The Philadelphia Eagles have already sacrificed Juan Castillo to the alter of their disappointing start. As such, most Eagles fans like myself are focused on Michael Vick as the next sacrificial lamb. However, while Vick will be playing for his job against the New Orleans Saints on Nov. 5, he shouldn't be the only one subject to getting fired with a loss.

Firing Castillo didn't give the Eagles a shot in the arm, and doing the same with Vick probably won't work as well. If Philadelphia really wanted to send a message, then Andy Reid would be fired right here and now. At the least, if the Eagles lose to the Saints, then Reid should be at risk of being fired immediately - especially since he won't get a better chance to leave by then.

Castillo took the fall for Reid's mistakes, and now Vick is the next one on the chopping block. But Philadelphia will never change as long as Reid is still around, which may lead to him getting fired at the end of the season. Yet the Eagles really can't wait that long, as Reid's immediate firing should be on the table with one more loss in New Orleans.

Given Reid's service to Philadelphia, letting him go in mid-season instead of letting him play out the string might seem disrespectful. But if he really has lost the team, then letting him get kicked around for another eight games would truly be disrespectful.

Should Philadelphia drop to 3-5, it will only get worse from there and Reid's legacy will continue to get tarnished. It will be tarnished no matter when he gets canned, but at least he would be spared any further misery if he gets fired quicker. And at the least, giving the Eagles eight games without Reid may give them time to find a new identity and get used to life without him, before they find a permanent new coach in the offseason.

But with owner Jeffrey Lurie's track record and loyalty to Reid, he will resist firing him as long as possible. Therefore, even if Vick has another game or two with no turnovers, he would take the fall after the next bad loss - even if it isn't his fault.

Meanwhile, the man who is really to blame would still get more time to make things worse. Firing Reid now would probably make things worse regardless, yet it may be the most dignified way to let him go by then.

If the Eagles do manage to beat the Saints, then Reid would at least earn another week and probably last until the end of the season. At this point, the biggest question isn't whether Reid will get fired, but when and how. Ideally, he'd last the rest of the year, get to make one last stand and leave with some goodwill left in Philadelphia for all his service.

But with a fourth straight loss - especially on a Monday night against a 2-5 New Orleans team - all of that would be moot, or at least should be. Vick may barely get one last chance to save his job against the Saints, yet if the Eagles have any vision, the exact same standards should apply to Reid as well.

Robert Dougherty is a life-long Philadelphia resident who has followed the Eagles since he was eight years old.

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Reid Should Be Coaching for His Job in New Orleans: A Fan’s Take