The Philadelphia Eagles no longer have Andy Reid to use as a scapegoat. However, the Eagles do have other figures besides Jeffrey Lurie that fans and pundits can kick around. One such figure is general manager Howie Roseman, who is taking a lot of heat for Philadelphia’s stalled head coaching search, according to CBS Sports’ Jason La Canfora.
The report claimed that several unnamed sources believe top Eagles candidates were warned not to take the job, because of Roseman’s “presence.” Because Lurie has staked a lot on him for the next several years, the likes of Chip Kelly and Jon Gruden may have backed off of Philadelphia because they couldn’t get more personnel control.
Kelly certainly wasn’t going to join the Eagles, because Roseman would keep him from having “a large measure of control” over the organization, according to La Canfora. If that is why popular choice Gruden isn’t showing interest in the Eagles as well, then fans and local media will have even more reason to turn against Roseman.
Philadelphia’s faithful are demanding a clear, absolute break from all things Andy Reid. Yet although Reid was fired, Roseman’s continued job security is seen as a sign of the Eagles’ complacency. Technically, Roseman is supposed to be the wave of the future at only 37 years old, but anyone with ties to Reid and these last two seasons in Philadelphia will not be popular.
If his position is really a reason why the Eagles don’t have a coach yet, then calls for his firing will begin shortly, if they haven’t already. That may be why rumors are spreading on Jan. 15 that Gus Bradley is coming in for a second interview, and may be there to finalize a contract, according to CBS Philly.
But because Bradley is not Gruden, and because his Seattle Seahawks gave up a sure fire comeback win on Jan. 13 because of Bradley’s defense, his hiring may not be fully embraced by the city. And with Reid gone and Lurie impossible to fire, Roseman would be the new public enemy No. 1 if all this waiting around was for nothing.
It seems that until Bradley or any other new coach makes the Eagles winners again, there will always be questions on whether firing Roseman could have given Philadelphia a much better leader.
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