Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune reported last night that former Eagles linebacker coach Steve Spagnuolo will be fired by Rams owner Stan Kroenke and return to the Eagles as their defensive coordinator.
Acee said Spags returning to the Eagles is “all but certain”. Of course, were Spagnuolo to return to Philadelphia as the defensive coordinator, it would mean current defensive coordinator Juan Castillo would have to be fired or moved back to his offensive line spot. Who knows what would happen to defensive line coach Jim Washburn and his “Wide Nine” alignment?
During his news conference yesterday, Eagles head coach Andy Reid refused to comment about himself or Castillo returning to coach here again next season. He said that he hasn’t spoken to team owner Jeffrey Lurie about his future with the ball club. Reid said he was focused on beating the Redskins in the Birds final regular season game next Sunday.
Personally, I believe this could happen. I’ve heard Anthony Gargano, who is a good friend of Spagnuolo’s, say on 94WIP numerous times that he didn’t think Spags would be fired this season. Sometimes a coach has a great feel for job status other times the coach is the last one to know.
According to Acee, league sources close to San Diego team president Dean Spanos say that the Chargers will fire their head coach Norv Turner. And chances are that Spanos will also fire GM Smith. but he won’t decide that until the middle of the week.
Acee says Rams owner Kranke will hire Smith as his GM when and if he becomes available while bringing in Jon Gruden as his new head coach. Acee reports that sources have told him that ESPN is already aware of Gruden’s desire to get back into coaching by taking this job with the Rams.
this sounds entirely to easy for us at eagle-nation!
I don’t believe in any of it..
If Spags gets fired, he’s still due a paycheck for the 2012 Season from the Rams under his orginial contract .. Why jump right back into Coaching when he’s already getting paid a higher amount that he would recieve as a Coorfinator..
Also, don’t buy John Gruden going to the Rams..I could see Miami or Tampa again since Gruden lives in Florida, but St Louis which is not a very talented team or close to competing for the Playoffs and plays in the NFC West so not much National Media Attention
Remember when COaches and GM’s get fired, they usually have a “buyout deal” which pays them a windfall amout from the Organization that fired them, but usually, by accepting the terms, that Coach or GM cannot work for another Team for usually a Year, or if they do, than they lose their “buyout deal”
Yeah…Gruden going back to a sh!T Miami team or returing to the Bucs.Will aliens drive him there too dude?Thats the Pats division until Brady retires.
Spags would make our d top shelf.It has the talent,minus a player or two.
Said while cougihng…. “buuullllshitttt”
Miami is a lot closer for playoff contention that St Louis is.. Coach for a proud Franchise with Tradition and rabid fans and local media (if you play good) Check their OL out, which is young and has some very good players in Long,Pouncey,V Carey, J Jerry..They have good WR’s & RB’s, have a good Def Front 7 but need a top-Notch QB and some Secondary help with another pass-rusher DE.. get 3-4 pieces and the Dolphins can compete for a playoff spot (even if it’s a Wildcard spot) for the Jets are going downhill fast
I do think the Chargers will talk to Eagles OC Marty and Giants OC Kevin GIlbride about their HC position after they Fire Norv Turner..
paulman: Rams have a franchise QB who is still extremely young, a top 3 draft pick, and the most cap of any NFL team in 2013. What coach wouldn’t want that.
Anybody that needs a new HC obviously doesnt have a good team so what makes people think that Gruden wouldnt go to the Rams ? If Gruden gets back into it hes gonna go to a place where he has some say, as far as Spags coming here? Paulman this isnt a game, Spags wasnt the kind of head coach that will make the Rams not pay him so he cant coach or recieve compensation, they buy him out and he moves on, as of right now i dont see anybody picking him up as a head coach, if i were the Eagles i would pick him up the same day they fire him cause if they dont the Giants certainly will.
The Eagles should bring him back. Then let him draft the defensive players he wants. The Rams lack talent and maybe Spag walks.
Regardless we wont win a super bowl with reid.
Why would Spags walk Atra… he will get fired, it’s not up to him ????
Whay would he want to go from a HC back to a Coordinator.. because the Eagles fans want him too.. You guys crack me up…
Ed the Fed,
Bradford took major steps back from his good Rookie Season and is basically starting over, they have weak WR’s, No TE and Bust at LR in Simth who was a top pick 3 Drafts ago, an aging, disgruntled RB in S Jackson.. a good front 7 Defensively but a suspect Secondary
When looking at opportunities between the Dolhins and Rams,
The Dolphins play in the AFC EAst which received a lot more National Attention than the NFC West whose most teams play in the Pacific Time zone and many don’t follow or see many of their games..
I also think AFC West with 49ers,Seahawks,Cardinals as a group are going to be more competitive teams over the the next 5-8 Years than the AFC East is.. The Jets are going down and overrated (the AFC Version of the Eagles) the Bills have a ton of needs and the Patriots are not going to be on top for too much longer as Brady gets older,injured or retires in a few Season.. Taking the Dolphin Job is a much quicker path to success (as long as they fix the QB position) than the Rams job..
speculation is worthless. We’ll all know what happens when it happens. Did anyone else realize that this ‘report’ is essentially several members of the media (fiending for a lead) amplifying a brash prediction by another reporter. It’s like a bunch of pigeons sprinting to a pile of scraps and gorging themselves, only to realize that there was never any food there.
I’m fairly confident that we will all find out about all the coaching moves long before the season starts – read ‘when it starts to matter at all’.
Look, if you enjoy speculating (paulman?), then suit yourself. I just seems silly to me “ooh, a straw I can grasp at”…….
Paulman- this is one of those things that you say over and over and over and get proved wrong later.
Spags will be bought out but even if he is not………
1) Look how fast stock on coaches goes up and goes down. Marty was a person EVERYTEAM was rumored to be looking at last year. Havent heard his name even peeped this year.
2) Spags is not going to get a HC job in 2 years. He NEEDS to get back in the game. LOTSSSS of possible DC jobs on good teams this year. Just imagine how hot his stock would be if he came here (this team is LOADED on D with talent) and turned them into something special. HC jobs would come back real quick.
…ok… now…. you are going to tell me about how coaches are linked and all the other deals are over after this year for all the other coches……. but lets just map it out……
lets say…
spags does well in philly. The birds get to the playoffs and lose to GB in the 1st round of next years playoffs….. Vick threw a pass to Avant and it bounced off his chest and into the D’s hands, the Pack scores and we get booted out.
If im Jeff L and i dont want to bring reid back….. whom might i turn to?
Pman- i dont think its gunna happen…. BUT… the birds to pay HUGE money to their coaches…. even Assistant coaches…. and Spags is exactly who we need.
Spags and Washburn are like Oil and Vinegar
Spags like to blitz, give multiple looks, drop back zone coverage schemes
Washburn liks Wide-9 with very little blitzing and turn the DL loose after the QB..
Is Spags going to stop doing what he has made succesful as a DC for Washburn is not going to change his scheme.. These Coaches don’t mix well
As far as Spags getting fired , I believe he will, then he will also receive a buyout (basically meaning he will get paid not to coach in 2012) ..
I think Spags sits out next Season while collecting a nice paychek from the Rams and then interviews for the Eagles HC positon after the 2012 Season… Why would he come in for a 1 year lame-duck HC and work with a Defense Line Coach who has an entirely different scheme then his own.. Just to help Coach AR out…Put that in your pipe and smoke it..
If true, most of us said Castillo would be made the scapegoat. I love Spags, but the same problems will still exist here. Reid & Roseman. As long as those 2 @$$clowns are making personnel decisions, we will not change for the better. Like I said, many times before, although Castillo was horrid, he didn’t hire himself.
pman- you have a good point. ive wondered this myself BUT……. heres what ive been thinking about this….
1) Spags is a JJ pupil.
2) JJ wanted DE’s to rush- he wanted to get pressure up front.
3) Andy and co. gave him trash most of the time on the otherside of our lone DE stud.
4. The one time we actually had some pass rush from DE’s (the burgess year), i believe they sent slightly less blitzers.
5. In NY spags did blitz but he also got LOTSSSSSS of pressure from the front 4. that can happen here
so…. i actually think it would work just fine. although…. i think we see Juan as the guy again. PLEASE JEFF>>>>>> DO SOMETHING!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Paulman you’ve been talking about AR’s lame duck status for 3 years now. I don’t know if Spags is coming here or not but if he does it will be for the same reason everyone else does, money. All you talk about is AR being a lame duck coach and losing his power, if any of that is true then how the hell would he be able to keep his job after this year? Like I said last year and the year before, he’s not going anywhere until he decides he wants to. If you say it enough though eventually you’ll be right.
DCAR- no scapegoats this time. Andy put him there… andy falls on the sword. He’s loyal to his guys. Look at how Sean left…. he was first locked up in Carolina. Juan stays on. Perhaps as Assistant to the Head coach or something. btw…. anyone else worry a little if they move him to LB coach? i dont want Juan anywhere near the new LB’s we bring in. If your the DC(with a LB history).. and you were ok with what we had at LB……. clearly you are not good at your job.
yes clueless….. you are right. Pman said that Andy had no power anymore. And then…… Andy hired the waterboy to run the D.
im not kidding about this- if spags does get cut loose…. we should stank outside the nova or stadium and organize a march or something. we can NOT go into next year with Juan.
exactly stevo, AR is not just the coach he is part of the Eagles group. Reid, Roseman, Banner and Lurie. I don’t know how you can see it any other way. They look at this guy as the reason for there finacial success and they love him. How else can you explain it, seriously?
Coach AR and his Staff are returning in 2012 because the Staff is all under Contract thru 2012 and Coach AR is signed thru 2013
yea thats why
Gruden at Miami playing for Parcells?? You’re kidding!
Also don’t see Juan getting fired if Spags does come… they’ll let Lynn go and maybe demote Castillo.
Pman: there’s nothing saying Spags wouldn’t require as part of a lower settlement to be able to coach D anywhere…. Anything is negotiable and being young, why would he even agree to sit around doing nothing for a year.
The best solution though is to still get rid of Reid and FO that can’t draft an impact #1 player to start right away. Important D positions must be filled along with a big WR if DJax is gone.
At any rate, don’t believe these “news leaks” until they happen.
iggles – I don’t buy the gruden to Miami prediction – because it’s just a prediction and therefore weak – but FYI – parcells is no longer in Miami…
To Stevo, I never stated that AR has lost all his power, I stated that Banner pulled many of the Player Personnel issues from him like the Draft,Scouting and Free-Agency and has given it to GM Roseman and let Coach AR focus more on the Coaching Staff, Game plans and and Player & Coach Development
Does anyone really think that AR was inovled in courting CB Asmo to come to the Eagles.. I think he was just as surprised as many of us were just as GM Rosman seemed to be when they announced they got him.. Then the next part was what to do with him which was almost comical once they got him which seemed like no one (Roseman & AR and Coaches) gave it much thought beforehand and therefore never really had a solid gameplan on best how to utilize one of the best CB’s in the NFL, which made no sense at all…
GM Roseman was shooting from the hip like he has shown in the last 2 Drafts so yes, I do believe that Coach AR has has to yield authority to GM Roseman in these areas
Bill Cowher to Miami is what my sources are telling me…
The foundation is already in place along the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball which can easily convert to the style that Cowher likes to run
To paulman- BOGUS!!!!! dont even try it. you talked about “sourses” telling you that Andy had ‘NO SAY” in the Mcnabb trade and that he would have “NO SAY” in the next DC. just stop… please. Be like rex ryan and stick to your word.
Oh please paul, your sources haven’t been telling you anything in the past few days because they’ve been too busy helping out their fellow imaginary friend, Santa Claus with his seasonal duties.
Stevo – it’s unfair to ask Paulman to stick to his word. He has far too many words to stick to for that to be posible.
Paulman- Yes… i actually do think he was a part of it. I think before the off season got rolling… the birds brain farts locked themselves in the Nova and graded every single player in FA and what they were willing to give for them. I think they wanted NNamdi and agreed to persue him at “the right proce”. i think they were surprised that he was willing to come here for less (thats assuming they didnt tamper like every other flipping franchise).
Pman- dont make it sound like you were saying that power was slightly shifted to help andy coach. You were clearly saying tat Andy was removed from power in some areas. And i was clearly telling you that if that happened Andy would just walk and be the head guru GM Lord somewhere else.
that being said….. i PRAY they bring in a true GM this year, I know it wont happen BUT… its LONGGGGG past time. Because of the way we are right now…. i actually think they should keep reid on for this year (i know…. goes against all ive said for YEARS)…. but….. i still tink we have a shot with most of what we have right now.
1) GM
2) a real live NFL D.C.
3)MLB with anger issues
4) A TRUE FS- let the other 6 fight it out for the S.S. role.
what we need is some fresh blood and some basic football camps. learn to tackle… learn to catch…. learn to not put 6’10 guards in front of our tiny qb’s fav throwing lane.
My 2012 Eagles Wish List:
1) DEMOTE Castillo back to Offensive Line Coach or Def. Assistant (so he can learn)
2) Hire Spags
3) Sign Dwayne Bowe
4) Sign Laron Landry
5) Draft Vontaze Burfect
Can I cross my top two off by this time next week?
This is just someone trying to create a story and the story has no credibility. First, the Eagles FO and AR will point to the fact that they will finish top ten in the league in defense and lead the league in sacks. Why on earth would you fire your DC given those numbers. Well we can all see that those numbers are a mirage but thats what they will tell themselves. Second, they will want to avoid more changes after what happened this year and maintaining the status quo is a safer route.
Yes Spaggs is a JJ clone and that is appealing for a story. But, it is highly unlikely that they make that move. Someone is trying to generate a story but this will be a largely uneventful off-season.
The biggest story after everyone realizes that none of the coaches are getting replaced will be whether or not they opt to re-sign Jackson. I am thinking that is about 30/70 right now. If it is getting done, it will get done before FA starts so it gives us something to talk about non-stop and debate for the next two months of waiting for FA to start. I would wager heavily that FA aside from the Jackson intrigue will be highly uneventful and disappointing for anyone looking for big moves. There are no FA LBs or safeties out there that will thrill us. So what to look for in FA? If they let Jackson go, will they sign a veteran WR? Again nothing big. Meachem would be a nice fit and attainable. No way Dwayne Bowe or Colston hits the market. Mike Wallace is restricted. Or they may sign no one. Next story will be that they extend Shady and Maclin to avoid the mess they created this year. That will be their feel good FA story. Third would be who they sign as back up QB. Will it be McNabb? That will be a story between now and the middle of March. I’m betting on Derek Anderson or possibly Brady Quinn. But there will be NO SIGNIFICANT FA defensive signings. Mark my words on that. They will also trump up re-signing Mathis to maintain on the O line. Good idea, but…..Yawn. No shiny new toys here folks except possibly a decent replacement for the departed Jackson.
I call “bullsh-t” on this article….. a bunch of hearsay…..
Spags is an excellent coach who inherited a garbage team and injuries killed him this season…. he deserves another year and if the Rams fire him, he will certainly get head coaching opportunities…..I wouldnt mind him coming to be the Def-coordinator for the Birds with the intent to replace Reid after 2012…..BUT its never going to happen…
I see Gruden getting the Chargers gig as he loves the San Diego area……Reid and his entire staff need to be replaced NOW.
@Paulman – why would Spags sit out??? that’s dumb! he gets paid for his contract regardless…..DUH! That would only hurt his chances of landing another gig.
jbird-
i hear ya BUT…. watching Jeff in the box during the pats game left a mark on me. I disagree with many on here that he is ALL about the bottom line. Yes.. yes.,.. bizz first BUT…. a change at DC is still very very possible.
jbird- i dont think spags is coming here. About the Fs’s and LB’s tho- there are good football players on other teams that are better than the crap we have at LB. we have Draft picks to trade and i really dont understand where the eagles are going to put all the new faces when they have a butt load of new faces from the last 2 years that havent seen time on the field.
The draft of course is always intiguing and always disappointing. I would place odds at 50/50 on taking a MLB in the first round. WR (if Jackson walks) or DT (given Patterson and Jenkins age and Laws leaving) would seem just as likely and more in line with what they like to do. I don’t know why anyone would expect Reid to change his stripes now. He is obviously still very secure here. Besides Burfect is the only stud and he has character issues. Anyone else would be reaching and drafting for position over best value and the Eagles don’t do that. The Eagles will also not draft a safety in the first round. They spent two second round picks on safeties and AR is going to make them work no matter whether they can play or not. They will bring in a veteran FA you never heard of and thats it aside from a fifth round gamble pick at the position. They will draft largely on the defensive side of the ball and will have more misses than hits because they can’t evaluate defensive talent so its like throwing darts in dark room. If they find someone it will be dumb luck. They may draft a QB surprisingly high to be Vick’s successor. Think Kevin Kolb Mark II. Or worse. RG3 if he slides to the second round.
Vontaze or Kuechly in the draft. Dwayne Bowe and Laron Landry in free agency. GIVE IT TO ME!!
Stevo…just remember who you are talking about here. AR will commit to his high picks so there is no way he spends money on a safety. Allen has the knee excuse and Jarrett the OTA excuse. Both poor excuses but that will be the excuses. NO safeties in FA. Also Stevo, give me some names for FA LBs that the Eagles could go after. I don’t see anything out there.
i hate that we are doing this again. Begging for DC’s and FA’s all over again. ugh…. kill me.
Birdo…..there’s a better chance that you get the DC position this off-season than getting either of those guys. Talk about stuff that could happen rather than fantasy. Those ideas are a waste of time.
jbird- im banking on Reid perhaps losing some control. notice i didnt say that “sources” confirmed this or anything.Im hoping that Jeff isnt buying this… young team…. no ota’s…… new DC crap. I think there will be some struggles in the F.O. this off season and perhaps Andy steps down if he doesnt get his way. Again…… no confirmation on this from pauls pooolboy or anything, just guessing and hoping a little. i just dropped $300 on watching this crap play through sunday ticket….. you can give me this hope cant you jbird?
jbrid and stevo – while you’re ‘doing this again’ – remember that generally, everyone’s predictions are wrong. Last year, nobody knew what they were going to do – from DC to all the free agents and draft picks – everything was a surprise. Nobody predicted the Kolb thing way back, same goes for Donny trade, Vick….etc…etc…etc…
So history, and even the most recent history tells us we have no friggin idea…. so why pretend we do?
I can’t help it if some of my sources are addicted to Egg-Nog and Opiates around the Holiday Season…
I think I should be GM or at least assist GM Roseman in the Draft and Free-Agency Process.. I could build a Championship Roster in 2 years time
and I also think that President Banner is calling more shots and has taken some authority away from Coach AR over the last 2-3 off-seasons and transferred to his lap-dog GM Howie Roseman and I stand by this statement.
which is why an expereinced HC would never take the EAgles HC position for they way this Front Office is Set-up and having to deal with an AMatuer like Roseman.. Can anyone see a Cowher, Gruden, even Jeff Fisher deferring football descions to Howie Roseman… C’mon Guys.. this is getting comical
Stevo…whats worse is there will be nothing to get excited about between now and next September. There will items of interest as always. But there will be no NEW players here to get fired up about via either FA or the draft. It will be boring and disappointing on both fronts. We are in limbo for another year.
But I feel 99.9% certain that next year is Andy’s very last chance. He must A) make the playoffs and B) win his first playoff game in four years. If not, he will absolutely be fired. And it will happen less gently than it would have this year because there will be more disgust and frustration from the FO. No getting kicked upstairs. No letting down gently. Just, “look its time for change so we are going to let you go in as dignified a way as we can. But we’re done with you.”
jbird — I will talk about and fantasize about what I see fit and about who I want.
Back in 04 I dreamed about T.O., even after he was traded to Baltimore for some reason I still had hope…..it happened.
This past year I dreamed of Nnamdi, I was at a lost for words when we traded for DRC and the Cowboys appeared the front-runner for him……it happened.
This year I will dream for Vontaze, Bowe, and Landry. Two out of three will suffice…..I’ll even live with 1 of the 3.
This is all smoke blowing and crap