Howie Roseman: 'Key is getting the right guy. The key isn't getting the right guy as quickly as possible'
Eagles general manager Howie Roseman said that the Eagles would remain patient in their search for the team's next head coach.
Howie Roseman: 'Key is getting the right guy. The key isn't getting the right guy as quickly as possible'
Jeff McLane, Inquirer Staff Writer
By Jeff McLane
Eagles general manager Howie Roseman said that the Eagles would remain patient in their search for the team's next head coach.
Asked if the process was taking longer than he had imagined -- the Eagles are ten days in -- Roseman said that owner Jeffrey Lurie was adamant "that the key is getting the right guy. The key isn’t getting the right guy as quickly as possible."
The Eagles have interviewed five candidates thus far, have another scheduled for tomorrow and have been granted permission to interview three more coaches. They were also set to meet with two other possibilities, but those interviews were canceled after one coach stayed with his team and the other signed with another team.
Lurie, Roseman and team president Don Smolenski aggressively pursued Oregon coach Chip Kelly and Penn State coach Bill O'Brien out of the chute. They interviewed both last week. Kelly's interview lasted nine hours and he took a day to decide on whether he wanted to leave for the NFL, but ultimately elected to stay at Oregon. O'Brien met with Eagles last Thursday and decided later that day that he wasn't leaving State College.
The Eagles were granted permission to interview Falcons offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter, but he signed a contract extension and stayed in Atlanta last week. The team was also set to meet with Syracuse coach Doug Marrone on Sunday, but he agreed to become the Bills' next head coach only hours earlier.
Because a number of the coaches linked to the Eagles have dropped out for various reasons, some are wondering if the team is as attractive as Lurie claimed it was last week after he fired Andy Reid. Roseman was asked what made the Eagles attractive to candidates.
"They know we have a great owner who’s going to support and give as much resources as possible to make sure we succeed," Roseman said. "They know that we just supported a coach for 14 years. So we’re built that way. This whole organization is built to support a head coach. They know that not only in action but in words. All they have to do is call Andy Reid."
"We’ve developed a family here. People that have been here have been here a long time. They’ve grown together. … Not saying we’re a perfect franchise by any stretch of the imagination. It’s a great tribute to Jeffrey and what he’s building here.”
Reid signed a five-year contract with the Chiefs last week. He and Marrone are the only two head coaching hires thus far. The Browns, Bears, Cardinals and Chargers, along with the Eagles, are still looking for head coaches.
Aside from Kelly and O'Brien, the Eagles have also interviewed Broncos offensive coordinator Mike McCoy, Falcons defensive coordinator Mike Nolan and special teams coordinator Keith Armstrong. They are slated to interview former Bears coach Lovie Smith on Thursday. And they have been granted permission to meet with Bengals offensive coordinator Jay Gruden, Seahawks defensive coordinator Gus Bradley and Colts offensive coordinator Bruce Arians.
Some believe that McCoy will land in Chicago and that Arians will end up in San Diego. The Eagles are the only team thus far to ask to speak with Bradley.
*******************************
In other Eagles-related news, trainer Rick Burkholder will visit with the Chiefs to see if he wants to follow Andy Reid to Kansas City.
The Eagles' long-time head athletic trainer is still under contract, but the team is "allowing him to seek an opportunity" with Reid "if that is what is in Rick's best interest," a spokesman said.
Burkholder was Reid's wing man for 14 seasons. He joined the Eagles after spending six seasons as an assistant athletic trainer with the Steelers.
I think that they are mssing the point. Sometimes acting quickly is necessary to get the desired outcome in a dynamic environment. They are acting like the universe is static while they do their search, despite coaches being interviewed and signed every day. If they were playing musical chairs, I think they would be the ones standing when the music stopped...— Bobphxville- I ask, if they take someone now just to satisfy the constituents, and say San Diego takes one of the guys in the playoffs currently, and takes off with said coach, you and MANY others will be sitting back years from now criticizng that the Eagles jumped the gun too quickly and didn't do their homework. You know you will. — hawaiiphillyfan
- I agree in this instance that the best person may not be available for an extended period to time. I was just trying to refute the idea that in general you can wait indefinitely and still get the person that you desire. For example, while the Eagles were jockying for Chip Kelly with Cleveland, the Bill swept in and signed Marrone - who was also on the Eagles radar. — Bobphxville
- Not sure how comfortable I am having Roseman making these decisions. I hope that J. Lurie knows what he is doing! Otherwise I vote to hire Juan Castillo!— ricciaje
- Wish we still had Modrak.— p-diddy
Being in a rush and having a sense of urgency, identifying a guy and getting him in place are two different things. Ok so you didn't get Chip Kelly who you obviously wanted. There should have been an immediate plan B. I really don't understand what the anti John Gruden thing is all about either. The guy didn't develop Chris Simms? Really? He went to like 15 teams that tried also. Of the guys left he has to be one of the best options. At least give the guy a sit down and see what he has to say.- Pee Wee Roseman IS the problem. No player, coach or fan can possibly take the Eagles seriously with Pee Wee as GM. I envision him getting wedgies and his head stuffed into the toilet at any NFL league meetings.— kelprod2-freemarket
any word on going back to the kelly green now that mrs. lurie got kicked to the proverbial curb?- THE RIGHT GUY IS IN ORLANDO, FLORIDA .....JON GRUDEN~! WHY are the EAGLES making this so freakin difficult! Why deal with a bunch of 2nd tier candidates, fly all over the country, when the best football mind in the business is willing & available! Make the dam call, the EAGLES brass logic is pointless & without merit! There is no logical reason why you would interview canidates when you have the a person of JON GRUDEN's caliber just sitting there raising his hand to be noticed ! As a life long FAN, it annoys me, it frustrates me, & it is just wrong! When Laurie was beginning the divorce process, did he hire a first year law student to represent him.....NO! He went with the best ! Why would you do anything different with your most prized possession....your billion dollar cash cow....The Eagles ! 'nuff said !— frank castle
- THE RIGHT GUY IS IN ORLANDO, FLORIDA .....JON GRUDEN~! WHY are the EAGLES making this so freakin difficult! Why deal with a bunch of 2nd tier candidates, fly all over the country, when the best football mind in the business is willing & available! Make the dam call, the EAGLES brass logic is pointless & without merit! There is no logical reason why you would interview canidates when you have the a person of JON GRUDEN's caliber just sitting there raising his hand to be noticed ! As a life long FAN, it annoys me, it frustrates me, & it is just wrong! When Laurie was beginning the divorce process, did he hire a first year law student to represent him.....NO! He went with the best ! Why would you do anything different with your most prized possession....your billion dollar cash cow....The Eagles ! 'nuff said !— frank castle
- The Eagles would be best served hiring a top, experienced, confident, football guy, to be VP of football operations. Like Tom Gamble. Howie can be this guy's right hand guy. Howie is still not ready to head all football operations. Secondly, the Eagles need to interview Jon Gruden. And Gus Bradley. Sooner rather than later. They wasted their time with several of their interviews already. This team should have already interviewed Marrone, before they interviewed Chip Kelly. For as good as Chip Kelly might be, he has no NFL experience. I cannot think of a successsful NFL head coach that was hired out of college without any NFL experience. Remember, Harbaugh, Vermeil, and Schiano, among others had it.— arrowamy
- eagles are a joke, sadly.....Lets Go Flyers!!!— jamarder
- So we didn't get Marrone and are we sad KC jumped at Reid 10 minutes after he was fired? Really? You wanted Chip Kelly? Gimme a break. Some of you sound like kids on Christmas Eve that can't wait to open their presents. Just get the right guy.— tpizza
- "rosebud" is a big part of the problem.
The former Mrs. Lurie could do a much better job.— TPMILLER - I think they still want McCoy, whom they can't hire till the Niners lose. Which may not be till the Super Bowl. The Inquirer boys may go insane in this case, but who cares if it's the right hire? Keep your boxers dry, boys -- Lurie may just know what he's doing. He may not have hit a home run last time, but Reid was a stand-up triple.— JBirks
