Skip to content
Eagles
Link copied to clipboard

Eagles Notes: Reid: Mornhinweg and Washburn have "worked it out"

Eagles coach Andy Reid said that he spoke to Marty Mornhinweg and Jim Washburn after their sideline spat, that the offensive coordinator and defensive line coach had cleared the air, and that the Eagles had moved on and were focused on Thursday's game at Seattle.

Defensive line coach Jim Washburn declined to comment on his spat with offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg. (Yong Kim/Staff Photographer)
Defensive line coach Jim Washburn declined to comment on his spat with offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg. (Yong Kim/Staff Photographer)Read more

Eagles coach Andy Reid said that he spoke to Marty Mornhinweg and Jim Washburn after their sideline spat, that the offensive coordinator and defensive line coach had cleared the air, and that the Eagles had moved on and were focused on Thursday's game at Seattle.

"It's an emotional game," Reid said Tuesday at the NovaCare Complex. "It doesn't matter if you're coaches or players, things happen. You take care of business like grown men. They've talked. I've talked, and they've worked it out, and we're fine here."

The confrontation took place midway through the first quarter of Sunday's game against the Patriots. The Eagles were leading, 10-0, at the time. There was some initial speculation that Washburn confronted Mornhinweg because he was calling too many pass plays and the defense was gassed as a result.

"I know that was reported. That's not the case," Reid said. "It wasn't an offense vs. defense thing."

Several sources close to the situation have also said the spat was not about Mornhinweg's play-calling. While one source said on Monday that an accidental bump initiated the tiff, another source said Tuesday that a derogatory comment by Washburn to Mornhinweg started the quarrel.

Mornhinweg did not back down and responded in a way that drew the attention of nearby players and team personnel who stepped in, the source said. Mornhinweg has not met with the media since last week. Both he and Washburn, through an Eagles spokesman, declined to comment.

Washburn is known for not mincing words.

"He's a fiery guy with a chip on his shoulder, and he says what's on his mind," Eagles defensive tackle Trevor Laws said. "Sometimes he'll rub people the wrong way, but to tell you the truth, that attitude's spread down the line to the defensive line."

Washburn has made similar remarks to other coaches on the sideline during games this season, two team sources said.

"This isn't the first time guys get emotional on the sideline," Reid said. "It's that type of game."

Babin blasts Seahawks

Jason Babin spent less than two seasons in Seattle and played in only four games for the Seahawks, but his stint there had a lasting impact.

Not in a good way. The Eagles defensive end tweeted the following Tuesday:

"Ready to physically show my disdain to Seattle, they treated the Babin family bad. #BlameMikeH #SinsOfTheFather."

The "MikeH" in Babin's tweet is former Seahawks coach Mike Holmgren.

"My wife and kids were obviously with me both years I was in Seattle," Babin said. "It's not easy to play in a new place, not being wanted and kind of being treated badly. You have your position coach not talk to you, head coach tell you, 'I didn't want you.' "

Babin spent all of the 2007 season and part of 2008 in Seattle. He was traded to Kansas City and wound up with the Eagles in 2009. It was at Tennessee, under Washburn, that he flourished. In the last two seasons he has 221/2 sacks in 27 games.

Needless to say, there's extra motivation to show Seattle what they potentially missed out on.

"I think if someone was on a team for two years and didn't play and they didn't feel upset about it, they should be embarrassed," Babin said. "Of course, I'm sassy."

Another former Seahawk had a different experience.

Defensive end Darryl Tapp, Seattle's second-round draft pick in 2006, spent his first four seasons with the franchise before he was traded to the Eagles in March 2010 in exchange for defensive end Chris Clemons and a fourth-round draft pick.

"Hell, yeah, I'm ready to go," Tapp said. "It's going to be fun. I'm excited to go back. That's the team that raised me pretty much, gave me an opportunity."

Laws stands by comments

A day after saying that the Seahawks game should be "easily winnable" and that if the Eagles play their game, "we should blow these guys out," Laws stood by the comments he made to CSNPhilly.com

"It's just the way I feel," Laws said. "If we can play like I think we can play - which we haven't done a lot of times this season. But a couple times we have. If we harness those couple times, I think there's going to be a good result."