Source: Eagles get permission to talk to a New Orleans coach

A new name has emerged in the Eagles' search for a defensive coordinator: Dennis Allen.

The team received permission from the New Orleans Saints to talk with their secondary coach, a league source said Wednesday night. Allen's name surfaced after the Eagles lost a candidate for the job when Jim Mora withdrew his name from consideration for the defensive coordinator positions in Philadelphia and Denver.

Mora was not a serious candidate for the Eagles, team sources said.

Allen, however, comes out of nowhere, partly because of his age and inexperience. The 38-year-old has never been a coordinator at any level. When the Eagles fired the 36-year-old Sean McDermott last week, team sources indicated that his likely replacement would be someone with more experience.

The Eagles did add a veteran voice to their coaching staff on Wednesday, however, when they lured assistant Jim Washburn from Tennessee to fill their vacancy at defensive line coach. The 61-year-old is considered by many around the NFL to be the best defensive line coach in the league.

In 12 seasons with the Titans, he helped develop a number of linemen into Pro Bowlers, among them defensive ends Jevon Kearse and Kyle Vanden Bosch, and defensive tackles Albert Haynesworth and Kevin Carter.

After playing a season with the Eagles in a part-time role, defensive end Jason Babin went to Tennessee and recorded a career-high 121/2 sacks this season on the way to a Pro Bowl nod.

Babin, a first-round draft pick who was shuffled around the league for several years, credited Washburn with his improvement.

"He's the guy who poured water on me, let me have sunshine, gave me fertilizer, and really let me grow," Babin told the Tennessean.

If the Eagles can add Washburn to their staff even as Andy Reid vacations in Antigua, there's no reason to think that they can't settle on a new defensive coordinator before the head coach returns on Friday.

Still, that appears unlikely, even though Allen has entered the picture. Like McDermott, Allen is seen as something of a prodigy. He has been with the Saints for five years, first as an assistant defensive line coach and then as the defensive backs coach for the last three years.

This season, New Orleans' pass defense was ranked fourth in the NFL and allowed only 13 touchdowns. The year before, the Saints were 26th and surrendered 15 scores through the air. But they forced 26 interceptions on the way to a Super Bowl title.

Mora confirmed his decision in a text message: "While I appreciate the opportunities presented by Denver and Philadelphia, at this time it's just not the right fit," he wrote.

The former Falcons and Seahawks head coach has spent the last year as an analyst with the NFL Network. The 49-year-old wants to return to coaching, a source close to the situation said, but Mora has a relatively young family still residing in Seattle.

With Mora now crossed off, Dick Jauron seemingly moves to the top of the list. The Eagles' senior assistant interviewed with the Browns on Wednesday for their coordinator job but left without a deal, according to reports out of Cleveland.

Jauron is said to have told Reid that he would not make a final decision until the Eagles' coach returned from his trip. The 61-year-old spent the last year coaching the Eagles' defensive backs.

The Eagles could be considering a coach on one of the playoff teams that are still alive. Green Bay defensive line coach Mike Trgovac, a former coordinator with the Panthers, has been mentioned as a potential candidate. A team source downplayed the Eagles' interest.

Perhaps the Eagles could lure Jets defensive coordinator Mike Pettine, who grew up in the Philadelphia area, away from New York. He told the Wall Street Journal that there was no truth to the rumors that he was heading back home.

The Eagles, though, have enticed at least one topflight coach to leave his job. Washburn had great success in Tennessee. Since 1999, the Titans have ranked seventh in the NFL in sacks and fifth against the run. His contract was year-to-year, though, and Titans coach Jeff Fisher will be on shaky ground next season after another losing year.

"An opportunity came along for me to join the Eagles and I felt like it was good timing," Washburn said in a statement. "At this stage of my career, I'm ready to make a change. This is no reflection on the state of the Titans but just a good opportunity for me."

Washburn, who replaces the recently fired Rory Segrest, reportedly agreed to a three-year deal. He could help attract top linemen to the Eagles. Haynesworth, who is disgruntled with the Redskins but still under contract, could conceivably head to Philadelphia if Washington were to cut him loose. In the past, he has recognized the fiery Washburn for whipping him into one of the best defensive tackles in the league.

Babin, whose contract is expiring, told the Tennessean that it would be hard "not to contemplate" following Washburn back to the Eagles.

"It stinks that he's leaving," Babin said. "He's the greatest position coach I've ever had."

McDermott's new job. Finally, the Panthers officially named McDermott as their new defensive coordinator. He was hired by new head coach Ron Rivera, who worked alongside McDermott for five years as assistants in Philadelphia.