Professional Football Researchers Association Forum

A disastrous season for Philly, with Ray Rhodes heading out the door and Andy Reid beginning a great, though challenging, head coaching career in 1999.

Despite a 3-13 season, the Eagles defense only gave up 18 TD passes but their offense only scored 7 through the air! Is this number the fewest ever for a team in a 16 game season?

Other notes on the season ...

*Would also be the final seasons in Philly for Charlie Garner and Irving Fryar. Had Garner been utilized more and better during the Kotite/Rhodes years, might have made the HOVG someday because he became more a weapon for the Niners and Raiders.
Why didn't the Eagles use him more as a receiver? Maybe more usage would have helped Ricky Watters down the stretch of seasons as well?

As for Fryar, this guy probably should have been in the HOF, but simply couldn't get going in NE, where his seasons there were too pedestrian for his ability. Maybe he lost his desire to succeed or didn't have enough respect for his coaches and QBs to get the most out of his talent? Fans can only speculate in hindsight what Fryar could have achieved if the team had more belief in Doug Flutie during the 1989 season? Instead, the team tries to kick the tires on ancient Marc Wilson ...

With Marino in Miami, Fryar thrived but when Jimmy Johnson joined the team, he made his worst decision by letting Fryar walk, who played well after joining Philly instead. Fryar played better football in his thirties than twenties and people forget that he was second team All-Pro at receiver and punt returner.

The 1998 Eagles also had the ripple effect of cementing Mike Holmgren's move from Green Bay to Seattle. As 18-point underdogs, they lost to the Packers by a closer-than-it-looks 24-16 score, and Holmgren was so incensed by the catcalls he was receiving from Packer fans that any doubts he had about leaving disappeared that day.

Edit: And the fight Ray Rhodes' Eagles showed that day was a big factor in Ron Wolf's misguided decision to bring him to Green Bay the following year.

Back then, I felt Favre's success in GB allowed Gruden and Reid to advance in their coaching prospects but both proved they could be successful head coaches in their own rights. I never felt Holmgren would leave GB but the Seattle job was enticing.

Imagine if Reid could have succeeded him in GB or gotten the Raiders job over Gruden in 1998? Gruden could have taken over for Rhrodes in Philly or went somewhere else as well. A very interesting 1999 either way. It's still surprising that Al Davis went for a West coast offense coach-type like Gruden but the team needed a lift. He had Jeff George but let him go, then went after Rich Gannon because Martyball wouldn't commit to him as the starter.
1998 would be Schottenheimer's last year in KC.

Brian wolf wrote: ↑Tue Aug 13, 2024 12:19 am Despite a 3-13 season, the Eagles defense only gave up 18 TD passes but their offense only scored 7 through the air! Is this number the fewest ever for a team in a 16 game season?

Record for 16 game season is 5 by 1995 Buccaneers. Trent Dilfer. Lousy team that lucked into a 7-9 record by winning some close games. Didn't save Sam Wyche's job.

Thanks Jay Z ... I never thought that could happen for any modern offense, much less a Wyche coached team? Alvin Harper had a lousy season and had two TDs. The original free agent lay-down season ...

That utter annihilation at Mile High is the first thing that sticks out when I think of that '98 Eagles squad. Bottom totally fell out thus ushering in Andy Reid.

That said, the way things ended in Philly under Kotite reeked of a possible bad team for, at least, the next couple years no matter who the new HC would be. But give it to Rhodes for coming in and making the Birds, at least, a playoff team albeit a mere one his first two years onboard. I'm not saying anything spectacular or anything, but simply more time in Green Bay instead of just one season or a new start elsewhere and Ray likely-enough returns to the playoffs at least once or twice, I'd think.

With the success of Gruden and Reid from Holmgren's coaching tree, you wonder how Sherman Lewis or Gil Haskell might have done had they gotten chances at head coaching jobs?

Of course, great QBs like Montana, Favre and others make it possible for an assistant coach to advance but these guys, like Holmgren, Green and others from the Walsh tree, could have added their own wrinkles to the west-coast system like Gruden and Reid did.

I always felt Haskell was just as talented an offensive coach as those two were, but in Seattle, despite building and excellent run game, the receivers never developed as they should have, but the weather and moistness--after the team abandoned the Kingdome--made catching the slick footballs difficult for receivers, which bit Tony Romo for Dallas, at the end of a playoff game as well.

To be honest, Rhodes did deserve another season or two in GB--Favre played but was hurt in 1999--but Ron Wolf was still upset about the team starting to slip after losing to the Broncos in the SB. Sherman Lewis even admitted that the team had taken the Broncos for granted and an 8-8 season in 1999 was something that Wolf couldn't stomach after losing the SB and Holmgren to the Seahawks.

I felt Mike Sherman was a good coach in GB but the team lost the fire and edge that Holmgren brought to them. Though I still want Buddy Parker to be reconsidered for the Class Of 2025 from the Coach/Contributor Committee, Holmgren is building momentum as well for possible election next year.

With the success of Gruden and Reid from Holmgren's coaching tree, you wonder how Sherman Lewis or Gil Haskell might have done had they gotten chances at head coaching jobs?

I remember Lewis being a hot commodity around that time, but he never got that job. I remember thinking that the Bears should have hired him as HC around 2000, and not understanding how they could hire Dick Jauron instead (who isn't that great).

Brian wolf wrote: ↑Sat Aug 17, 2024 4:14 pm To be honest, Rhodes did deserve another season or two in GB--Favre played but was hurt in 1999--but Ron Wolf was still upset about the team starting to slip after losing to the Broncos in the SB. Sherman Lewis even admitted that the team had taken the Broncos for granted and an 8-8 season in 1999 was something that Wolf couldn't stomach after losing the SB and Holmgren to the Seahawks.

I felt Mike Sherman was a good coach in GB but the team lost the fire and edge that Holmgren brought to them. Though I still want Buddy Parker to be reconsidered for the Class Of 2025 from the Coach/Contributor Committee, Holmgren is building momentum as well for possible election next year.

I never figured out why Ray Rhodes got fired after just one season. I will agree that it turned out okay - Mike Sherman got the team back to the playoffs in 2 years - but I thought Rhodes deserved more time. As for Mike Holmgren, I hope he gets into the Pro Football Hall of Fame soon, but if Sterling Sharpe gets nominated in the Seniors class, I doubt they put in a double-Packers ballot.