In a stunning development, Eagles President Joe Banner will be stepping down from his position with the Eagles, according to Philly.com. He will remain in the employ of the Birds, but only as an adviser to Jeffrey Lurie, but will have his duties taken over by GM Howie Roseman and CEO Don Smolenski.
Smolenski will take over the running of the day-to-day operations of the team and the team’s salary cap will be overseen by Roseman.
They say it wasn’t a power struggle which cost Banner his job but how could it not be. Banner wants to stay in the professional sports business and even admitted as much on Wednesday saying he wants to “get involved with the world of buying and selling a sports team with the possibility of becoming part of a group that buys a team.”
Lurie and head coach Andy Reid immediately went into the spin cycle after the announcement was made when asked the question whether Banner was pushed out of the door.
“No, the opposite,” Lurie said. “It was all done, I think, for what’s best for everybody involved.”
“There’s always a report [about] a power struggle,” Reid said. “That’s not the case at all. . . . You only have so much time to have an opportunity to be in this business. And so, [Banner has] got goals for himself and wants to do those things. Just like we do with [assistant] coaches – give them an opportunity to move on and fulfill their goals.”
“Joe’s a free agent now,” Lurie said according to Philly.com.
“I’m an employed free agent,” Banner made it a point to add.
I think Banner’s image to the fans doomed him. He was looked upon as the face of the Eagles which the fans hated. The mere mention of his name drew groans from Birds fans nationwide. They saw Banner as team president who didn’t care about the fans.
After the season ended as I see it, the Eagles reassessed their place on the Philadelphia sports scene and decided it needed a drastic change to so they wanted to remove Banner from their public face. They want to be looked upon as being friendlier and kinder, so that meant removing Banner.
Reid is friendlier as well as more open and available to the media. They don’t want to be the bad guys in Philadelphia sports any longer, so that meant removing the face that Philadelphia sports fan have hated for years.
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Bullshit. Who cares if the FANS hate him, Loved Banner wasnt he the Florence Nightingale of Caps. The pioneer of manipulation. He wasnt picking players he was managing the cap. He was down the list with coaches or front office personell who needed to be removed IMO. Who cares who the fans like in the front office. Look at the guys in SD and Chicago. The fans hate that front office.
It was McNabbs fault for no recievers for 10 years. It was McNabbs fault you threw on 3rd and 4th and 1 for 10 years. It is Vicks fault you have no LBs for 6 years and cant hold a lead. It was McDermotts fault you gave him a job he couldnt do. It is Castilles fault you made him a DC with no experience. its Banners fault there are no rings in Philly. The list goes on. Well guess what Andy Reid its time for YOU to be accountable for 14 years of futility. When is it YOUR fault?
Nice job Dag… Yes another fall guy for Andy. Its EVERYONE’S fault except for Andy. You are right … Joe Banner was successful at managing the cap….He isnt the guy calling 4 pass plays at the 1 when you just ran it 7 times for 8 yards to get to the goal line.
Hallelujah!!! Good riddance, you people skill-less douche bag. Now we all know why, he has been in the witness protection program, over the last several months. dagg, f^#@ him & his SO-CALLED cap genius. That means STUGOTS now, that everyone has to spend at a floor & ceiling. His job has become, needless. He should have NEVER been involved with, or had anything to do with sports related decisions. PERIOD!!!! He’s the reason why, in the past, that all players left here, with his stubborn BS attitude towards 30+ players & slotting of players financially. He didn’t know his @$$, from a hole in the ground & the only sports he has ever played, is POCKET BILLIARDS!!! GOOD RIDDANCE, HE WON’T BE MISSED BY ME, A BIT!!!
NEXT, look for Big boy to step down after the season, to move up as Rosebuds Asst. BWAHAHAHAHA!!!!
dagg, while I agree, Andy is way overdue, Banner gets more fault than him!!! But he’s next!!
This is sweet…….this brown teeth weasel ruffled many feathers with the needed players at critical points through the years.
I really believe if this dookie teeth parasite would have avoided haggling during the time Trot was in his prime..we would have won the Super Bowl the year Tampa Bay shocked us “AT HOME”.
Andy is a fat version of houdini…..
The grand illusionist through the years….Modrak gone! Heckert gone! Banner gone!
I have one question for Andy….Where’s the Negatives stashed that have Lurie in a compromising position with something or someone other than his wife?
Juan keep your nose tight in his crack and learn well grasshopper.
Andy has defied all odds in a Not For Long league.
Best of Luck to Joe Banner in his Future endeavors..though I am not a big fan of Banner personally, I do repect how he ran the Team Financially with some excellent Salary Cap Management over the years … Banners has also played a big part in the Eagles Youth Foudation and it’s various Projects and have been involved in many Civic Causes in the Greater Philadelphia area
I could see where Coach AR Moves upstairs after 2013 to become President and then Todd Bowles,Juan Castillo or Marty M. are promoted to Head Coach..
Look for this to be Reids last season as HC and new team president next year.
Suprised, but with him basically disappearing since the end of last season, it makes sense. The comments that came out of the Mathis, Jackson and McCoy negotiations hinted that they were moving Joe out. I disagree with a few above, I actually think that Reid becomes stronger within the organization.
Yeah “G”..I’m with Schill
The Eagles made perfectly clear the reasons for Banner’s firing and this could not possibly be a situation in which the boss who have a personal interest in a friend, offers recommendations to help him get along with life without shame.
I’m trusting the Eagles PR machine with Schiller…..We’re together on this one buddy.
Banner!
Let the door knob hit ya’ where YHWH split ya’
Schill, I don’t mind you stating your opinion but I am tired of you childish guys on here being unable to state your opinion without all of the profanity and personal attacks. Everybody’s a tough guy on the internet.
I’m just giving my opinion and that’s no more than that. I don’t need to get into any personal attack. Why are you guys so childish? This is nothing but everybody’s opinion.
Schill, you’re not trying, to be an, YOU ARE AN @$$! You can never pass up a chance to rip the media, & pick up for this FO. WTF is wrong with you? Did a media member rape, or kill, a loved one of yours? WTF! Do you think all of tell tale signs, DON’T point to the power struggle.? Did you not hear Lurie’s press conference, about being more media/ fan friendly? Did you not hear about the power struggle, that was reported, in the L.A. Times article? Do you think him not being anywhere to be found for MONTHS, is a coincidence? Do you think their DRASTIC SHIFT in philosophy, these past 2 off-seasons, especially this year, is a coincidence? I don’t believe in coincidences. Where there is smoke, there is fire. Rosebud, is the face of the Birds, now. Reid better not take out any 2nd mortgages! BTW, Schill, you’re a hemmorrhoid, filled TROLL!
Garry,
I couldn’t agree more. That is why I fell back with my comments. And FYI, although schill is leading the pack, he’s not alone.
My apologies for the profanity, in which I’m getting better at controlling, but Schill, is a internet Nazi troll, in which I’m sick of defending my opinion & honesty to. Way to go GCobb. He doesn’t realise, that this site is an outlet for opinions & to talk about our teams. Not to be a pom-pom waving, corrective, opinion Nazi. I love this site, Jon Hart & all. LOL!!!
We haven’t heard from Banner at all since end of last year. I wonder if the decision of Lurie to keep andy lead to some parting of ways. Maybe Banner wanted to fire Andy and got over ruiled. This is odd that this went down like this.
Interesting perspective dag, in the end, only the fat man remains, and it seems of late he is more emboldened, actively participating in The negotiations with Jackson, Joe Banner was definitely a bad pr guy for the eagles, but some can argue he was masterful at managing the cap, which in turn brought to eagles top talent year on a consistent basis, there’s no doubt in my mind that this was the culmination end result of a power struggle shift from Reid, to Banner, who all but publicly called for Reid ‘s termination with the comment of insanity, doing same thing expecting different result, but now the power is clearly back with Reid
I also believe Reid becomes much stronger within the orginazation. He is not half as bad a coach as most make him out to be. Definite flaws, most do, except maybe Payton (on the field).
thank you Gary
“G” thank you….
you tell the truth and for schools who troll your site…….it cuts into their pockets
Schill is, “Outta hear, like Vladamir.” Sorry GC, I had to steal your line. It fit. LOL!
Schill is obviously anonymously one of Dave spuds sidekicks.
G, as always I appreciate you jumping into the discussion board in addition to writing the article that starts the discussion. That to me increases the quality of the website. And I hear you on the profanity thing, while its my opinion that profanity is harmless and our society has the wrong idea about it, you clearly took my comments and criticism or your site personally. Dcar is far worse than me in terms of childish profanity and persoal attacks, and songs is a crazy troll who spreads dangerous myths about things far beyond sports on this site, but you chose to delete my comment and respond to it in a reactionist ego/emotional move. gotta say, im disappointed.
Oh well.
I know I’m going to be in the minority, but I liked the guy and think he did a good job. He had a terrible public image but he did a lot of good things over the years. His biggest fault was trying to defend what the public didn’t want to hear. There is allot of losing organizations that have pretty boy public relation types running their teams that haven’t won anything.
Dcar, I agree with the changes in the past few years and the silencing of banner, definitely indicate a shift. But not with your conclusion. I see them as making decisions, but not a power struggle.
Reid has had an interesting career with the Birds with respect to his power within the organization…starts as head coach….then adds VP of Football Operations and has a GM reporting to him…..has trouble with his kids and loses some power within the organization to Banner….has his GM Heckert lose a power struggle with Banners guy Roseman….JJ passes away and Reids choice of McDerrmott gets fired (by Banner??) and it isn’t announced until Reid can get him a job with Rivera at Carolina….we lose Dawk over contract negotiation issues….was the Castillo choice as a replacement a show by Reid that HE will make his OWN coaching choices??….DJax has his contract linger and really affect his and the team play last year….and now with Banner being removed it appears that Reid has gain power again within the organization…..only time will tell, and Reid’s performance as Coach is going to be the real reason as to his continuing as coach in the future, but he is certainly in a stronger position this morning
dtime…Banner’s knowledge was key before the league caught on to his method and became ineffective when every team been to use the same financial strategy… a good strategy but didn’t capitalize because he pissed key players off at the most pivotal times.
You don’t haggle with veteran pro bowl talent and downplay their importance for the sake of saving a few dollars…..that was destructive personal business that saved a few bucks but destroyed the locker room…..The Players knew that the guys upstairs cared more about the bottom line and less for the players who helped turn the whole organization around.
Banner didn’t care about the sweat, blood, and tears, and veteran leadership which is the key ingredient for championship teams.
Could you imagine New Endland haggling with McGinest or Vrabel in there prime?
Could you imagine Baltimore haggling with Ray Lewis & Ed Reed and downplay their importance while promoting a draft pick or an outside player from another team?
This is why philadelphia fans hated Banner..
He didn’t care about the things fans care about…and his on trick salary cap pony….died
Schill, you baby, snitch! Just because you got pimp smacked, by GCobb, like the Kensington hooker, that you are, don’t bring us into it. GCobb, came on here a few months ago, & admonished me. You don’t see me coming on here, acting like a whiney, Lil, biatch. Grow a beanbag, & stop acting like a know-it-all, King of the fans, comment editor, & realise, that you don’t know as much as you think, you do. BTW, if you would SHUT UP, & NOT tell everyone, what & what not to say, calling us haters, & non-fans, & with your unwanted, ill-advised, confrontational, critiques, maybe we wouldn’t feel compelled to attack you. Stop acting like a weasel @$$clown, & you won’t be treated like one. Also, you are incorrect, with mostly everything you try to argue & correct us about.
Song,
I agree with most of what you said in your post. Football is a business and it’s a 2 way street when it comes to trading or cutting a player. For the most part the Eagles have let the right people go because of age and I’m sure Reid agreed to let them go. If the 49ers can trade Joe Montana anyone can be let go. In the case Ray Lewis he took less money to stay with the team. I think it’s a young man sport and you need to turn over the roster or you start looking like the Phillies getting old all at once. I just think this guy had a difficult time explaining things to the public and probably should not have been placed in that position.
It’s amazing how Andy always gets the free pass. He’s always at the table but never picks up the check. He’s the biggest face of the franchise IMO. He’s the one at the post game press conferences acting like a spoiled brat. He’s demeaning and rude on a weekly basis. I have no love for Joe, but Andy is a bigger problem. How many years do we get the same routine from him. I have no faith in him taking this team to a SB win.
Wow!!! That is the first time I have ever seen GCobb post on personally. I don’t know what Schiller said but………just watch what you say next time, or I think what G is saying is stop being so critical of the opinions of others. I will do the same Mr. Cobb. Thank You. BTW….I love this site as well.
@ Paul. My brother, I hope AR doesn’t get anymore responsibility than he has now. Thats just 14 more years of no Superbowls. I don’t like Howie in the mix either. I don’t think he is all that as a GM…..He is not GMCliff
Good post DTime!!!
Whats up DCar!!!!?
I’m with you Schill….Here we go with the censorship..would of liked to see what Schiller actually wrote that warranted a response from Mr Cobb…Its ridiculous really, grown men being told how to act, how to display their emotions, in regards to the most physical, nastiest, foul language sport known as football…I mean really? Also Mr Cobb, there is a thin line between an opinion and assumption!
Mr Cobb – you came on today to play with us!
I for one enjoy discussing football – but as one of the more positive eagles fans (isn;t a fan positive by definition) I spent two years basically being told of my proclivities towards multiple body parts of Andy Ried, how I somehow am paid by the eagles FO, I must have drank 300 gallons of kool aid etc.
So I said enough of this crap – got no problem with people posting opinions –
but you have compelete and total morons (Songs is my prime example) – I mean clearly this dude was dropped on his head, sniffed glue, ate lead paint chips, ate the paste, played in plastic bags, hid in refrigerators and has since suffered serious mental disabilities – he has ZERO clue – he actually posted that the NEw England PAtriots would not haggle with a start player –
when you and I both know Belicheck would shop a player off so fast they would have to send people back to pick up the bags…
but regardless of his clear stupidity, he then comes on your site – and disparages player after player after player and not a peep – yet call him a complete jackass and idiot, now we have to be nice…
maybe if you came on here a little more often and when some people posted assnine comments you provided a little more –
for example – on Songs comment above about Baltimore and Ed REed – you could point out Reed has been upset about his contract for the last two year – so Songs comment is like most posts from Songs – pure bullshit –
just type in Ed Reed mad about contract into a search engine,….
and now that Suggs is out he is using the threat of retirement – from a MAy 19 article:
Don’t be surprised if the musings about possibly retiring continue, despite what Reed has most recently said. As explained on Friday’s PFT Live, the billionaires who own NFL teams didn’t become billionaires by not making shrewd business decisions. For Reed, it would be very shrewd — and justified — to make the Ravens sweat about the possibility of having neither Suggs nor Reed in 2012.
it is not hard to prove an idiot like Songs wrong, but you get so sick of doing it, and having him bash my beloved eagles at the same time.. how can you not get personal – and sometimes, people are just stupid..
SUP, gmcliff! Our boy got spanked, like he just came out the womb. Then got mad, & tried to throw a few others, & myself under the bus. He’s a whiny, Lil, foo-foo, Nancy boy
Man… You took the word outta my mouth G… Not just in regards to Schill, but in general.
Guys on here fight each other and bicker waaay to much for all of us to supposedly be Eagles fans.
I know Im harsh on some guys from time to time, but it is only because it is ridiculous..
fans of the same team such be able to get alot better then the people on this board do.
We need to pull it back some
He got spanked because he keeps complaining about the site and lack of articles. If you think he is the worst abuser of bad language or name calling you are kidding yourself. While I’m not very often in agreement with Schill…and truthfully thought that his attack on the GCobb article this morning was overboard and not really on the topic, if you think he is the worst on this site you are wrong.
Songs – “Could you imagine New Endland haggling with McGinest or Vrabel in there prime?”
Have you been paying attention to the Wes Welker situation currently? I guess you can say Welker isn’t in his prime. But New England very often haggled with vets.
Songs – “Could you imagine Baltimore haggling with Ray Lewis & Ed Reed and downplay their importance while promoting a draft pick or an outside player from another team?”
Songs, have you ever heard of Ray Rice or read the news? Just curious.
You’re funny today buddy.
Dcar – you called me a “comment editor”? I have no power to edit people’s responses, heck I don’t even think G does with this site’s wordpress technology. He can certainly delete a comment (ha, mine today) but I never ever edited a comment. I have responded to comments and posted my opinions. You’re free to disagree with my opinions or responses, and even hate me, but don’t start pretending that I don’t have opinions, the right to respond or that I somehow edit other people’s words.
DCar………….LOL!!!!!!!!
Gmcliff – it was Garry being upset of me being critical with what he wrote and this website and the way he runs it. That’s why he deleted my post and responded to it – kind of an odd way to deal with it. I respect his authority, it’s his damn site anyway – but the way he did it – it leaves a guy like you – who didn’t read my post but can now only see Garry’s response, somewhat confused/left out of the loop.
But please understand, that I was criticising some things Garry wrote/did, not Garry the man/Garry the person.
gm – oh, and G has posted in the discussion comments before – it’s awesome when he does that – by far one of the best things he does on this site, and it really is a great aspect of it. I think if he posted more, it would enhance the experience for everyone. But I understand that would be time consuming and potentially problematic.
This will shock people, but I am going to refer to Tommy Lawlor on this banner thing: go to his website – igglesblitz dot com —–NOTICE THE FIRST LETTER IN THAT WEBSITE NAME I TYPE — here’s looking at you Paul.
He makes some excellent points in my opinion. And he argues that it’s not really about power struggles – as Les Bowen did too.
That was my original post that Garry responded to. I criticized this article for having a negative media slant that aimed for the juicy conspiracy theory of power struggles to play off of fan dislike of Reid. But rather, the evidence suggests otherwise. Notice the very title of this article – it’s not the news, but rather, a comment on how Lurie and Reid reacted to the news.
I got it Schiller, I always enjoy reading Tommy Lawlor’s articles, he’s insightful,knowledgeable and has a good take on things.. You know he lives in the Raleigh,NC area and went to School right up here in Boone,NC at my local Universisty (Appalachian State).
schiller, do you think its just a coincidence that Mr. Cobb called you out of all the foul mouthed posters, you criticize every one on this site that dares a prediction, a contrary thought against ownership, then you have the balls to criticize Mr. Cobb personally, he may naying”but Got post all the time but I bet he reads here from time to time, probably laughs like hell like I do when I read some of the creative posts, he is probably as sick of you as dcar is, and what’s worse after he spanks you for cursing, you act like the penchalant turd you are by stating dcar is far worse with his language, what he hell schiller, are you nine years old or something,
glad you did Lawlor and take some pride and joy out of that geography connection paul.