Reid’s Sons: Sins & Sacrifice

NFL employment is engulfing. Game planning, media availability, player evaluation and management require hours, days, and weeks. They consume months and years. Coaches and executives earn immense salaries. They receive notoriety and recognition. Unfortunately, their sacrifices are intrinsic and unrecoverable.

On Thursday, Britt and Garrett Reid, Philadelphia Eagles Coach Andy Reid’s sons, were sentenced. Britt received twenty-three months incarceration and five years probation. Garrett received twenty-three months incarceration and one year probation. “There isn't any structure there that this court can depend upon,” said Montgomery County Judge Steven O'Neill. “I'm saying this is a family in crisis. It sounds more or less like a drug emporium there, with the drugs all over the house…”

Despite this castigation, Andy Reid remained stoic. “I know this is a big story for everybody and I respect that,” Reid said. “On the other hand, I can't go into questioning on it at this time. However, as parents we have huge concerns for our two boys. This has been a battle we have dealt with here for a few years and I'm sure we'll continue to address the situation. ... Our prayers are obviously with the boys, for their future, and to make sure things work out, where they can live a normal life down the road.”

In February, twenty-three year old Garrett was involved in an automobile accident. Subsequently, the police discovered two handguns, ammunition, white powder, and additional items in his car. Twenty-one year old Britt threatened someone with a gun. Police also seized his vehicle, eight clear baggies with white residue" and a pharmacy bottle with a "green leafy" substance inside.

Cornerback Sheldon Brown supported his coach. “He has done everything he could. He went out, worked his butt off to make sure he made a good life for his family. Through that he showed his kids ... It is up to the kids to learn from it. At the end of the day, each individual makes his own decision and has to be held accountable for his own actions.”

Britt and Garrett were privileged children. They had cash. They had cars. They had indirect celebrity. Andy Reid’s occupation is demanding. One cannot pretend otherwise. However, he should not resign. Andy, Britt, and Garrett Reid are all guilty. With that stated, Andy’s sin was omission. Britt and Garrett’s were destructive.