Archive: January, 2011
Jeff McLane, Inquirer Staff Writer
Despite going more than a week without filling their defensive coordinator vacancy, the Eagles have compiled a detailed list of candidates from which to make a hire, according to a league source close to the team.
The Eagles do not have a leading candidate, the source said, and won’t make a hire until Monday at the earliest. From that, the following conclusions can be drawn:
-- The Eagles are waiting to interview at least one coach from one of the four remaining teams playing in Sunday’s conference championships.
Jonathan Tamari
With Dick Jauron reportedly headed to Cleveland, another rumored defensive coordinator candidate is likely off the table without the Eagles so much as formally interviewing anyone in the week since word trickled out that Sean McDermott was fired.
It's been even longer since McDermott was actually axed (reports vary on the exact day) and yet most of what we have on the defensive coordinator search has come in the form of rumors, speculation, denials and reversals. With six days to digest what’s happened, here’s a look at what we think we’ve learned, what we’ve heard but still aren’t so sure about and what happens next.
The vacation: The hardest thing to figure in all of this is how a control guy like Andy Reid leaves the country – let alone his film room – when a decision of this magnitude is coming down. Unless he really wants someone off the staff of one of the four NFL finalists playing this weekend. The most plausible scenario in my mind is that Reid watched last Sunday’s games play out, knew the guy he wanted would be totally unavailable for at least another week, and took the chance to relax while he could. This team moved aggressively for a defensive line coach, and aggressively in the draft when they wanted Brandon Graham. Sitting back like they have is odd. Again, unless they want someone still in the playoffs.
Jonathan Tamari
The Browns expect to hire Dick Jauron as their new defensive coordinator, the Cleveland Plain-Dealer's Mary Kay Cabot wrote on Twitter today.
Jauron has been a rumored candidate for the Eagles job, but the team doesn't seem to have made a very strong play to get him. If they really wanted him, it would seem they would have had the best chance to keep him in house. And, since the Eagles job would seem more attractive than Cleveland's, here's a leap that says he wasn't all that confident of landing the Philadelphia gig.
More soon.
Jeff McLane, Inquirer Staff Writer
Saints assistant Dennis Allen will interview with the Eagles for their defensive coordindator opening this weekend, a league source confirmed.
Allen is also scheduled to meet with Denver for their opening, per Jay Glazer of FOXSports.com. Glazer reported that Allen would travel to Denver first and then head to Philadelphia. Eagles coach Andy Reid will be in attendance for the sit down.
The 38-year-old defensive backs coach has suddenly become a hot commodity. Allen has no prior experience as a coordinator, but the Saints secondary has had mild success during his three years of leadership.
- Poll: Where would you rather be? (893 votes)
Jeff McLane, Inquirer Staff Writer
A new name has emerged in the Eagles’ search for a defensive coordinator: Dennis Allen.
The team asked for and received permission to talk with the Saints secondary coach, a league source said Wednesday night.
The surfacing of Allen comes after the Eagles lost one candidate for the job when Jim Mora withdrew his name from consideration for positions in Philadelphia and Denver.
- Poll: What should the Eagles do with Michael Vick? (1634 votes)
Jeff McLane, Inquirer Staff Writer
Michael Vick said that he and the Eagles have not had negotiations about a new contract.
"Nothing has happened as of this point," the Eagles quarterback said after an appearance on 97.5-FM at the Aloft Hotel near the Philadelphia Airport.
Vick's contract expires on March 4.
- Poll: What should the Eagles do with Michael Vick? (1634 votes)
Jeff McLane, Inquirer Staff Writer
The Eagles were able to lure Jim Washburn away from Tennessee and signed the defensive line coach to a deal today, the team announced.
“We are thrilled to add a quality defensive line coach in Jim Washburn,” Eagles coach Andy Reid said in a statement. “He had a great tenure with Jeff Fisher and the Tennessee Titans and he’ll play a big part in the development of our defensive line moving forward. He’s had a number of Pro Bowl players working under him over the years with the Titans and we’re happy to have him join our coaching staff in Philadelphia.”
Those Pro Bowl players include defensive ends Kyle Vanden Bosch, Jevon Kearse and Jason Babin, and defensive tackles Albert Haynesworth and Kevin Carter.
Jeff McLane, Inquirer Staff Writer
UPDATE:
If Jim Mora wants to get back into coaching, he's likely not doing it until after next season.
Mora withdrew his name from the Eagles and Broncos defensive coordinator job search, according to Jay Glazer of FOXSports.com, who spoke to the former Falcons and Seahawks coach.
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Jeff McLane, Inquirer Staff Writer
The Eagles are talking to long-time Titans assistant Jim Washburn about their defensive line coach vacancy, league sources confirmed.
The story was first reported by Jim Wyatt of the Tennessean. None other than Titans coach Jeff Fisher confirmed it for him.
"We are in the middle of it and going back and forth," Fisher told Wyatt. "I would think we'd find out in the next day or so."
