What Andy Reid wants, Andy Reid gets.
At least that's how it seems to be playing out in Kansas City, where reports have Reid and the Chiefs hammering out details for him to take over as head coach. According to those reports, one of the caveats of Reid taking over a team that has lost 12 or more games in four of the last six seasons, including a pathetic 2-14 this season that has earned the Chiefs the No. 1 overall pick in the draft, is that Tom Heckert comes along for the ride as general manager.
Heckert became available because he was fired as Browns GM following a three-year stint that saw them go 14-34. The bright spot is that Cleveland's 5-11 record this year at least was better than what Reid did with the Eagles (4-12). It's tough to discern how much Heckert had to do with the Eagles' drafts when he was the GM in Philly. The Eagles did hit it big with their first two picks in 2009 (Jeremy Maclin and LeSean McCoy), but from 2006-09 there was a list of famously bad defensive selections - Brodrick Bunkley, Chris Gocong, Victor Abiamiri, Stewart Bradley, Trevor Laws, Bryan Smith (does anyone even remember Bryan Smith?).
That, combined with Heckert's less-than-stellar performance in reshaping the Browns (anyone believe that Trent Richardson/Brandon Weeden first-round backfield is going to team up in any Pro Bowls ever?) should make the Chiefs leery of Reid's insistence on getting everything he wants out of this. If the Eagles went 8-8 this year? Sure. They were 4-12 - FOUR AND TWELVE.
When you check out the list of coaches who moved to a new job after a long tenure elsewhere, Bill Parcells, Mike Ditka - hell, go back to Hank Stram and Paul Brown if you'd like - the second team tends to be disappointed by its hire. Yes, Parcells took the Patriots to a Super Bowl in his fourth season - and left in a huff.
Remember, when you hire a coach with a long, comfortable NFL tenure elsewhere, you're also getting a large ego. And in a league where the coaches have large egos to start, having an ego that seems large in comparison to the norm can be unwieldy.
Marty Schottenheimer was a good coach who searched fruitlessly for greatness - because he just wasn't quite great. Even Mike Holmgren, who spent a decade in Seattle after seven years in Green Bay, was considered a bust until he took the Seahawks to the Super Bowl, at last, in his seventh year there. And let's keep in mind that Ken Whisenhunt managed to take Arizona to a Super Bowl, too, as a coach in an NFC West that was weak for years.
Mike Shanahan seems to be on his way to being an exception to the rule in Washington, but it also should be noted that Shanahan didn't hire his GM when he joined the Redskins; Bruce Allen was in place and has provided a fresh voice in Shanahan's football world.
Maybe Andy Reid will succeed in Kansas City. Hell, if he comes to terms on a contract, he picked a team that has gone 29-67 the last six seasons. How could he not succeed compared to that mess?
But the whole Heckert thing should be a warning sign. Andy has Andy's guys. Except many of Andy's guys aren't available anymore, and his best guy, Jim Johnson, was a devastating loss from which the Eagles never recovered.
Who will Andy Reid bring to Kansas City with him? Marty Mornhinweg? Will anyone miss him in Philly as offensive coordinator? Pat Shurmur? Did he ever really prove himself either as an offensive coordinator in St. Louis or as head coach in Cleveland? Brad Childress? He followed up his head-coaching failure in Minnesota by going down with Shurmur's ship in Cleveland.
Think Bobby April will get a welcome wagon anywhere?
At least Reid might have some people he trusts on offense. He literally must start from scratch at defensive coordinator. He not only failed to find a replacement for Johnson, but Reid also came across as a shaky decision-maker when it came to finding a defensive coordinator and providing that guy with talent.
If Kansas City decides to give Reid what he wants - all the power - good luck. But wasn't that what led to Reid's demise in Philly, really?