as high up as owner Jeffery Lurie, is this talk about how Reid leads all prior Eagles coaches in franchise wins.

Kids, this is what we call a non sequitir.

When you coach 14 seasons, you better have the most career wins.

The truth, as we set down a second round of shots at O'Glantz's Tavern, is that his 14 seasons were several seasons too many.

After inexcusable losses, and/or stretches of losses, he would tell us - during "our time" - that it "begins with him" and that "he has to do a better job."

It got to be such blah-blah-blah, that we stopped taking it literally.

But we should have.
The NFL keeps no statistics on blown timeouts that led to decisive points being left on the field, or on how offenses don't start moving the chains until after the first 15 scripted plays are used up.

But it does track penalties.
Did you know Andy Reid's Eagles, going back to the beginning, were among the naughtiest third in the league in yellow flags?

That wasn't just when his teams were young and restless, and it goes straight to coaching.

His departure could have come after the loss to Dallas in the 2009 playoffs, when the Cowboys pretty much admitted that Reid's Eagles, despite their equal talent level, were strategically predictable.

Some point to signing Michael Vick as Reid's undoing, but Vick's play in 2010 actually kept Reid around for a few more years.

And really, people, Vick did his time for his crime and always acted with class off the field. On the field, after that one magical season, was another story.

Drink another shot of reality and get over it.

As for Reid being fired, it could have again come after the 2011 season, when his decision to move Juan Castillo from his longtime post as a successful and respected offensive line coach to learn-on -the-job defensive coordinator was only trumped by his decision to fire him once this season was already under way.

Reid suffered a major tragedy this year when his son, Garrett, died of an overdose during training camp. If he had asked for time off - maybe even a season-long sabbatical - the supposedly hard-hearted Eagles' fan base, family-minded types that we are, would have understood.

But he declared himself fit for duty, and clearly was not.

Reid drafted Donovan McNabb in 1999 to be the franchise quarterback, and put together an all-star coaching staff. Along with the leaders in place (Brian Dawkins, Troy Vincent, Jeremiah Trotter), and a blue print for success that was innovative for 1999, the assistant coaches - namely defensive coordinator Jim Johnson - probably propped Reid up a little bit.

Still, fools such as I remained among Reid's chorus of defenders. He wasn't Ray Rhodes and that was good enough for us.

We blamed the burned timeouts on McNabb, not Reid micromanaging him to the point that he was more of an on-field puppet than an on-field coach.

Disillusioned by the championship game loss to Tampa Bay in the final game at Veterans Stadium, the place where I grew up as an Eagles' fan, I started to question Reid during the following season, 2003.

The Eagles fell to 0-2 and didn't start winning until the idea of running the ball with three-headed attack of backs - Duce Staley, Brian Westbrook and Correll Buckhalter - was hammered into his pass-first skull.

Despite only having five touchdown catches by receivers, the Eagles hosted the NFC title game against Carolina.

And lost, 14-3.
For a man who reportedly jokes about the low score he would score on the Wonderlic test, which measures the intelligence of draft prospects, Reid's fatal flaw was thinking he was out-smarting that everyone else.

In the end, he out-smarted himself.

And we all ended up looking dumb.

It took admitting they needed a real playmaker at receiver, in the person of Terrell Owens, to get over the hump. Those dreams were partially dashed when Owens was injured late in the 2004 season on a horse-collar tackle that, of course, was outlawed the next year as a direct consequence.

He came back and played - and played well - on one leg in the Super Bowl. When not signed to a better deal in the offseason - a mistake, in retrospect - Owens began to act out like the child many superstar athletes are deep down.

They started 3-1 in 2005 but finished 6-10 and out of the playoffs.

The only other year Reid's Eagles started 3-1 but didn't make the playoffs was this past season, and we all know the start was a mirage.

Reid's teams always seemed to struggle out of the starting gate, and it cost them other chances for bigger dances as a result.

We'll discount the 0-4 start in 1999. They were 1-3 in 2007 and finished 8-8, but that was only by virtue of a three-game winning streak at the end of the year. Last year, when they also started 1-3, they were 4-8 before the fool's gold of a four-game winning streak put them at 8-8 and kept the pink slip in Lurie's pocket.

There is good 8-8 and bad 8-8, and these seasons were of the ugly variety.

The players all say they loved and respected Reid as a man, and expressed remorse Tuesday.

I can see why.
Over the years, it became apparent - from the days off at training (a direct correlation to the stagnant Septembers) to the breaks during the bye weeks - that the tail was wagging the dog with increasing velocity.

Case in point was Reid's most abysmal coaching decision this season - leaving LeSean McCoy in the game in the final two minutes of a blowout loss to the Redskins, another NFC East rival that has passed the Eagles by.

McCoy suffered a concussion and missed several weeks. Reid gave a nonsensical, "we were trying to win the game" when the "the time was ours" post-game press conference came.

Ridiculed, the rationale was modified to McCoy "wanted" to be in the game.

I'm sure he did, to get his carries and his stats - not as much for his ego, but to prove he is an elite back. And for Reid, a few more carries might mean a few less questions about misusing McCoy. Meanwhile, the franchise back's career was put in jeopardy, as each concussion begets the risk of another.

While NFL coaches rarely get fired during the season, I would have done so on the spot.

Instead, as we raise our last drink in a toast, it happened a day after the season.

The time is ours.
To a New Year.

To a new era.
To us.
Gordon Glantz is the managing editor/sports editor of The Times Herald. Contact him at gglantz@timesherald.com or 610-272-2500, ext. 212. Follow his blog @Managing2Edit.