Gonzo: Fates still smiling on Eagles

There's an old gambler's adage about how it's better to be lucky than good. I doubt that Andy Reid spends much time in Atlantic City, but he and the Eagles sure have rolled the dice a lot lately without crapping out.

If you're wondering what the first question was in Reid's news conference after the Birds squeaked out a 27-24 win over the Redskins - their second-straight close call against a mediocre opponent - you obviously didn't see the opening kickoff. The Eagles won the toss and elected to defer until the second half.

Right-thinking football fans everywhere expected the Birds to kick it deep. And why not? Washington has an offense (25th overall in the NFL) that's uglier than this National Enquirer business about whether Tiger is cheating on his wife and what really caused his car crash. But, see, that's why I'm writing about the Eagles, and you're reading about them, and none of us coaches them. Big Red doesn't go by the book. He's probably never even read it. He's too smart for that drivel.

The Eagles went with an onside kick to start the game and the 'Skins promptly scooped it up, advanced into Birds territory, and quickly converted the prime field position into a touchdown and an early lead. No matter. The Birds were just keeping it interesting. They're good enough to spot teams seven points and get away with it. Or something.

So, yeah, Reid got inundated with questions about that curious call - one that could very well have cost the Eagles the game. Someone asked him what he saw that made him try a stupid stunt like that, and he didn't hesitate.

"Obviously, not the right thing," he deadpanned. At least he's honest. "I shoot myself in the foot for the onside kick. That's my responsibility."

Reid added that the Eagles "are going to stay aggressive with things" and that "any win in the National Football League is a good win." Maybe. But not all ideas are smart, and not all wins are earned. Some victories are gift-wrapped for you by the Gods, others by half-wits with dopey haircuts named Jay Cutler.

The Eagles are 7-4 now. For the second straight week they got away with making poor decisions against inferior competition. The Fates, fickle mistresses that they are, clearly smile upon them at the moment. But for how long? To further beat the gambling analogy to death (no one ever accused me of knowing when to quit), they're like poker players who go all in with two outs - then miraculously spike the necessary card on the river. That's dangerous living.

"Hey, you gotta take chances," Jeremiah Trotter said with a shrug. "It's like going to the casino. You have to gamble."

After Reid admitted he made a mistake with the onside kick, he said - almost in the same breath - that he'd like to thank the fans. (For what, I'm not sure - maybe not booing too much?) Maybe he should have given Lady Luck a shout-out instead. She earned it.

The Michael Vick/Wildcat experiment has gone so swimmingly that every time he enters the game the jokers in the press box rush to be the first to crack wise. The best from yesterday: "He wore the chains once but he can't move them" and "they should call it the Cougar offense because he runs like a middle-aged woman."

Asante Samuel had two picks (his sixth and seventh interceptions of the season) thanks to two unspeakably bad throws by Jason Campbell. By my count, Samuel also had his 207th failed shoulder hit on an opposing wide receiver. Someone really needs to tell him it's OK to wrap the other guy up with a traditional tackle.

Stacy Andrews was inactive yesterday - again. If you're keeping track at home, TOA (The Other Andrews) has played in nine games this season but started just two. That seems like a good rate of return for the Eagles, who signed Andrews to a 6-year, $38.9 million contract during the off-season. That's some AIG stuff right there. How long until the Feds have to bail the Eagles out?

Icing the kicker should be outlawed. . . . There might not be a better halftime show on the planet than the fan punt-return promotion the Eagles operate. There's approximately an 80 percent chance of watching someone catch the ball with his face. That's quality entertainment. . . . The last time all 10 local pundits picked the Eagles to win a game, the Birds came up woefully short against the Cowboys at home. Your three favorite Inquirer Talkin' heads went with the Eagles to beat the 'Skins yesterday, as did all seven prognosticators from our sister paper. That's 10 out of 10 who backed the Birds. We finally got one right. I'm as shocked as you are.