Reid Seeks Greater Balance

Andy Reid stands as a man torn. Squarely sequestered somewhere between commitment and obligation, contentment and fulfillment.

By day, the eight-year Philadelphia Eagles coach busies himself in pursuit of the cherished goal he shares with a brethren of 53 others. Win and win at all cost is the mantra Reid and his men have come to know and respond to.

But by night, Andy Reid's mind certainly has to wonder. Harken back to the family he's far too often forced to separate himself  from in the name of pursuing the dream. And it's times like these when the burden of all that becomes almost too much to bear.

Over the last twelve-months alone, both Reid's sons, Garrett, 24, and Britt, 22, have been nabbed on charges ranging from DUI, to drugs and weapons possession. Both face the real prospect of jail time in upcoming hearings.

It's all been enough to give Andy Reid pause in his otherwise non-stop world, force him to the sidelines and into far deeper contemplation. Are the sins of father now somehow being heaped upon the son? Justified or not, real or imagined, those are surely some of the questions Andy Reid struggles with these days. Wondering if the pursuit of his own dreams has somehow warped the development of his own children. Such are the demons born of being an NFL coach.

“Family, obviously, is the most important thing in my life," Reid said upon returning from a self-imposed leave of absence in the wake of all his troubles. "To say walking away, I can't say it doesn't cross your mind. I knew I needed to take some time and to make sure I addressed the issue."

And now, much to the delight of Philly management, Andy Reid is back to address the only other issue that matters in his world: Leading the Eagles to the Super Bowl victory that has eluded them despite four NFC Conference title game showings and six playoff appearances in the last seven years.

Behind Donovan McNabb, Bryant Westbrook and a defense led by Brian Dawkins, Javon Kearse and Takeo Spikes, the pieces certainly seem in place. It's Andy Reid's job to hold them all together. Here's to hoping he finds his way. In both his worlds. 

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