I have just one question this morning. What the hell is Britt Reid thinking?
Maybe that’s the point. Maybe like a lot of young people, Britt’s not really thinking at all.
Britt Reid, as you might know, is the younger son of Eagles head coach Andy Reid. And he’s back in the news this morning. That’s not a good thing. Not for the Reid family. Not for the Eagles. And really, not for any of us.
The young Reid was taken into custody yesterday afternoon on suspicion of driving under the influence. No charges have been filed.
Look, I am as big an Eagles fan as you’ll find. I’m also a father. Right now, I don’t really care about whether Andy Reid made the right decision on Jeremiah Trotter, or how he’s getting along with Donovan McNabb.
I’m wondering what is going on inside the Reid house. I know, it’s really none of our business. Or is it?
Let’s review. Back in January, Britt Reid was charged in a road-rage incident in which he brandished a gun at a motorist. The guy just happened to be from Delaware County. He said he feared for his life.
As it happened, that incident occurred on the same day that Britt’s older brother Garrett was involved in a nasty crash in which he blew through a red light and slammed into a woman’s car. He admitted he was under the influence and had used heroin earlier in the day.
Both sons of the Eagles coach reached plea agreements last week. It was expected they would keep their noses clean until they were sentenced.
Eventually Coach Andy took a leave from the team to attend to business at home.
Now Britt has been involved in another incident. Police responded to a local shopping mall on the report of a person acting erratically. Police pulled over Reid as he was trying to leave the parking lot in his truck. But not before he apparently banged into a couple of shopping carts.
Officials say Britt failed a field sobriety test and was taken to a local hospital to have blood drawn. No charges have been filed – yet.
If they are, it could have dire effects on the deal Britt reached with prosecutors in the road-rage case. He could face up to 14 months in jail in that instance. The Reid defense team obviously is hoping for probation.
But if he’s charged with a new offense, it could mean Britt is going to spend some time behind bars.
We’ve been through this before, with both Britt and his brother Garrett. We’ve talked about the drawbacks of being the son of a famous parent. And we’ve talked about the cost someone like Reid pays for the amount of time he spends on his job.
What effect, if any, this will have on Coach Andy and the Eagles is yet to be seen. Reid usually meets the media Friday afternoon. My guess is he will stick with his “this is a family matter” and ask the assembled media to move on.
But he won’t answer my question. Which again is this: What was Britt Reid thinking of? And what are his parents thinking as well?
Forget the Eagles. We’re talking about a kid’s life and a family in trouble.
That’s something Andy Reid ought to be thinking about at least as much as his game plan for an exhibition game against the Steelers.
Eagles fans might not like it, but in reality, what is more important? The coach’s actions might tell us exactly that.
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Moving Beyond 10,000 Losses: An occasional look at why it’s so difficult to be a Phillies – hell for that matter a Philadelphia – sports fan. Let’s forget the latest Eagles saga for a moment. The Phils could be looking at the beginning of the end. They dropped a series to the Dodgers. They’re now 2 back of the Padres in the Wild Card. The Padres are in town tonight, followed by the Mets on Monday. It might be now or never, guys.

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The Daily Numbers: 300 million reasons to dream, as people line up to buy tickets for Saturday night’s huge Powerball jackpot.
10< years as a school principal in Delaware, what new Penncrest High Principal Richard Gregg brings to his new job. He was named the new Penncrest boss Thursday night.
41 years after being shot while trying to stop a burglary, a Philadelphia police officer was laid to rest Thursday. He died on Sunday of complications from the shooting that occurred in 1966.
82 minutes, the time Nicole Richie spent in jail on a DUI rap before being sprung. Britt Reid might be hoping for similar treatment.
6, age of girl who was taped while being forced to engage in sex acts with a 16-year-old boy in Delaware. A woman has been charged in the incident.
2 years, the time a woman is believed to have been held captive and forced to perform housekeeping duties for a woman in New Jersey.
85 percent, that’s the dip in profits reported by housing biggie Toll Brothers. Yep, no doubt about it, the housing market is in the toilet.


62 properties along the Wilmington waterfront being seized by the city council via eminent domain.
35 million dollars in budget cuts still being sought by the Philadelphia School District.
2 families who have filed brutality complaints against the Philadelphia police in connection with beatings that accompanies arrests.
11 years old, age of boy found being held captive in a locked utility room in a house in Philadelphia raided for drugs by police.
2 games out in the Wild-Card chase, where the Phils stand today with that front-runner, the Padres, in town for three games starting tonight.
6 walks given up by Phils starter Fabio Castro over five innings.

I Don’t Get It (with apologies to Jack McCaffery): Summer is back today, and it’s going to be in the upper 90s tomorrow, while feeling like it’s 105. Sounds like a great day to stand in line for hours for a shot at getting on ‘American Idol.’ All together now: I don’t get it.


Today’s Upper: Hey, we can all dream. So what would you do with that $300 million Powerball jackpot?

Quote Box: “The idea is to plant a positive message in the hearts and minds of our young and old citizens.”
-- Pa. Rep. Thaddeus Kirkland, D-159, announcing a new anti-violence initiative in Chester.