Report: Spagnuolo expected back to Eagles by end of the week
The Philadelphia Inquirer Blog - Eagles
Report: Spagnuolo expected back to Eagles by end of the week
Jeff McLane, Inquirer Staff Writer
Steve Spagnuolo is expected to return to the Eagles by the end of the week, Jason LaCanfora of NFL Network reported.
LaCanfora, citing NFL sources, wrote that Spagnuolo would likely replace embattled defensive coordinator Juan Castillo, perhaps not in name, but as the leader of the Eagles defense.
LaCanfora, though, told Ruben Frank of CSNPhilly earlier today that he was reporting that Spagnuolo would visit Philadelphia by the end of the week, not that the former Rams head coach was going to be hired by the Eagles in that time span.
If Spagnuolo is heading to the area, he may show up at Eagles headquarters and find an empty NovaCare Complex. Most of the Eagles decision-makers are on vacation this week. Eagles coach Andy Reid is away until Sunday, a source close to the situation said, so it is unlikely that any coaching changes will be announced before Sunday.
Reid, of course, was able to mastermind overhauling his coaching staff while he was away on a Caribbean vacation last January.
Spagnuolo is currently also on a vacation with his wife (at the same location as Reid?) but is expected to return tomorrow. He was fired by the Rams last week after three years as head coach. Spagnulo spent eight years with the Eagles as a defensive assistant, but left in 2007 to become the New York Giants' defensive coordinator.
If Spagnuolo does not replace Castillo as coordinator he could be named an assistant head coach along with offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg. If Castillo is out in his current position, he could fill the vacany at secondary coach after Johnnie Lynn was fired last week.
Former Eagles safety Quintin Mikell, who played under Spagnuolo last season in St. Louis, said last week that he thought his former coach would end up back in Philadelphia. Mikell said that Spagnuolo, as head coach, may have missed calling plays.
Great news! Spags will be a big improvement over Juan.— Per Head- Eagles need to get him on board ASAP so he can assess the players he has, help scout the draft for needs, and prioritize what is needed in the draft. There also needs to be a contingency plan in place for any FA acquisitions they can make. One guy that should be on their radar is Tyron Branch, SS, Oakland, in addition to any OLB they can identify that can play some snaps.— beegal99
- I have been an Eagles fan for 30 years. I will give up my tickets and stop watching every weekend if they go into this season crappy/untested at the LB and Safety position. There are lots of free agent WRs out there who won't short-arm balls and drop TD passes b/c they are scared. They need to sign one of them (Stevie Johnson, BUF?)— Copper34
- Hipre Spags....Draft BIG Stud linebackers, and safeties who can tackle, a Stud RT, and a QB with a brain.....fire Howie and Mathis and send Jeffery a quiche with a thank you note for another great season by his boy ar.......13 years and counting.....— nuggett
- Dust off Jim Johnsons playbook, get some LBs and secondary men that can TACKLE and lets get after it on D. One year and Spags will clean house and take over Reids mess.
— RealizticFan - Castillo is an offensive line coach. Get him out of the defensive side of the game. Let Spagnulo and Washburn work it out. Let Castillo work for Mudd if Eagle want to reward loyalty vs. merit.— Eagles1980
- Great, wonder if the schemes will change, maybe it'll be
a mixture, if that is possible. They have a lot of coaching
talent to make this gel.— Willysoup - LET'S GO SIXERS!— Leegles
- @aman1711, you're "a man" after my own heart. I almost shed a tear of joy with the way you slammed ChumpGarner25 and Fink105. Good job! But don't drink the green Kool-Aid! Don't even smell it! The national media is trying to throw the Eagles fan base a bone. Spags himself said he was chillin' for a while before he makes up his mind. Now the reports are saying that he will be back with the Eagles by the end of the week. C'MON!! Fat Andy isn't back from vacation yet. Nothing will happen until maybe next week. Stay calm, Eagles fans!— Panthro2011
- Juan as DB coach? I thought it was his bright idea to have DRC play the slot and Nnamdi play zone? Looks like Lynn was Reid's scapegoat.— BleedPhilly
- how many assistant head coaches can you have? This seems silly, either make him DC and fire Castillo or dont. I know Castillo is BFF with Andy but cmon, he could land a job elsewhere hes been in the league forever. He also couldnt ever fault Andy for giving him that opportunity with no experience and making lots of dough.— peteike
- Copper, too funny, Im no huge djack fan but did you see Johnson drop TD passes several times after all the smack talking he did. Once the previous season and a few times in big spots this season. No thanks, we are fine at WR with or w/o djack, plenty of other needs on this team, biggest being a rookie QB for the future in this draft loaded with QBs. If you ever want a superbowl that is.— peteike
- Reids on vacation....guess he earned with that 4 game win streak ..he must be bushed. Game planning 4 weeks in a row against subpar teams.....no wonder he has another year to work with.— RealizticFan
- Make Spags the DC...Juan Castillo should be moved to LB coach and Rod Woodson should be brought in as DB coach. Upgrade LB and DB units.— Phillyfan1959
- I thought they were going to promote Duce Staley to LB coach - he has the same qualifications that Juan had last year when they promoted him to DC! — gdibig
