Eagles' Mudd Ready To Retire Again
The Philadelphia Daily News - Eagletarian
Eagles' Mudd Ready To Retire Again
Paul Domowitch, Daily News NFL Columnist
If Andy Reid wants another NFL head-coaching job after the Eagles let him go later this month, he’ll have no trouble finding one. Wherever he winds up, though, he’s going to need a new offensive line coach.
Howard Mudd acknowledged to the Daily News Thursday what most people had already suspected – he’s calling it quits after the season.
``I decided quite a while ago,’’ the 71-year-old Mudd said. ``I gotta go be a grandpa. That was the plan two years ago and Andy talked me out of it. But this time, it’s going to be permanent.
``I told my wife last night, I really like coaching. But it’s time.’’
Mudd is one of the league’s best offensive line coaches. He’s been coaching NFL offensive lines for 37 years. Spent 12 years with the Colts before retiring after the ’09 season.
Reid coaxed him out retirement last year after making the controversial decision to switch Juan Castillo from offensive line coach to defensive coordinator.
The offensive line was one of the Eagles’ biggest concerns at the start of the ’11 season. By the end of the year, it was one of their greatest strengths.
Injuries wreaked havoc with Mudd’s unit this season. He lost All-Pro left tackle Jason Peters to a ruptured Achilles tendon last spring. Center Jason Kelce tore his ACL in Week 2 and right tackle Todd Herremans suffered a season-ending foot injury in Week 9. Right guard Danny Watkins also was out for more than a month with an ankle injury.
Is he glad he came back?
``Oh yeah,’’ Mudd said. ``It’s all about the people. The players you coach. The coaches you work with. The owner. But it’s time.’’
Don't let the portal strike you in the posterior, Howard.— Dave Clemens- He's retiring two years too late. By the way, in the opening paragraph, the very idea that another NFL owner would give Andy Reid a head coaching job is beyond belief.— 1republican
- Let's hope ole Harcourt Fenton Mudd makes it stick this time! Sure wasn't any sort of a success coming back!
GOOD GRIEF!— BEMiller - There should be more stories on the thinking behind hiring Mudd in the first place. It may be too boring of a story, but here's the short version: Mudd's system is unlike any other and requires different skills & talent. We draft & retain players to fit his system. We release good talent in "standard" OL blocking schemes. And only two seasons later we are going to abandon that system. Completely short-sighted thinking. More than any other thing, this is a sign of no long-term thinking or strategy. Our OL will need to retrain next year. What a mess.— djack10
- can't they hire anyone but old pirates?...the entire org is embarrassing— 1stamendment
- There's no guarantee that Reid is a slam dunk to be hired by another team. Other owners have watched and observed his tendency to appoint "Peter Principled" coaches and players to positions unsuited for there skill levels. Reid had been carried (CARRIED) for years by the likes of Brad Childress (OC, Cleveland Browns); John Harbaugh (Ravens); Steve Spagnuolo (Saints); Leslie Frazier(Minn Vikings) ; Ron Rivera (Carolina Panthers); Pat Shurmur (Cleveland Browns) Jon Gruden and, of course, Jim Johnson (deceased). Reid has yet to demonstrate he can operate independently without a competent supporting cast. There isn't even a certainty that Limp-Wrist Lurie will even fire him (Which, I'm sure we're all in agreement, he should).— essell
- Just clearing the way for a re-juan.— dlivesay
