Steve Spagnuolo Likes Andy Reid After All

Earlier this week, when that "report" about the Rams likely firing Steve Spagnuolo and the Eagles hiring him as their defensive coordinator came out, Giants beat writer Mike Garafolo dug up a quote from a 2008 story that suggested Spags left Philly on bad terms. He highlighted an anonymous source quoted in the story who said that the coach was upset during his last year in Philly because Reid had blocked him from interviewing for Vikings defensive coordinator job (because Reid thought Jim Johnson might leave).

Not to be outdone, Ruben Frank dug up a quote from Spagnuolo himself from last year's combine where Spags was asked about the number of Reid assistants who are now head coaches in the NFL.

"That's a reflection of Andy. The way he does things, I'm going to say the way he grooms people. He always allowed all of us to be the coaches and teachers that we he felt we were when he hired us. He was always willing freely to give information, to share information, to speak about football. I was with Andy last night and I know and I'm sure John (Harbaugh) and Ron (Rivera) would say the exact same thing -- that we owe a debt of gratitude to Andy for how he kind of developed us for where we are right now."

He concluded saying "I know I have a great deal of respect for him."

Now of course, we don't know whether the original story about Spagnuolo being fired and the Eagles being "all but certain" to hire him is actually true... but if he is fired and the Eagles do want him, there certainly seems to be no reason why he wouldn't want to come back.