Birds Add Assistant?
A Dallas blog says the Eagles will be hiring Brian Stewart, former Cowboys defensive coordinator, to help with the defense, presumably to oversee the secondary as Sean McDermott fills in for Jim Johnson.
Birds Add Assistant?
Les Bowen, Daily News Staff Writer
The immediate thought following the report by Dallas' WFAA-TV blog about the Eagles hiring former Cowboys defensive coordinator Brian Stewart as a defensive assistant is that this is more bad news about Jim Johnson's situation. A source close to the situation has confirmed the Dallas blog report, and said that the hiring will be announced next week.
Presumably, Stewart is going to take over the secondary, which Sean McDermott has been trying to run while also filling Johnson's role as defensive coordinator. Johnson has taken an indefinite leave of absence to fight metastasized melanoma.
If the Eagles felt Johnson was close to returning, they wouldn't feel the need to add to the staff; McDermott's helper in the secondary, longtime NFL corner Otis Smith, ran the d-backs last week in rookie camp. The additional hiring, assuming it is true, seems to confirm what has been feared -- that Johnson might not be able to resume his duties this season, if at all.
ESPN.com blogger Matt Mosley points out that Stewart, who lost his job in the fallout from the Cowboys' season-ending 44-6 loss to the host Eagles, has a longstanding connection to Eagles coach Andy Reid.
Mosley writes that Reid and Stewart "have remained close since they were at Northern Arizona together in the mid-1980s. Reid coached the offensive line and Stewart played cornerback. Both men grew up in Los Angeles and spent time at junior colleges in the area."
Get well JJ. Dallas sucks.— Nico Lange- same message for me, nico...
- You don't know how someone will react to chemo treatment, sounds like a precautionary move to me, you can't wait until the season is close to make a decision. Of course saying that everyone hopes and prays that JJ will get well and be back this season!!!— DJ
- Oh great, it was this guys defense that we lit up.— fineedge1
- fineedge...don't worry, he won't be running the Eagle's defense. McDermott is doing that. Like the rest of Philly, hoping JJ recovers whether he returns to the Eagles or not.— dapmman
- Best of Luck JJ, Your a class act and we want you on our team!— ahjros
- Will the Beagles actually win a Super Bowl for once? You are the only NFC East team without a Lombardi trophy. You are bringing down the value of the division...embarrassing.— Swyve
- Go get 'em, JJ. And no, fineedge, it was the offense that Brian Dawkins it up!— elektrika
- Swyve, The last time I looked the Eagles have the most victories in the NFC East the last 10 years. The Super Bowl comes this year. Giants are good, Cowgirls suck and the Deadskins are a joke.— The Marco Islander
- Prayers for Jim to return. Can this Dallas guy be any good? He may be a pal of Andy's but can he help Sean out? I cannot see how if his plans were ripped by other teams, other than the Eagles and they were. Perhaps he will have a renewal here in Philly.— KGKoons
- your born, you live and you die. that's that's that's all folks.— JACK V
- Swyve, The value of the division? WTF are you talking about, you moron? This is the NFL, not the economy. That is the dumbest thing I have ever read in my life. The division IS the Eagles and the Giants, the Redskins aren't a playoff team and the Cowpukes are the laughing stock of the division, if not the NFL,led by the Botox king, Jerry Jones and his sidekick, Tony (Choker) Romo. I heard the latest rumor is that Romo deep throats with his choking.— billro3
- Les, why are you speculating on what may or may not be happening? Creating your own news? The season is still months away! This article is so ridiculous. McDermott obviously needs some help, it can't be easy to control all these players and watch all of them and try to help them learn. Stop reading into anything. And stop being like ESPN, where you jump the gun on things. Get well soon Jim Johnson.— scars73
- VanessaJ - WHAT? You say that when someone dies. You're way off there.— downtownreggiebrown
- Les - COME ON!?! The reputation of Philly sports media as being negatively biased is one thing when it's about a teams performance, but you're talking health prognosis here... no need to spin this as bad news. There was a vacant position at secondary coach, and they filled it. That doesn't have anything to do with good or bad news for JJ. You gotta be more responsible for the langauge you use, it's supposed to be your area of expertise....— downtownreggiebrown
