Why the Eagles lost out on Spagnuolo
Philly.com, Inquirer, and Daily News coverage of the Eagles
Why the Eagles lost out on Spagnuolo
Sheil Kapadia, Philly.com
After news broke last week that Steve Spagnuolo had chosen to become the new defensive coordinator of the New Orleans Saints, a couple key questions surfaced, pertaining to the Eagles:
1. How much actual interest did the Eagles really have in Spagnuolo?
2. Would Juan Castillo be back for a second year?
We're still waiting on an answer to the second question, but Dan Pompei of the National Football Post provided some clarity to the first question in his column today.
Per Pompei, Spagnuolo's decision came down to the Eagles and the Saints. And the deciding factor was Drew Brees:
The Saints can thank Drew Brees for Steve Spagnuolo. The Saints’ new defensive coordinator had his choice of a number of jobs. Among the other teams that either were in hot pursuit or had expressed interest were the Eagles, Falcons, Colts, Bucs and Vikings. It came down to choosing between the Eagles and Saints, and Spags picked Brees over Michael Vick. Why? An offense that scores 38.5 points per game can make a defensive coordinator look pretty smart.
I think that point has merit. In fact, I wrote as much last week. If Spagnuolo's goal is to again become a head coach, his best chance to get another shot is to lead a defense that gets to the Super Bowl. The Saints have a better chance to get there than the Eagles, largely because of how Drew Brees and Sean Payton stack up to Michael Vick and Andy Reid.
According to Pompei, Brees was indeed the difference.
The report also confirms what many have assumed: Reid clearly is not 100 percent sold on Castillo returning for his second season as the team's defensive coordinator, although he may still be the fallback plan. We'll find out (at some point) whether Reid is looking at other candidates, or whether he'll bring Castillo back.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the ball, the Eagles could lose Marty Mornhinweg. Mornhinweg interviewed with the Raiders on Friday, according to reports, and Pompei says he looks like a "strong candidate" to land the job, although it's early in the search.
And finally, Jim Washburn will not be headed to St. Louis to reunite with Jeff Fisher and Gregg Williams. Per Jason La Canfora of NFL Network, Mike Waufle will be hired as the Rams' new defensive line coach.
You can follow me on Twitter or become a fan of Moving the Chains on Facebook.
Comment removed.
Spags wasn't interviewed (officially) because Andy doesn't plan on making a change from Castillo. The silence from him on this subject, or anything since the end of the season is deafening. The Eagles Brain Trust fancies itself smarter than the rest of the league and to admit that they made ANOTHER mistake at the d-coordinator position is beyond them. And they won't be drafting any stud line backers or safetys because they don't know how. No, we will get more of the same and just take a look at next year's schedule, it has 8 & 8 written all over it again. The only thing to hope for is that Jeff Lurie will realize that he has to blow this up, starting with his awful front office staff (except Joe of course) and bring in a quality personnel professional and let that person hire the coach. The reason that the Giants are back to the SB is because Jerry Reese their GM was mentored by Ernie Accorsi, one of the great GM's in the modern NFL. They know how to pick coaches AND players. Time for a major overhaul Jeff, face up to it.— jimloughery- Watching Smith and Rodgers run and then drop as QB's should.
[I'm afraid Vick would have gotten shmushed]
I understand.— Ernie Garman - I am going to be a sports journalist. I have experience reading other articles and repeating what I read with no desire to validate facts. That would put me in the upper echelon in this town.— Eddie Spaghetti
- This SPAGS thing is over hyped. Perry Fewell took the Giants defense to a SB his second year, just like Spags, with some of the same talent. The Giants Jerry Reese drafts better than the Eagles do. Case in point JPP compared to Brandon call me Victor Abiamiri Graham. Most of the secondary is second team for most of the year, still get to playoffs and once there excel. So, let's lighten up on the Spags stuff. We all long for the JJ defense days, with Bobby Taylor, Troy Vincent, Dawk, Trotter, Michael Lewis. Those days long gone.— oldBird
- I don't blame Spags; good luck to him. I would not work under loser, fat Andy either-for what another year, when the bell will toll? But I'll believe that when I see it also since he's been here so long and has not been fired yet! Probably has compromising pics of Eagles mgmt. as the reason that he keeps his job.— bust6711
- there were 6 head coaching jobs available and Andy Reid would have had his pick of which one he wanted. Look at the list of canidates, not too impressive,Laurie made the right decision.— dwilly
- 'Take Brees out of the equation and they'll fold like a deck of cards'...yeah that's like asking Mrs Lincoln, other than that how was the play? (HTML deleted)— robinlupe
- Eagles aren't a winning franchise? I wasn't sure if if a .645 winning % 5 NFC championship appearances, 8 division titles, and 10 playoff appearance in the Andy Reid era would constitute as a losing franchise. Saints fans just be lucky you have him and don't forget where he came from. PHILLY!— Bboote
- He's a loser and we never wanted him. FIRE MORNINWEG and let Juan run the offense and the defense.— Dallasrulez
Follow
Sheil on Twitter. And become
a fan of Moving the Chains on Facebook.
Download our NEW iPhone/Android app for even more Birds
coverage, including app-exclusive videos and analysis. Download it here.
