Source: Spags to Coach in '12; Open to Birds
A source close to fired St. Louis coach Steve Spagnuolo says the former Eagles assistant intends to coach in the NFL in 2012. He expects to have several options, but would be open to the idea of returning here.
Source: Spags to Coach in '12; Open to Birds
Les Bowen, Daily News Staff Writer
Steve Spagnuolo, fired this week as head coach of the St. Louis Rams, has considerable cachet as a defensive coordinator, despite his 10-38 record in three seasons running the Rams. That's because Spagnuolo was the Giants' DC when they won the Super Bowl four years ago, and is considered by many to be the architect of that triumph. Before that, Spagnuolo was among the best and brightest on Jim Johnson's Eagles defensive staff.
Sometimes when a coach is fired with a year left on his deal, he prefers to sit back and watch, maybe do a little TV work, collecting the paycheck. A source close to Spagnuolo said today that is not Spags' mindset. The source said Spagnuolo, 52, expects to coach in the NFL next season, and would be interested in any opening that might occur with the Eagles.
That's news because the Newark Star-Ledger last week implied otherwise, noting that Spagnuolo was not happy his final year in Philadelphia (2006). When then-Birds offensive coordinator Brad Childress got the head coaching job in Minnesota, Childress wanted to take Spagnuolo with him as defensive coordinator. But Eagles coach Andy Reid said that when he was in Green Bay, Mike Holmgren had a rule about assistants who left to become head coaches -- they should build their own staffs, not pilfer from his. Reid said he wasn't letting Childress take anyone with him.
Of course, a year later Spagnuolo left for the Giants, and that all worked out pretty well for him. And last year at the NFL Scouting Combine, Spagnuolo took part in a dinner organized by former Reid assistants, Spags speaking appreciatively of his former head coach.
The source did not say Spagnuolo definitely is coming back here. He expects to have options, the source said, and no doubt he is interested in weighing them. We still don't know there is an opening with the Eagles. Team chairman Jeffrey Lurie seemed to send mixed signals on defensive coordinator Juan Castillo in Lurie's Tuesday press conference. There has been speculation that even if Castillo stays, Spagnuolo might return as some sort of assistant head coach, adding defensive savvy to the mix and perhaps positioning himself as Reid's logical successor.
All we know right now for sure is that Reid isn't going to do any sort of season wrapup press conference until the Castillo situation is resolved. And no such press conference has been scheduled.
Does anyone else think it seems strange that there have been no comments from Andy at all and no press conference scheduled? Note that Lurie said he wanted Andy back, not Andy will be back. I'm guessing Andy takes a job elsewhere with a 5 yr contract rather than return here on a 1 yr deal. He'd be stupid not take the add'l guaranteed 4 yrs since it sounds like nothing short of a Super Bowl win here leads to an extension. He's definitely not stupid. That would be the best business decision for him. And us!— habitualloser- You guys are presuming that there will be teams clamoring for Reid's services. Other teams have taken note of the journalistic and fan-base criticisms of Reid's intractable faults and unyielding refusal to adjust and/or change as concerns propensity for the selection of undersized personnel and overloaded pass-play selection as well as his inability because of those flaws, to get his team over the top. Reid's teams are perennial brides maids. — essell
- Hire Spagnuolo now before someone else grabs him.— vinnybravo
- Lurie won't let him take a deal. He is under contract here - Lurie may trade him like Oakland did with Gruden but Andy can not just take another deal elsewhere - he is still under contract— boomer64
- Hiring Spags makes perfect sense, which is why the Eagles won't do it. Go Phils!— iceman
- Hiring Spags makes perfect sense, which is why the Eagles won't do it. Go Phils!— iceman
- I really don't think Lurie sent any mixed messages. Although it was hidden, what I heard was "Andy, you're coming back. I thought you made a mistake with Castillo, but I'm not bailing you out. You hired him, you fire him." - Seems pretty obvious that Juan is already out (as evidenced by Lurie's comments). Andy's going to have to eat crow. According to Lurie, the players behind Reid, not Juan. I would be really surprised to see Castillo still on the staff by then end of the Super Bowl. Lurie is setting it up so any incorrect decision by Andy is on him, and any correct decision makes Lurie look good for empowering his coach to make the coaching decisions (unlike Mr. Jones in Dallas).— jhendl3
- Realize that Boomer. Not discounting compensation. Don't be surprised when Andy leaves. You heard it here first.— habitualloser
- this guy sucks. I love how everyone in here jumps like they know anything about him. His TEAM won the super bowl against the Pats. He sucked as a coach for the Rams. Please. You people complain just to complain.— thingfish
- If they hire Spagnuolo, keep Juan as D assistant, the only other two glaring problems are Howie as primary draft board setter, and time management person for Andy.— camasbud
Comment removed.- Spags is supposed to get the Eagles fans to come back. Laurie thinks he is leading the sheep to the slaughter. With some of you, i guess he's right. As long as Reid remains coach, i will no longer back them. I'm done.— mddon
- I say get Rex Ryan after he's fired by the Jets.— sheilkijawani
- It wouldn't help and it would the whole NFL that the defence had nothing to do with Vick's awful play. Besides, my source says he is replacing Rob Ryan in Dallas.— mario1239
- The Eagles should already have a deal to Spagnola on the table. Pusuit should have begun the day he was cut loose. It is probably too late right now if the Eagles dragged their feet.— billtfla
