The Eagles officially fired head coach Andy Reid after 14 seasons.

“Andy Reid won the most games of any head coach in Eagles history and he’s someone I respect greatly and will remain friends with for a number of years to come,” Philadelphia Eagles chairman and CEO Jeffrey Lurie expounded in an announcement. “But, it is time for the Eagles to move in a new direction. Coach Reid leaves us with a winning tradition that we are able to build on. And we are very excited about the future.”

The Philadelphia Eagles (4-12) finished their worst season under Reid by losing 11 of their last 12 games. They missed the playoffs 2 straight years for the 1st time in Reid’s tenure.

After the ugly loss to the New York Giants (9-7), Reid sounded like a person who knew he was likely to lose his job.

As normal, he commenced his opening statement by listing injuries and finished with the same line: ”Time is yours.”

His time has run out in Philadelphia.

”We were not very good,” Reid announced. ”That’s my responsibility and I take complete blame for it.”

Asked if he would like to return in 2013, Reid declared: ”I’m all in.”

Lurie said after the Eagles went 8-8 in 2011 that he considered firing Reid. He gave him another chance, but claimed before this season that 8-8 would be ”unacceptable.” Basketball spreads

”I go in eyes wide open,” Reid said of his meeting with Lurie. ”Either way, I understand. Whatever he chooses will be the right thing. He always does things for the best interests of the Eagles.”

Reid won more games (140) than any coach in franchise history. He led the Eagles to 9 playoff appearances, 6 division titles, 5 NFC championship games and one Super Bowl loss.

But he couldn’t win the big one and that’s how he’s measured in a city that hasn’t celebrated an NFL title since 1960.

The Eagles haven’t won a playoff game since 2008 and took serious steps backward the last 2 years. They entered both seasons with high expectancies only to fail miserably.

Players claimed they expect changes, but continued to support Reid.

The Eagles talked all week about wanting to win one for Reid. Instead, they suffered another embarrassing loss to cap a dismal season.

”We came, we stunk it up and we lost. It was terrible. No heart,” defensive tackle Cullen Jenkins claimed.

Like Jenkins, Vick also questioned his squad’ desire before trying to explain his comment.

”It’s frustrating,” Vick claimed. ”It’s tricky because, me, I leave it all out on the field and I give everything I got. Sometimes, I really wish that I could play other positions, but I can’t.”

Vick missed the previous 6 games, sitting out the 1st 5 with a concussion and then being inactive last week. Vick only got the start because rookie Nick Foles broke his hand.

“The search for the new coach of the Eagles will start immediately,” said Lurie.

University of Oregon head coach Chip Kelly is among candidates the Eagles are expected to pursue.