Well we certainly will never accuse the Eagles of being dolts when it comes to corporate communication and PR.

Joe Banner appeared on Howard Eskin’s show yesterday afternoon on WIP to answer questions about the Eagles’ failures this year and prospects for the 2008 season. Banner clearly stated that both Andy Reid and Donovan McNabb will be back with the Birds next year.

While some of the more conspiracy-minded blathermonkeys are attempting to suggest that this was all some sort of double-reverse designed to pump up McNabb’s trade value (umm, really?), it’s tough not to take Banner at his word. For a guy who chooses his words so carefully (and who was so tight-lipped about other issues during the interview) to purposely mislead Birds’ fans just doesn’t seems likely.

Of course, we can’t help but speculate about what prompted Banner to speak on WIP yesterday afternoon.

While it seems like it was a “media appearance,” this was absolutely endorsed and orchestrated by the Birds organization. Can you find a podcast of the interview on 610WIP.com? Not so much. Can you find the audio on PhiladelphiaEagles.com? By last night — help yourself! Hmmm. There’s certainly a lot of Eagles content on WIP — why doesn’t all that make the official Eagles web site?

This is hardly an accident.

Think of that interview on WIP as the official organizational announcement/ press conference announcing that Reid and McNabb have the faith and trust of management. I’m going to reserve judgment on whether this is actually a good thing, and just focus on the fact that it should help Dunavin’s sensitive little feelings ahead of the Giants game (and it’s important that the Eagles beat the Giants).

Apart from the Reid/ McNabb endorsement, the other item of interest in the interview was when Banner explained that all the best offenses in the league throw the ball a lot (so kindly stop whinging about the run/ pass ratio).

Link:
Banner on Reid, McNabb, and more [PhiladelphiaEagles.com]
Banner: McNabb, Reid will be back in ‘08 [PhiladelphiaEagles.com]