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Ron Rivera named as Coach of the Year


Ron Rivera took the Carolina Panthers from also-ran to division champion this season, earning him the Coach of the Year award.

Philadelphia Eagles retired No.5 Donoan McNabb jersey

Donovan McNabb at Lincoln Financial Field
Donovan McNabb at Lincoln Financial Field

The Philadelphia Eagles retired Donovan McNabb's No. 5 in a halftime ceremony that was notable for how upbeat it was.

The relationship between McNabb and Eagles fans was uneasy from the beginning, when a group of fans clamoring for running back Ricky Williams traveled to New York to boo the selection of McNabb in the 1999 NFL draft.

There was nothing but cheering when McNabb walked out of the tunnel and onto the field where he celebrated an NFC championship and completed a fourth-and-26 pass to help win a playoff game.

"I appreciate everything you've done for me," McNabb told the sellout crowd at Lincoln Financial Field. "No. 5 will always love you."

A chant of "Donovan, Donovan" went up, and fans held up their No. 5 jerseys. As green fireworks exploded over the stadium, a banner with McNabb's name and number was unveiled.

Safety Brian Dawkins, McNabb's teammate for 10 years, worked up the crowd and introduced the quarterback.

"It was my pleasure going to war with you all those years," Dawkins said. "From the bottom of my heart, brother, I thank you."

Over the years, McNabb was involved in a number of off-the-wall controversies involving Rush Limbaugh, Terrell Owens, Bernard Hopkins and the head of the Philadelphia chapter of the NAACP.

He might have swept all of that uneasiness away if he'd led the Eagles to a Super Bowl title. But the ultimate goal eluded him despite appearances in five NFC championship games and one Super Bowl.

McNabb finished as the Eagles' career leader in passing yards, attempts, completions and touchdowns.

He was the No. 2 pick in 1999, Andy Reid's first season as coach of the Eagles. After 11 seasons, Reid traded McNabb to Washington for draft picks on Easter Sunday in 2010. He played one season in Washington and part of the 2011 season in Minnesota. McNabb officially announced his retirement over the summer.

The ceremony was scheduled for Thursday night to coincide with the return of Reid. When Reid walked on the field with the Chiefs, the video screens in the stadium flashed "Thank you Coach Reid" along with Reid's career numbers in Philadelphia. Although there was discussion on sports talk radio all week about the reaction Reid would get, he was greeted with a standing ovation.



Article source: ESPN NFL 

Great 3-0 Chiefs start after win at Eagles 26-16

The look was strange : Andy Reid in every red on the visitors' sideline .

The result was just like exactly what he gave Philadelphia in his fourteen years in command of the Eagles .

Reid's homecoming was a terrific good results for the brand new Kansas City trainer because of an energetic defense that forced five turnovers and also sacked a harried Michael Vick five times in the Chiefs' 26-16 triumph Thursday evening .

"Yeah , it had been different ," Reid said . "I was on the opposing side of the area compared to I normally am at . However I can't show you that I was caught up in that a part of it ."

Vick even limped off with 1 :07 to go after fumbling , still stayed around to hold Reid following the final play — right after Donnie Avery gave Reid a Gatorade shower on the sideline .

"It was good to see the players which are here ," Reid admitted . "I had an opportunity to speak with them after the game ."

Kansas City , which has not had a giveaway in starting 3-0 , has won another game previously than it did in 2012 — when it earned the first overall draft pick , after that hired Reid days after he was fired on the heels of Philly's 4-12 finish .

The generally stoic Reid demonstrated a few fire to match his bright red dress late in the first half when he thought the Chiefs got a bad spot . He came out to the hash mark to yell at the officials , then walked off at halftime still gesturing his displeasure .

Which was more feeling than he displayed when he entered the stadium with the Chiefs right before kickoff . Although the Philly fans gave him a warm ovation , some standing up in tribute to the man who won 140 games and six division titles to them , Reid walked quickly along the sideline , never turning his gaze towards the stands .

But he later said he accepted the tribute .

"I appreciate the fans and the support they gave me ," he said . "That was kind of them ."

He certainly must like huge exactly what he saw on the field from his defense , especially Houston .

It had been offensive master Reid's defense and special teams that set the tone and put his team ahead early , silencing the sea of green at the Linc . The Chiefs forced four first-half turnovers and Houston had three of their four sacks . He had another half-sack to start the second half , off a bad snap to Vick , and forced Vick to fumble with 1 :34 left . Houston has 6 1/2 sacks in three games .

"We got the push from the guys inside and that made it easier for the guys outside to get in there and get after him ," Houston said .

Damaris Johnson's muffed punt give back delivered Kansas City the ball at the Eagles 8 , resulting in Ryan Succop's 33-yard field goal for a fast 3-0 lead . Derrick Johnson then deflected Vick's ill-advised throw into the flat and Eric Berry picked it off , going 38 yards with the first interception of the season for the Philly quarterback .

There could be more errors as Philadelphia ( 1-2 ) lost its eighth consecutive home game .

But first , after falling behind 10-0 , Vick got the Eagles' no-huddle , fast-tempo offense going with the longest run of his 12-year career . He burst up the middle , shook off two attempted tackles and sped 61 yards . Two plays later , it was his arm doing the damage . Under a heavy rush , he stood in and led Jason Avant perfectly in the left corner of the end zone for a 22-yard score .

That three-play , 87-yard spurt epitomized the fast-paced offense coach Chip Kelly brought from Oregon in replacing Reid . But Kelly got cute , going for a 2-point conversion on tight end Zach Ertz's run that failed .

The takeaways kept the Chiefs in front . And after Avery turned a short pass into a 51-yard gain thanks to sloppy Eagles tackling , Succop made a 31-yard field goal . He kicked a 34-yarder moments later after another turnover , Sean Smith's interception , for a 16-6 halftime edge .

Avery had a big night , finishing with seven catches for 141 yards .

Alex Henery's 29-yard field goal was the only scoring of a sloppy third period , and when Jamaal Charles surged around right end for a 3-yard TD early in the fourth quarter , Reid's return was a rousing success . Not even LeSean McCoy's 41-yard TD run with 11 :36 remaining could spoil that .




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