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.
Comments (74)
I just have zero confidence that this clique will get this pick right.— Steve2181- Howie looks like a deer in headlights....Eagle Nation should be afraid...VERY afraid! I know I am...Just saying!— Lamby
- Come on Howie, it's Gus, Kiffen called him one in a million— lunch
Following the 1994 season, the Eagles fired Rich Kotite and owner Jeffrey Lurie inquired about bringing back Vermeil as coach. However, the Eagles and Vermeil could not come to a contractual agreement. The Eagles would eventually hire Ray Rhodes to be their head coach. Vermeil issued a statement saying, "I'm not going to beg Jeffrey Lurie to coach this football team."- This comment has been deleted.— carlina45
- Maybe your friend can lend you some money so you can go back to school for 3rd grade spelling. — TEDcGEGI
- "We’ve developed a family here." I think that was a poor choice of words Howie. Jeffrey's longtime friend and sidekick Banner is gone, his wife is gone, his coach is gone, various people in the front office were dismissed, the trainer is ready to jump. About the person there that I know that has been there for an extended period of time is the longtime ticket guy, Leo Carlin. And you'll probably be booting him out the door soon.— watsonmr
- Birds..I have one word for you, LOSERS!!!!!!!— MRD
- The Eagles are making money hands over fist thanks to their fan base. But how much longer will fans buy the snake oil is the queston? 54 years folks of promises and NO championships in that time period.
Now, the same motto is freshened up and rolled out," A New Begining!"
Geez, I just want to see an ending to the 54 year draught!!!!— STEPHEN1988 - Anyone who really knows football, knows that the biggest jobs are in the highest echelon at the collegiate level. It didn't used to be that way, or at least as pronounced, but today's NFL is stuck w/the second tier of coaching talent, aside from a couple. In the college ranks, the jobs are more secure, the pay is bigger and ultimately the coach is more powerful than his NFL counterpart. For me, when Jerry Jones had to settle for that clown in Dallas, where many SEC coaches would have taken a shot, said it all........of course the hooliganism of today's pro is a contributing factor. Who do you think is bigger in Texas, Mack Brown or the boy in D?? My how times have changed since the days of Shula, Landry, Walsh, etc...........— Northcountry
- I JUST HOPE ALL THEM LAME EAGLE FANS THAT WERE CALLIN FOR ANDY RIEDS HEAD PAY CLOSE ATTENTION TO THE END RESULTS SOMETIMES ITS BETTER TO BE SAFE THEN SORRY!!! I'M JUST SAYING!!! VICK;S OUTTA THERE TOO IM SURE THE BOTH OF THEM ARE READY FOR THE FRESH START AS IS MOST OF THE EAGLES FANS WILL BE ON TIME THE REBUILDING PROCESS IS TO PAINFUL ON THE EMOTIONS!!! SUCKS THAT WE HAVE TO GO THROUGH THIS ALL BECAUSE HOWIE ROSEMAN DIDNT WANT TO SPEND THE MONEY ON AND OFFENSIVE LINE TO PROTECT THE QB AND SOME DEFENSIVE PLAYERS THAT CAN ACTUALLY MAKE PLAYS?!?!?!?!?!?!?! I LOVE HOW ANDY RIED AND MIKE VICK ARE THE SCAPEGOATS!!!!!! I'LL SEE YOU GUYS IN FIVE YEARS LOL!!!— DJ_Bootleggah
- ghost of callison..thats the best insult u can come up with ms roseman? CDFU! weak weak weak! i type like a man full of facts not a opinion that i try and push off as a fact like u. i never said howie was good or bad did i. i said stfu and wait and see..im not gonna be negative like the rest of u idiots and think the worst of him..point is..reid was to blame howie didnt really have any real say until 2012..why do u think howie still has a job? smh..how about putting on ur big boy pants and go with facts instead of spewing ur lil conspiracy theory rants..facts r facts! what u guys spew is pure he say she say.— bigjay215
- Another classy tough guy wannabe keyboard commando hiding behind his keyboard. Calling names anonymously while not having to face the person you are talking to is the ultimate in cowardice. You might be taken seriously if you wrote like you were at least out of middle school. You don't type like a man, you type like the young punk you are. Now, go get your shine box.
- I don't need to read the artcile, the banner says it all. You want the right guy as soon as possible because it there's a lot to do and you want to get a jump on assistants, draft picks who may be talking to other teams, teh same thing with free agents. Players want to know who they will be playing for and what system.
But I guess in Howie's case he'll wait until the day before the draft just to be sure they have the right guy.— Phils_World_Champs - 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
- bigjay = apologist and wannabe. stick to soccer or field hockey. more your type....— hvitoloco
- 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.
- 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
- "All they have to do is call Andy Reid." Good God is this guy for real?— Bob1
- 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.
- 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
- What's the hurry? We already know what we're doing.— franky
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- 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
- 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
- Howie, YOU aren't the right guy!— ArtieLange
- 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
- 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
- "rosebud" is a big part of the problem.
The former Mrs. Lurie could do a much better job.— TPMILLER - 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
- eagles are a joke, sadly.....Lets Go Flyers!!!— jamarder
- 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
- 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
any word on going back to the kelly green now that mrs. lurie got kicked to the proverbial curb?- 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
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.- Wish we still had Modrak.— p-diddy
- 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
- 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
- I don't think I view the Eagles the way they view themselves. Reality is different inside the Novacare Complex-bubble.
- @NM Eagle fan, how do you know that the Eagles have been striking out? Because they didn't have a new head coach 2 days after Reid was fired? Maybe with the guys they interviewed, they didn't feel real commitment, they thought demands were too much without yet proving themselves, they want to look into the eyes of a couple guys still in the playoffs before choosing one. MAYBE they are doing their due dilligence.
— hawaiiphillyfan - He said he would talk more and communicate with us.....Never mind that it is all bs and smoke...he is talking and what else can a non-football man do.....— nuggett
- Howie made money for Lurie, bottom line. I could not attack him personally, because I don't know him IMHO, I think the Eagles would do better, if they had a someone who knows football, can rate a player and has the experience to see if a player is going to fit in with the rest of the team. Are they coachable, are they leaders. Again, for Jeff it's about the bottom line and Howie has watched that closely.
— stang66302 - There is a great line from the new Three Stooges movie that applies here. "Those three idiots crashed the party"... "Who, the Kardashian Girls" was the response. Don't you think that is what the agents of these prospective coaches think when our three show up??
— Friend to All - Not a fan of him, but he is right. No one the fans wanted who was on the market has been taken.— Sidewinder7
- Why does Mr. Lurie think Howie Roseman is such a genius when it comes to personnel matters. He is much too young for his position in terms of experience, and never played a down of football in his life. He is making decisions on drafting and hiring football personnel when he doesn't know any more about what this teams needs than Mrs.Laurie did.
The Eagles need a football person in charge of Drafting. Someone who knows the Players and the real needs of this team.— V7110 - Oh yeah, and you know whoever the Eagles wind up getting will be the guy they were after all along. Kinda like how Castillo became DC after hiring Washburn.— hunglikeaton
- I can't believe that I am saying this, but I think that Howie is right. Take your time. I'm hoping that they are looking at someone who's team is still in the playoffs. I thought the Kelly experiment was idiotic anyway.— truthfirst
- Rube the Boob should send Howie a gift basket for making him look good.— hunglikeaton
- No buyers for the gold standard stuff???????— Earl J
- Officially deactivating my fan card until Lurie puts a football guy in place to make football decisions.— Golden17
- Notice how many times Howie kissed Lurie's arse in his quoted statements.— Taser
- Howie Roseman should win weasel of the week every week until he is fired. He weaseled his way into this role, knows nothing about football, and has the audacity to act like he is one of the best in the league. I don't love it but fine he can be the contract/salary cap guy, but talent evaluater you have got to be kidding me. If Lurie goes into the draft with him as the player personal GM we are doomed for the next decade.— hitschro
- Wish one of our reporters would get some inside scoop, tired of rehash and guesses. I can understand the process but I am impatient. I just want some hope, some hope that this team will become what I always dreamed it would, a ruthless machine of destruction.— EagleEye61
- Roseman, you're in over your little head. Just admit that you've been REJECTED by the real talent out there. They don't want to join your little boy's club. They see through you, bean counter. Having to sit across the table for 9 hours talking to a little boy who's still waiting for the second one to drop is like a teacher being interviewed by one of his students.
- Just telling it like I thought it probably was for those he's already interviewed. Of course, I wasn't there so I don't know, but that squeaky voice and wet behind the ears rat face of his would make anybody want to reach across the table and knock him into tomorrow.
- @ghost: i could not have said it better myself. bravo!
— hannibal barca - have they interviewed mornhinweg for the position? — hannibal barca
- Easy to say when you keep striking out.— NM Eagle fan
- Roseman has the look of a punk. Someone I'd like to slap.— Justaschmuck
- Hey "Howie"... How about no one likes you....— elfman
- "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.”
A family of backstabbers!!!— sgamble077 - what kind of "family" fires its PR person days before Christmas? or tries to dock the salary of a guy (mike patterson) who battled brain cancer? or fires its director of season ticket sales days after thanksgiving?
if his idea of a good "family" is the Gambinos, then he's right— hannibal barca - assclown!— sgamble077
- The photo of Roseman in his suit and tie brings back memories of one Michael Gary Scott from Dunder Mifflin. Actually, when I think about it, his management style mirrors the Office boss........
- Change that tie to a bow tie, and he sure resembles one Pee Wee Herman to me. — TEDcGEGI
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Birds' Eye View is the Inquirer's blog covering all things Philadelphia Eagles and the NFL.
Jeff McLane
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