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Still no word on Eagles' choice for defensive coordinator

There was no indication the Eagles were any closer to hiring a defensive coordinator yesterday, though they could be close to hiring a defensive line coach.

Jim Mora Jr. reportedly left Denver without agreeing to a job offer. (John Froschauer/AP file photo)
Jim Mora Jr. reportedly left Denver without agreeing to a job offer. (John Froschauer/AP file photo)Read more

There was no indication the Eagles were any closer to hiring a defensive coordinator yesterday, though they could be close to hiring a defensive line coach.

One of their coordinator candidates, Jim Mora, left Denver after interviewing for the Broncos' d-coordinator position; reports that he was close to agreeing there Monday night proved premature, at least. Another candidate, Eagles secondary coach Dick Jauron, interviewed to become defensive coordinator in Cleveland yesterday and was expected to remain there today.

CSNPhilly.com reported that Jauron told Eagles coach Andy Reid he would not sign anywhere without checking back with the Eagles. Reid remains on vacation.

Nothing has really been said about the third publicly identified candidate, former Cards defensive coordinator Bill Davis, since the initial reports over the weekend that he was in the mix. A source close to the situation has said that Davis contacted the Eagles about the job, when word started to spread that Sean McDermott had been dismissed.

Meanwhile, Tennessee Titans head coach Jeff Fisher told the Nashville Tennessean that the Birds are talking with his defensive-line coach, Jim Washburn, 61, whose contract has expired. Fisher apparently wants to sign Washburn to a new deal, but isn't sure he will be able to do that. The Eagles dismissed their d-line coach, Rory Segrest.

"The only thing I can confirm is he has been talking them," Fisher told the Tennessean. "We are in the middle of it and going back and forth. I would think we'd find out in the next day or so."

Mora's departure from Denver without a contract is good news for the Eagles, of course, but it again raises the question of whether he really wants to get back into NFL coaching, with school-age children and his family settled in Seattle.

McDermott, meanwhile, still hasn't been announced as the new defensive coordinator for the Carolina Panthers, though that could happen as soon as today. Multiple league sources have confirmed McDermott's hiring. Reports from Charlotte yesterday indicated McDermott was cleaning out his office at NovaCare, preparing to make the move.

Of course, no one knows how many other names the Eagles might be considering. Coaches still involved in the playoffs can't interview until their teams are eliminated. One name mentioned a lot in the media the past few days is that of Packers defensive line coach Mike Trgovac, a former Panthers defensive coordinator who coached the Eagles' d-line under Ray Rhodes. But no one from the Eagles has confirmed Trgovac is a candidate. In fact, Eagles general manager Howie Roseman declined to answer yesterday when asked whether it was fair to say the Birds are interested in at least one coach still involved in the playoffs.

For more Eagles coverage and opinion, read the Daily News' Eagles blog, Eagletarian, at www.eagletarian.com.

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