Eagles: Control freak Reid has created a crisis

Day One of the Andy Reid Era in Philadelphia, introductory press conference in a downtown ballroom, cameras everywhere, reporters interested, a franchise open to change. And a hint of what was to come. "We all want the same thing here," Reid said, before implying that the press should follow his rules and enjoy the ride to all football glory. In other words, he mistook Philadelphia then as he has mistaken it ever since for Green Bay, and since he never learned otherwise, now he has a crisis.

He has a crisis because he has one quarterback whom he has pummeled into sad timidity, softening him like a well-oiled catcher's mitt with years of needless protection, ridiculous diversion and relentless control. That would be Donovan McNabb, prone to injury and late-game stomach distress, interceptions at the worst of moments, weird humor and hair-trigger feelings. And the crisis began last week when, in a snapshot of the Reid-McNabb relationship, the head coach ordered the quarterback not to answer legitimate, responsible football questions in a reasonable, conventional setting -- and the quarterback retreated to his room, exactly as ordered, not allowed to say anything at the dinner table.

Reid also has the crisis because he has another quarterback who never submitted to control, generally speaks when he cares to speak and was willing to fly to Burbank, don an Eagles jersey and participate in a slapstick stunt for Jay Leno in which a Giants fan was flattened by a panel truck. That would be Jeff Garcia, prone to NFL survival, strong of personal sense and willing to embrace any football moment.

So where is the problem?