Despite losing their last game to the NFC champion St. Louis Rams, Philadelphia players are among the loosest at this year's Pro Bowl. One reason: Their coaching staff, led by Andy Reid, is running the show. Eagles have fun
with Reid as NFC coachBy Dave Reardon
dreardon@starbulletin.com"We're a lot more relaxed than everyone else because we don't have to learn the plays," Eagles tight end Chad Lewis said. "We already know the system.
"Meeting time for us is just grab a drink and hang out."
Although they obviously wanted to go deeper into the playoffs, Reid is content with the season the Eagles had.
"It's disappointing because you want to finish the job, but when all is said and done, you look back and you see that you've done a pretty good job," he said. "I was happy for those guys (Rams and Patriots), and both coaches (Bill Belichick and Mike Martz) did great jobs."
When asked what the Eagles need, specifically, to take them a step farther next year, Reid said, with a twinkle in his eye and a smile on his face, "Well, that's something I can't tell ya."
Reid, a former Brigham Young player, took some good-natured kidding about Hawaii's 72-45 victory over BYU to end last season.
"Yeah, they took a beating," he said. "But I noticed the Cougars beat them for a good recruit from here, (Mulivai) Pula."
Gimme the damn info: Tampa Bay receiver Keyshawn Johnson said he believed there really was a strong and serious possibility that his old coach, Bill Parcells, could have been on his way to take over the Buccaneers coaching job, replacing Tony Dungy.
Tampa Bay fired Dungy following a loss to Philadelphia in the opening round of the NFC playoffs, and Parcells never came. But Johnson said he had information that let him know the speculation was more than mere rumor.
"Yeah," he said. "I knew a few people who he knows."
Parcells cited a lack of desire in his decision to stay retired, and Tampa Bay was left without a leader and forced to continue searching. After a late-season blowup, Johnson says he refuses to worry about it: "I just go along with the flow."
And the intrigue is nothing new.
"This is the NFL," Johnson said. "You're never surprised."
Asthma doesn't stop Kreutz: The Bears' Olin Kreutz has battled asthma throughout his football career.
"It's tough," said the former St. Louis School standout. "And sometimes I can't breathe well, but as long as I take my medicine, everything is all right."
Kreutz has spoken to youth groups about overcoming the condition.
Blackout deadline extended: The NFL extended the television blackout deadline until today.
Usually, NFL games, including the Pro Bowl, must be sold out 72 hours prior to kickoff in order for the game to be shown on TV locally. The NFL made an exception to the policy due to the juggling of the Pro Bowl's scheduled date. The game was moved back a week because of the Sept. 11 attacks, and it was also moved from a Sunday to a Saturday.
