Whisenhunt latest Eagles surprise
The Philadelphia Daily News - Eagletarian
Whisenhunt latest Eagles surprise
Les Bowen, Daily News Staff Writer
As the Eagles mark the two-week anniversary of Andy Reid's departure, they confirmed they interviewed Ken Whisenhunt, just fired by the Cardinals, on Monday, as a prelude to interviewing Cincinnati offensive coordinator Jay Gruden later in the day.
Whisenhunt, who turns 51 next month, was said to be close to getting the Cleveland job last week, but reportedly couldn't agree with the Browns on whether the front office would have veto power on his staffing decisions. He also has interviewed with the Chargers.
Some people feel the Cardinals' front office had more to do with 2012's 5-11 record than Whisenhunt, who went 45-51 overall, but took the Cards to the franchise's first Super Bowl. Whisenhunt was well-regarded as the Steelers' Super Bowl-winning offensive coordinator under Bill Cowher.
Whisenhunt gets demerits for his handling of the Cards' QB situation after Kurt Warner retired. That's a critical question for the Eagles as they try to decide whether to move forward with Nick Foles.
Indianapolis offensive coordinator and former Temple coach Bruce Arians remains to be interviewed. Reports have indicated that would happen Tuesday, but the Eagles said Monday that an interview with Arians has not yet been scheduled. The team did ask for and receive permission to speak with Arians.
In the small world department, Arians was Whisenhunt's quarterbacks coach in Pittsburgh. Aside from being 60 years old, Arians seems to fit many of the criteria Eagles chairman Jeffrey Lurie cited when he fired Reid. Arians seems to be in demand with several teams interviewing him, after he went 9-3 as the Colts' interim head coach, while Chuck Pagano was being treated for cancer.
FOX's Jay Glazer reported today that the Eagles' Saturday interview with Gus Bradley went well and that the Birds want to meet again with Bradley, who like Arians and Whisenhunt, has other suitors. Lurie has seemed leery of a defensive-oriented coach, and the scoring fest of last weekend's playoff games underscores why -- it's an offensive league now. But not all the coaches who won were offensive guys, they just presided over potent offenses.
Meanwhile, Eagles general manager Howie Roseman was blasted by CBSSports.com's Jason LaCanfora. Howie seems to have made some enemies.
— Taser
Lovie has also been to a superbowl and had a better all around record and more playoff wins than Wisenhunt. Kurt Warner was Kurt Warner long before he landed in Arizona.— Hemingway- OHHH MY GOD... If I hear one more coach who has failed being considered I'm going to find another team... GUS BRADLEY WHY WONT THIS STUPID OWNER DO THE RIGHT THING AND HIRE HIM NOW...— CSM2003
- Does Roseman have ANY clue on how to fill the vacant Head Coach position, or for that matter...be an NFL GM? I see nothing more in the papers/media than examples of the Red-Chinese School of Management.
Yo, Howie, lucky for you that no one has figured out that you are no more than a bean counter with a Law Degree.
Wake-up, Lurie...er, Mrs. Lurie...protect your investment with someone who knows what they're are doing! Try the Wharton School.— foxhill106 - stop screwing around and hire bradley.— sgamble077
- Lets face it. Firing AR was no surprise Either no plan, or busted plan!! It seems obvious that the organization cannot attract the of caliber of coach, they themselves said they were after. Save your money folks, the next few years is going to be mess. Maybe the Eagles can pilot the new $20 NFL game ticket, thats the only way I will be going.— keithf35
- The Eagles are embarrassing themselves. They got rejected by all the middleschool girls for the prom, now they are looking to the fat chicks in Highschool. Uh.....Wow, should be familiar territory for both Roseman and Lurie— yourdaddy!
- Hue Jackson did an amazing job at Oakland in his brief stint. He deserves a look.— gubbers97
- Five franchises have NOT yet named a coach, which is not like choosing which bagel to have with breakfast. The media has now guessed everybody possible and is annoyned that the Eagles have not yet chosen one of the media darlings. For once, why not WAIT until the process is done and a coach is chosen before blasting the team?— chuckw
- I cant remember, did it take this long 14 years ago to pick AR ?— Pomp
- Copper34= I had posted the same Bradley/Whisenhut duo possibility yesterday. If not them, then an Arians/Lovie Smith duo. Bradley and Arains have jobs, so they have to take HC positions, The other 2 coaches as of now are unemployed, so they fall to coordinators.— watsonmr
- Finally Whisenhunt. You have to talk to the guy, especially with thee run of success guys who lost SBs at their first stop are having. There could be many reasons for his problems at AZ. If this comes down to Bradley and Whis I'm happy, two solid choices. Still hard to believe the complete lack of understanding this process many commenters have shown, and jumping to conclusions about what is happening when NO information is coming out except who and when. It's OK, there's no penalty for trying to make an informed decision.— EagleEye61
- WMR, thinking along those lines too. Some of these interviews may be to guage interest in OC and DC jobs if they don't land HC jobs.— tpizza
- I really think the Eagles need a defensive minded coach.— wwhickok
- Many of these posts say more about the poster than the eagles. the ones embarrassing themselves are the posters who make childish attacks and personal remarks. Once they choose a coach, then we have something to talk about— phillyboy59
- HEY EAGLES FANS, LOL NOW HERE THIS "THE DARK DAYS ARE HERE AND UNTIL WE GET RID OF ROSEMAN THEY WILL BE HERE TO STAY"!!!! NO EXPERIENCED/PROVEN HEAD COACH IS GOING TO WANT TO ANSWER TO ROSEMAN PERIOD GODLEN BOY OR NOT!!! HES NEVER PLAYED A DOWN IN THE NFL AND MOST IF NOT ALL THE COACHES HAVE AT LEAST PLAYED FOOTBALL ON SOME SORT OF LEVEL ROSEMAN HASNT SO HOW WILL IT LOOK WITH A GUYS LIKE GRUEDEN OR SMITH OR COWHER OR DUNGY ANSWERING TO THAT LAME!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?! IF HE WAS A GM THAT HAS ACTUALLY CONSTRUCTED A WINNER AND HAS A SUPER BOWL TO HIS CREDIT THEN AND ONLY THEN I THINK EXPERIENCED HEAD COACHES WILL NOT MIND REPORTING TO HIM LOL!!!! THE DOG DAYS ARE HERE AND HERE TO STAY LOL!!!! I LEFT TOWN WITH REID LMAO I LIKE HIM NEED A FRESH START LOL!!!! AND VICKS ON THE NEXT THING SMOKING OUTTA THERE SO HE CAN GET BACK TO FOCUSING ON THE TASK AT HAND PROVING THE HATERS WRONG LOL!!! MEANWHILE THE FANS IN PHILLY ARE THE ONES LEFT HOLDING THE BAG!!!!!! MAKE SURE YOU GUYS DRAW THEM FROWNY FACES CLEAR ENOUGH SO WE CAN SEE THEM CLEARLY ON TV THIS FALL LOL!!!! AND DO TELL OTHER EAGLES FANS TO RECYCLE THERE BROWN BAGS LMAO!!!! INFACT TELL ROSEMAN TO GET OUT HIS RECYCLE BEN SO PHILLY WONT BECOME AN ENVIORMENTAL HAZZARD LOL!!! AND OH YEA, GOOD LUCK WITH THE KEN WISENHUNTS OF THE WORLD LOL!!!! YOU GUYS ASKED FOR NOW YOUR GETTING WHAT YOU DESERVED/ASKED FOR LOL!!!— DJ_Bootleggah
