Steve Spagnuolo Explains Why He Chose New Orleans (Not Really)

by JasonB on Feb 14, 2012 12:00 PM EST in Philadelphia Eagles News

There has been a lot of speculation as to why Steve Spagnuolo chose the New Orleans job over Philadelphia. Anthony Gargano went straight to the source and got an exclusive with Spags in a special piece for SportsWeek. Unfortunately, Spags was about as forthcoming as you'd expect.

"I don't know how to say it," he says. "It wasn't picking one team over the other. I was blessed to have a few opportunities. When it was all said and done, coming to New Orleans seemed like the right thing to do. I didn't make a ledger and compare head coaches and quarterbacks. I just felt like for my wife, Maria, and I, at this moment in time, New Orleans felt like the right thing to do."

Spags told Gargano that he "anguished" over the decision.

"I anguished over the decision," Spags says. "I love it there. It's as much my home as anywhere I've been. I have strong ties to that organization. The relationships I have there with Andy, Jeffrey Lurie, Joe Banner, the city. They run deep. I spent 8 years with that team. It was a very hard decision. I had to remove the emotional part of that attachment to make the decision, and let me tell you that was tough to do."

I gotta say, this sounds very much like someone turning down a marriage proposal or something. "It's not you it's me!"

Check out the full piece here.

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hahaha

“It’s not you it’s me!”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U8TnhNxKNlU

Formerly BWestFactor
FLY #7 FLY !

by ShadyMcVickFactor on Feb 14, 2012 12:05 PM EST reply actions

considering

He might get the head coach boys once AR is gone, I think it’s good to be diplomatic about it. However, comparing situations is exactly what he did and no one can blame the guy, it’s what he should do.

by Eaglessfan on Feb 14, 2012 12:07 PM EST via mobile reply actions

nod* not boys.

by Eaglessfan on Feb 14, 2012 12:08 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

really? theres speculation?

Brees > Vick

Peyton > Reid

Playoff team > non-playoff team

Saints offense > Philly offense

Total defensive control > Sharing

Dome > Field

N.O. food > Philly food

Louisana in december > Philly in december

The only two things Philly had going for it was history and established defensive talent.

This was a no brainer.

I would like to thank my hands for being so great, for allowing me to type this post.

by corn on the kolb on Feb 14, 2012 12:30 PM EST via mobile reply actions

You forgot the part where they draft better and as a result have depth at skill positions like nobody else in the league:

We may have McCoy but they have Ingram, sproles, and Ivory

We have jackson and macklin , they have colston, Henderson, mechem and Moore . And sproles too

by Saidrick on Feb 14, 2012 12:42 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

Hold the fucking phone

Philly food is phenominal.

Also, Dome isn’t > Field. Many dome teams struggle when they go on the road, because they’re so used to the dome. Exhibit A: The Saints.

Playoff team > non-playoff team is a dumb comparison since that’s just last year. We are a perennial playoff contender.

Peyton isn’t > than Reid. The saints offense isn’t that much better than ours. And I feel like Vick could give Brees a run for his money if he played like he did the year before last. Although Brees is a fucking beast…

…

Seriously, are you even an Eagle’s fan?

by smeagle on Feb 14, 2012 1:37 PM EST up reply actions

Philly as a town has a more varied and better restaurant scene than New Orleans. I will agree though that the Cajun cuisine is far superior to what I would consider Philly food (e.g., scrapple, cheesesteaks, hoagies, soft pretzels)

by MG77 on Feb 14, 2012 2:16 PM EST up reply actions

I’d consider Italian food more representative of “Philly cuisine” than those other things.

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by JasonB on Feb 14, 2012 3:27 PM EST up reply actions

Nah

There are actually a ton of Italian places too in New Orleans which had a heavy Italian population/influence especially in the early 20th century. Pretty much every big city in the NE and Midwest had a notable number of Italian residents at one point or another because of the sheer number of Italians who immigrated starting in 1890s through 1920s primarily.

by MG77 on Feb 14, 2012 5:21 PM EST up reply actions

But

N.O. Natives >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Philly Natives

JPP + Cruz + Nicks + Eli

Yea, I'm excited about the next 10 years.

by baadfish on Feb 14, 2012 6:17 PM EST up reply actions

Yes, italian food has become a mainstay everywhere. Rightfully so, its my favorite.

Most major cities have a blend of everything, and N.O, is no differnt. I had the pleasure of visiting pre-katrina and enjoyed my time there. I think what sets cities apart is what they culturally carry that’s unique. Sorry, N.O. has more culture than Philly.

And yes, to answer the schmuck above, not only am I an Eagles fan, I’m an unbiassed one. The N.O. gig was, is, and for the foreseeable future, will be. Anyone who passed N.O, for here, i’d just assume the money differnce was signifigant. That’s all it could be.

I would like to thank my hands for being so great, for allowing me to type this post.

by corn on the kolb on Feb 14, 2012 10:07 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

Peyton >>>>> reid.

The bad news? Castillo's back.

The good news? With the 7-9 season coming up and all the Eagles games being played at 1:00 (and in the bag for the opponent by 2:30 at the latest), we'll all have plenty of time to rake the leaves and whack off. Stock up on your Astro Glide, ladies!

by EvilBanner on Feb 14, 2012 9:38 PM EST up reply actions

I hate it that we agree on something, but we do. I think mine is more of an appreciation for Peyton, though.

I would like to thank my hands for being so great, for allowing me to type this post.

by corn on the kolb on Feb 14, 2012 10:02 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

I’m not sure what the Eagles offered him but indications were it wasn’t DC. Besides that there are other reasons to pick the Saints job.

Head coach is not on the hot seat.
Team is more Super Bowl ready.
Less talent on defense = bigger challenge = bigger reward if you succeed.
Less familiarity with the coaches, organization. Variety is good. Fresh, new, start.

I’m not sure why he even needs to explain himself.

Go Eagles!

by MRPH on Feb 14, 2012 12:50 PM EST reply actions

c'mon

He was definetly offered the DC spot in Philly. But this is a no-brainer. Saints are the better team. Period. Their offense is prolific; ours is still trying to find itself. Spags wants another ring and he figured that the Saints are closer to that goal than the Eagles. And he’s right.

Crush them, my Birds!!! CRUSH THEM!!!!!!!!!

by EagleDomiNation on Feb 14, 2012 2:34 PM EST reply actions