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.
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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.
Howie is surprised how hard these guys work because he has never been around football; he is now surprised that a 27 year old guard he picked can't play; he is surprised that no one takes him seriously; he is surprised that maybe Andy got a job because everyone knows that when the Eagles were winning, Howie wasn't around.— wrestlingcoach- Howie, YOU aren't the right guy!— ArtieLange
- Time to get a new GM... Then start the interview process all over. They should be in a hurry to find the right guy. The right guy needs all new coaches and coordinators. Without good coaches and coordinators even the right guy will fail.— FetchDixon
- Jury is still out on Roseman. I'm sure Lurie will promise the right HC candidate control over personnel decisions (but not the full control that Reid had). Can't blame the mess the Eagles are in on Roseman. Reid was THE MAN in that front office. Reid picked Graham over JPP and a 27 YO firefighter over Earl Thomas (just to name a few). Reid signed Kerse and Asomugha. Reid drafted the safeties. Reid refused to run the ball regularly ...— Copper34
Who exactly is he talking about, that has been here a long time and grown together? On the field, Avant, Celek, Cole and Herremans are the only guys I can think of who have been here more than 6 years (maybe the trainer too). Off the field, who is he referring to? The ticket booth cashiers? This is another example of the Eagles' front office living in a fantasy world where they're doing everything right.— 1980- What's the hurry? We already know what we're doing.— franky
- Why is it that to some of you, everything the Eagles do is wrong? You wanted Capt Andy fired...wish granted. Now we can't get a good coaching candidate because of Rosebud and Lurie? I don't agree. I think that we will get the coach that we want despite Rosebud and Lurie. I think Rosebud should do cap and contracts, and that we should bring in Jaws for talent evaluations. However, that ain't gonna happen either. Here's a more important and scary question: Why in the world is Mohrningwig and April still on the payroll along with Bowels? Answer that one groupies. That is a much more scary scenario that who our next coach is gonna be. Fire them now. The only one worth keeping is DUCE. That's the question you all should be asking Rosebud and Lurie. WHY???????— usedtobefromphilly
- This comment has been deleted.— Vomit Man #1
- Exactly my point. Lurie and Roseman are the ones being rejected. Roseman is just trying to save his miniature face.
- "All they have to do is call Andy Reid." Good God is this guy for real?— Bob1
- Lurie has a boy toy in Roseman and will continue to come up short in the football smarts department . These two will continue to mess things up for years to come . I am glad I was able to sell my seats because sending money to these fools is just like throwing it in the trash .— d1955h
- hey morons..all personnel drafts picks and signings were signed off by reid..he had final say on all roster moves not howie..howie had more input in 2012 draft picks than any other time..2012 draft picks were a pretty good bunch i would say..fact most gm's in the nfl are accountants and lawyers..fact most of them never in their life played football..smh..thats why they have team scouts morons. all of the good coaches/assistants cant get hired until after the playoffs so why are u rushing them..they went after the college coaches like every other team that had a head coaching vacancy did and they all got turned down also..not just the eagles..eagles fans is the worst fanbase..unintelligent, impatient, and think they wear a turbin and own a crystal ball. let it play out dipsh*ts..its not like the offseason is over anytime soon..the assistants they are targeting are all in the playoffs..u do realize this right? u do realize they cant hire them until after they are out of the playoffs right? smh..sometimes u guys emabarass true eagles fans like myself..everything the eagles do u guys b***h and moan about it..i bet if the eagles won the super bowl by 3 points i bet u all would say..o they got lucky..smh..stfu and see what happens already..sheesh— bigjay215
- Thank you, Mrs. Howie. We appreciate your polite opinion. Actually, you write and spell like a spoiled child and since you apparently are defending another spoiled child in Roseman, I can see how the two of you can relate. Stay classy, youngster.
- bigjay = apologist and wannabe. stick to soccer or field hockey. more your type....— hvitoloco
- hvitoloco.. guess facts and things that make sense dont apply to this moronic fanbase huh (including u)? fact i never said howie is doing a fantastic job or called him a great or good gm nor did i call him a bad gm..i said stfu and lets see what happens right..i stated nothing but facts to u..but i guess fans wanna hear nothing but negativity..allergic to anything positive or the truth huh? typicalfans..i know more about football than ur whole family tree, so never doubt what anyone knows..u should be the one sticking to soccer cause u dont know jack about football :-)— bigjay215
