On its surface, the Eagles' introductory press conference for Doug Pederson was just like that of any other new head coach around the NFL this offseason. But peek inside for a closer look, and the NovaCare Complex seemed more like a circus tent where the only thing that was missing were the three rings.
This is not a knock on Pederson, who spoke intelligently, with confidence and answered every question as honestly as he could. This is about the state of the organization as a whole, which time and time again on Tuesday -- over the past year for that matter, and arguably far longer -- has made itself appear totally unprepared for any and every situation, from the very complicated to the most basic.
And standing center stage for it all was owner Jeffrey Lurie, who unwittingly went from serving as a sideshow attraction to the star of the show.
Two men attempting to share one podium. The new coach admitting he wasn't the first choice, only for his boss to correct him. A reporter going rogue and demanding answers about front office structure. The executive vice president of football operations scurrying away as soon as it was all over, only to be tracked down and surrounded in a hallway.
The degree of nonsense was staggering, and only years removed from the steady exodus of high-ranking officials under embattled circumstances, from Chip Kelly to Andy Reid to Tom Gamble to Joe Banner. Lurie spoke so much of leadership over the past few weeks, having himself removed so much of it, and these days he can't even get a typical media appearance right.
It was simultaneously puzzling, humorous and, at times, flat out bizarre.
After delivering a brief monologue to start, Lurie stepped aside so Pederson could take questions. Before too long, reporters began taking advantage of a rare opportunity to grill the ringleader. That wasn't the strange part. The strange part is there was only one podium. Each time Lurie was addressed, Pederson would fade awkwardly into the background, the owner would walk up to respond, then shuffle out of the spotlight again.
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It sounds so incredibly minor, so simple, yet it revealed a complete lack of preparedness on the Eagles' part. Did Lurie really think he could hang out there and wouldn't be involved? Three years ago, the owner sat at a table with Kelly when he was named head coach. The two put on a united front. This was disjointed and uncomfortable.
Not surprisingly, things only unraveled from there. Pederson, ever the good sport despite nearly half of the afternoon's questions being aimed toward somebody else, insisted he didn't mind if he wasn't the Eagles' first choice for the job.
"Because I'm here today, no," Pederson answered.
"I just felt that they were going to select the best man for the job. And they feel that they have confidence in me, and I'm going to show that same confidence and that same respect back, and I don't want to disappoint."
Minutes later, at his first opportunity to take the podium again, Lurie felt the need to make it clear that Pederson wasn't the second, third or fourth candidate for the position, depending on who you listen to.
"I want to sort of correct a misinterpretation," Lurie claimed. "I guess some questions get asked based on belief in your own media reports, but at no point was anybody about to be offered a job besides Doug Pederson, so that was -- that's where that is."
Okay, but Pederson didn't come anywhere close to denying those reports, and regardless of whether he wasn't intimate with the circumstances surrounding his own hiring -- hard to believe -- Lurie's rebuttal came off as unnecessary and forced. After all, the man didn't care. He already got the job. Why go on the offensive?
It wasn't the only moment where Lurie would be painted as combative, either. The revelation that the Eagles will conduct a search for a new head of player personnel next prompted a discussion about how that person would work with -- or under? -- Howie Roseman, vice president of football operations. The owner was unwilling or perhaps unsure of how to answer, which led to a contentious back and forth.
"All questions of structure will be determined after the search is complete," Lurie fired back.
"Can't reveal any decision on that because it would impact our ability to find the right people that we have designated in the search."
"No matter what structure and ability to have a great personnel head and player personnel department, accountability will be the No. 1 feature and that goes for everybody. It goes for Howie, it goes for the player personnel head and it goes for the head coach. My No. 1 priority going into this offseason is accountability."
On and on this went, seven straight questions, no real answers. Just a fireworks display under a closed roof.
Eventually this wrapped up, and naturally people had questions for Roseman. Apparently his instinct was to run for cover, as he was described as more or less fleeing the scene immediately following the press availability. Reporters would later get the chance to speak to Roseman, but the mere appearance he would try to duck the media was one more weird behavior on an even weirder day.
The truly odd thing is Lurie isn't usually involved in these types of haphazard displays. To the contrary, he seldom speaks to the press at all and is known for being hands off when it comes to running the football side of the business.
On Tuesday, Lurie got caught smack dab in the middle of what was at kindest a media feeding frenzy, and in the end, he came off as more likely to meddle with football affairs than ever. When asked who casts the tie-breaking vote in the his now infamous "collaborative approach" to player personnel, the owner raised his hand.
For the better part of 14 years, Reid and Banner combined to run a tight ship on the sideline and in the front office with seemingly little interference from ownership. Since that dissolved, Lurie seems to be becoming increasingly involved with, well, everything.
Thus far, it hasn't been a good look.