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Eagles News: Doug Pederson reportedly stood up for Frank Reich when management wanted to fire him after 2016

Philadelphia Eagles news and links for 1/13/21.

NFL: OCT 23 Vikings at Eagles Photo by Andy Lewis/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

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Odds on the 20 most likely Eagles head coach candidates ... and Doug Pederson’s landing spot - BGN
Brian Daboll is a serious contender to watch. I can see the Eagles really liking what he’s done with Josh Allen and talk themselves into him being able to “fix” Carson Wentz. When it comes to the issue of luring Daboll to Philly, well, he shares the same agent (Bob LaMonte) as Howie Roseman. So, that’s kind of relevant.

FROM THE SB NATION NFL SHOW: Amy Trask & BLG on the firing of Doug Pederson - BGN Radio
The SB Nation NFL Show brings together the greatest fan-alysts from across SB Nation’s NFL team communities in one place for the first time ever. Expect deep analysis, irreverent jokes, and plenty of bickering between rivals. It’s a show for NFL fans, by NFL fans.

Doug Pederson was Eagles’ latest scapegoat, but he won’t be the last - PhillyVoice
Doug Pederson deserved better. We all did. This is just another chapter in the book on subterfuge, masterfully crafted by Jeff Lurie and executed through Howie Roseman. The same one that could serve as a textbook for most universities. I am as disgusted as the next person at how – once again – ugly things turned with an employee’s termination. From “He’s in a gang!” to “He’s a moron unfit to coach!” the mud that’s thrown seems shot out of a catapult. Good teams don’t just fire a head coach who made the playoffs three straight years, including winning a Super Bowl. But someone had to take the fall for Roseman, and Schwartz was already out of here. Without an offensive coordinator, the only person left was Pederson. So, they trashed him in a deplorable way, the only way they know how.

The Dating Game - Iggles Blitz
Saleh is the defensive coordinator of the Niners. I love watching him during games. He is a fiery, emotional coach. That can work on defense and SF had a terrific defense each of the past two years. Saleh has developed playmakers at each level of his defense. SF invested heavily in the DL and built around that (like the Eagles), but also got outstanding play from the back seven (unlike the Eagles). Offense would be the question. SF has a couple of good young assistants that Saleh could choose from when looking for an OC. I love the Shanahan offensive system and having that as part of the package is one of the reasons I’m so interested in Saleh. The Niners had more injuries than any other NFL team this year. They battled all year and finished 6-10. I was impressed with how they fought through setback after setback. The defense finished fifth in yards allowed despite missing some key players. That says a lot about the coaching staff and culture.

The flaw in Jeffrey Lurie’s thinking on Eagles QBs Carson Wentz, Jalen Hurts - ESPN
That makes sense. But choosing a path where both QBs return does not fully account for the human side of this equation. That’s what got the Eagles in trouble in the first place. When the Eagles drafted Hurts in the second round of April’s draft, the move was guided by core philosophy and done with the belief Wentz and Hurts, both considered good teammates, could coexist. But when there’s two alpha males gunning for one spot, there is going to be friction. They’re going to be standoffish. And when one stumbles, as Wentz did, the other will rally to capture hearts and minds in the name of engineering wins. Next thing you know, allegiances are split, the relationship with the original starter becomes strained, and a quarterback controversy sets in.

Jeff Lurie says Eagles are rebuilding … or whatever you want to call it - NBCSP
Of course, this rebuilding … damn it, sorry … retooling phase brings up a ton of new questions. Because in case you haven’t noticed, the Eagles are exactly flush with young talent. Their best players are aging veterans who might not be on board for the long game. And then there’s Carson Wentz, who is 28 and should be entering his prime. Would the Eagles prefer to start over with a younger quarterback? Perhaps. By the way Lurie explained it, Pederson wasn’t on board for this new phase with the Eagles. Now, they’ll have to find a coach who is.

Looking at Jeffrey Lurie’s head coach hiring history - PE.com
Lurie didn’t divulge any secrets in particular when he met the media on Monday to detail the reasons for parting ways with Doug Pederson, but he did mention his interest in having a high-flying, dynamic offense. “I’d rather not specify (characteristics), but I can tell you no matter who we have, it needs to be a leader of coaches, a leader of players, and someone who represents the organization in a great leadership way. We had a lot of that with Doug. Leadership is an important characteristic,” Lurie said. “You brought up offense. I think there’s a couple ways to skin that cat. You can hire somebody really steeped in offense or you’ve seen great offenses coached by head coaches coming from the defensive side.

Sources: Eagles Contact Oklahoma Coach Lincoln Riley - Sports Illustrated
There are now seven vacancies. There are plenty of candidates and even plenty of “hot’’ candidates. (Is Oklahoma’s Riley ready to move?) And while the roster is bloated financially, a healthy Eagles team - without the QB drama involving Carson Wentz and the drafting of Hurts, the fault of all the bosses - might’ve very well been the class of the division. UPDATE: Two additional issues have come to light ... 1) Riley is aware of the power structure in Philly, where Roseman is the boss. He is also aware of the power structure in Carolina, where the former college coach Matt Rhule is the Panthers boss. A Riley move to the NFL would, ideally for him, follow the Rhule model.

Patriots inside linebackers coach Jerod Mayo to interview for Eagles’ vacant head coaching position - Pats Pulpit
While it seems increasingly likely that the New England Patriots’ most prominent assistant coach will stay put — long-time offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels — it appears as if another member of the team’s staff is generating some momentum on the coaching market: as first reported by Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer, Jerod Mayo is expected to interview for the Philadelphia Eagles’ vacant head coaching position. Despite coming off only his second year as an NFL assistant coach, Mayo has already developed into a hot commodity. A former first-round linebacker who spent eight seasons with the Patriots and won a Super Bowl along the way, he has coached New England’s inside linebackers for the last two seasons — serving as the top defensive assistant alongside outside linebackers coach Steve Belichick.

Saleh to interview with the Jets for a second time Tuesday - Niners Nation
The Eagles also requested to interview Saleh. To me, Philly is the worst job on the market. Carson Wentz’s contract isn’t good, and Jalen Hurts is a work in progress. There are many holes on that roster, and upper management doesn’t seem to have a good grasp at either drafting or to be on the same page as their coaches, as 2020 showed. This may be unpopular, but the Jets job is more appealing than the Eagles.

Eagles Fire Doug Pederson; Will He Become a Candidate for Jets Head Coach? - Gang Green Nation
I’m not saying Pederson needs to be the clear frontrunner for the job. He has his flaws, and his 2020 season was miserable. That said, there is a track record of success, and much of the dysfunction in Philadelphia seemed beyond his control. He also is taking a bizarre amount of criticism for pulling starters in a meaningless Week 17 game. A year ago I think most Jets fans would have been thrilled to have Pederson. How much does one bad year matter in the grand scheme of things? How seriously the Jets will consider Pederson seems to vary depending on the media member you speak with.

Colts Sign Former Eagles OT Casey Tucker to a Reserve/Future Contract - Stampede Blue
The Indianapolis Colts announced on Monday that the team has also signed offensive tackle Casey Tucker to a Reserve/Future contract to help begin the team’s early offseason. Tucker was one of three offensive lineman that the Colts previously tried out in early December with their depleted offensive tackle group because of injuries.

Former 49ers, Chargers linebacker Steve Hendrickson dies at 54 - PFT
Hendrickson appeared in 100 career games over seven seasons spent with the 49ers, Dallas Cowboys, San Diego Chargers, Houston Oilers and Philadelphia Eagles. He played both ways at times in the NFL, appearing at fullback in addition to his natural position of linebacker. He was a sixth round pick of the 49ers in 1989 out of the University of California-Berkeley.

Dan Quinn is exactly what the Cowboys need - Blogging The Boys
Ironically, Quinn’s hiring marks a rather large shift right back to the same overall philosophy Richard was running in 2018 and 2019. Both rose through the ranks in Seattle under Pete Carroll from position coaches to coordinators. Quinn was the defensive line coach in Carroll’s first year in Seattle before leaving to run the Florida Gators defense for two seasons. He returned to the Seahawks as their defensive coordinator when Gus Bradley was hired as the Jaguars head coach. When Quinn got hired by the Falcons two years later, it was Richard, then the defensive backs coach, who was promoted. But while Richard and Quinn both built their careers on their time with the Legion of Boom, they’re not exactly the same, and their defenses won’t be either. When Richard came to Dallas after being fired by the Seahawks, he attempted to replicate the Seahawks’ formula exactly. It didn’t quite work out. Quinn, on the other hand, has been more willing to change things as it fits his personnel.

ERFA, RFA and Washington’s quarterbacks - Hogs Haven
It’s possible, I guess, that Ron Rivera could choose to ride into the 2021 season relying on Allen, Heinicke, and Montez to man the QB spot at an overall cost of about $3.9m, but I don’t expect them to take that approach. Adding another quarterback can happen in three major ways: trade, veteran free agency, or the draft. Trade and vet free agency offer opportunities to sign either a high-dollar or low-dollar player (eg. trading for Alex Smith vs trading for Kyle Allen). In the draft, the cost is measured in draft capital expended.

5 things to take away from the National Championship Game - Big Blue View
DeVonta Smith is worth a top 5 pick. Look...this guy is good. He looks like he’s preparing for the SATs, but he plays like he’s ready to step right into the league and make an impact - which he will do. Smith won the Heisman Trophy in 2020, the first receiver to do so since Michigan’s Desmond Howard in 1991. 117 catches for 1856 yards and 23 touchdowns will earn you the Heisman Trophy, and that was his senior year production while playing a schedule that virtually featured only SEC defenses - that’s impressive.

“It Takes a Village”: The Lessons Behind Josh Allen’s Rapid Rise - The Ringer
Allen’s development in Buffalo has relied on good coaching, organizational support, and sound roster management. It also involved a dash of daring and a bit of belief, kind of like an off-balance Allen pass when it’s unleashed—you never know what might happen.

We spoke to Amy Trask on how to fix things with Deshaun Watson - SB Nation
The biggest story of the 2021 offseason may have already broken before it even begins. Deshaun Watson’s unhappiness with the Texans has fans in Houston puckering and fans everywhere else salivating over what could happen next. Surely new general manager Nick Caserio wants to try and put the genie back in the bottle, but how does he do that exactly? CBS Sports’ Analyst Amy Trask joined today’s SB Nation NFL Show with me and Brandon Lee Gowton to offer her thoughts on how to repair the relationship. [BLG Note: PLUS Stats and I talk all things Eagles after the Doug Pederson firing.]

Once you and your friends are vaccinated, can you quit social distancing? - Vox
Now that the vaccines are arriving, people are starting to dream. They say things like, “The second everyone in my family is vaccinated, we’re going on a big trip to Asia!” or “As soon as my five closest friends and I get the shot, I’m spending a weekend at a cabin with them. No masks, no social distancing.” While many of us are thinking about the Covid-19 pandemic in binary terms — there’s “life before I get the shot” and “life after I get the shot” — experts are cautioning us to think more gradually. Not everything will change the second that syringe enters your arm. “Realistically, it’s definitely not going to be an on/off switch on normal,” said Eleanor Murray, a Boston University epidemiologist.

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