Spagnuolo speculation starts
The Philadelphia Daily News - Eagletarian
Spagnuolo speculation starts
Les Bowen, Daily News Staff Writer
As your faithful Eagletarian reported in today's Daily News, the people making decisions for the Eagles aren't talking yet. But that doesn't stop people in far-flung NFL outposts from speculating on what they're going to do when the season ends.
Eagles fans have been wondering for weeks what will happen if/when former Eagles assistant Steve Spagnuolo gets fired as head coach in St. Louis. Having Spagnuolo return to the Birds as defensive coordinator would be ideal, given his tie to the Jim Johnson-defense Eagles. Today, the San Diego Union-Tribune (yes, really) reports, as an aside about Chargers GM A.J. Smith possibly ending up in St. Louis, that Spagnuolo is "all but certain" to come back to the Eagles to run the defense. "League sources" are cited.
Yesterday, Eagles blogger Tommy Lawlor posted a well-thought-out piece that speculated the Eagles might make Sapgnuolo some sort of assistant head coach/defense while keeping hardworking, loyal Juan Castillo as the titular defensive coordinator. Made a lot of sense.
Today, ESPN.com's NFC East blogger, Dan Graziano, attempts to make sense of the Spagnuolo speculation, and does a fine job of it. Graziano's key point: Spagnuolo likely will have options when he gets bounced in St. Louis. Given the high regard he is held in after keying the Giants' Super Bowl win four years back, it's conceivable he gets another chance as a head coach.
Personally, I wonder if a demotion that requires going back to a place you've already been is high on Spagnuolo's bucket list. That would have to be a little painful. It isn't like Spags, with that Baaahhstan accent, grew up dreaming of working for the Eagles, twice.
But my key point is this -- all due respect to fine Union-Tribune Chargers writer Kevin Acee -- I can't think Spagnuolo coming back here is "all but certain" at this point. Maybe there have been back-channel feelers, Spagnuolo's agent is Bob LaMonte, longtime agent for Andy Reid. But this isn't the sort of thing that gets worked out in advance. Let's wait until the season is over. Spagnuolo is still coaching the Rams. Next week, it'll get interesting.
Hire GRUDEN as head coach...and he will then hire Spagnola as his defensive coordinator.— frank105- YES Spags as real D coordinator next year and Head Coach when Reids contract runs up! Maybe if we do well next year they can extend Reid for a year or two and then trade him like Tampa the Tampa/Oakland Gruden trade years back and make Spags head coach. Reid's had his run and gets one more year to bring home the hardware or let's move on. I vote for Spags as future Eagles Head coach!— connorjr
- ok -- should replace Reid anyway— warbiscuit
- There's no accountability in sports journalism anymore. Before TMZ existed this fantasy scenario would've never made it past the editor's desk and into publication.
- Oh no! Not a new set of coaches to start next season. The Eagles failures early this season were clearly on the defense - but with a new defensive coordinator, lots of new faces, and basically no preseason, Castillo's early problems were to be expected. Castillo has shown that his defense can be effective, a successful effort next week will add proof to that fact. The thought of Castillo and Spagnuolo acting as some kind of co-defensive coordinators is RIDICULOUS. Their approaches are very different - a sure failure neither would agree to!! Give Castillo a full season, with time to work with his people in the off-season and his defense will be great.— NCTony
- Yeah, his defense is pretty good against teams that suck! Too bad we can't play the NFC Least along with teams like the Dolphins and Jets every week - we'd win the Superbowl every year! — gdibig
- Herman Edwards is a better choice to coach the Eagles than motormouthed airheads like Gruden.— Astro Jones
- Herm Edwards career coaching record...54-74. He is who we thought he was!! — jimbo jones
- I really don't understand the fascination with Gruden. He won the SB with Tony Dungy's team, the year Dungy left TB. After that he went 45-51 in 6 seasons.— CT Flyers fan
- Perfect...now he can win it with Reid's team. I don't want Gruden to have control of personnel, just to win with what is already there. Gotta fire Howie Roseman though, he has no business being a GM. — jimbo jones
- Why does everyone think John Gruden is better than he is? He is very overrated.
11 seasons coaching, 5 were losing records.
only 3 seasons of 11 wins or better.
And the Superbowl he won, was with a team Dungy built.— dmanphilly - frank105 and all the other gruden lovers: He is not an announcer because he refuses to coach again.
Gruden got into the playoffs 5 of 14 years. He had 9 playoff games with 5 wins. His W/L record is 95 & 81 with 1 SB win.
Reid: 9 playoffs in 13 years. 19 playoff games with 10 wins, W/L is 122 - 80 & 1 Tie. 0 SB win. Since winning the SB is a virtual coin flip, I would stick with the guy who gets into the playoffs with greater frequency.— jjthree - Reid has only had 2 losing seasons ever. His first and the Post Superbowl year.— dmanphilly
- People like personalities that speack with conviction and bravado. Buddy Ryan NEVER won a single playoff game, but he is revered over Reid(10 playoff wins!) because Ryan micturated vinegar. Gruden is in the same category. I like Spags but will we get the .330 winning percentage as head coach or something better.— tommy_the_k
- If Spagnuolo is re-hired, then some of the d-line may have to go. Their strengths may not work in the old defense. Putting a square plug into a round hole creates other problems.— kecward78
