As Much as Sirianni Denies It, Howie Roseman Picked The Coordinators

Last Friday, Dianna Russini of The Athletic reported on her podcast that the relationship between Nick Sirianni and Jalen Hurts is a “work in progress.” We have heard reports like this from the local media since the season ended.

This isn’t news to us. The most alarming part is that it is still being worked on and training camp begins this week. Personally, I wish this was squashed already. With all that being said, there was something else that Russini said that we have not talked about.  

Everybody has a belief that they feel strongly about but may not be able to back it up with clear evidence. While listening to the “Scoop City” Podcast with Dianna Russini and former Eagles quarterback Chase Daniel, Russini said something that confirmed what many of us believed. Nick Sirianni is still the Head Coach of the Philadelphia Eagles because he said “yes sir.”  

Russini said something we all know. Howie Roseman has his hands on everything when it comes to the Eagles. What she also said was something that Nick Sirianni has refuted multiple times (and yet I still don’t believe him). From the mouth of Sirianni, he picked Kellen Moore to be his Offensive Coordinator and Vic Fangio as his Defensive Coordinator. From the mouth of Dianna Russini, those were Howie Roseman hires. 

VINDICATION!!! Did anyone really think that Nick Sirianni had the plan to hire Moore and Fangio? Does anyone still believe that he decided to demote Sean Desai and promote Matt Patricia? This is a Howie Roseman production and always has been.

As much as I agree with most of what Roseman does, this also tells me that the optics of firing a Head Coach who made the playoffs in all three seasons of his tenure were too bad to make that move. So why is Sirianni still here? Because he said yes to two great coordinators. Should that be why someone should keep their job? For Howie Roseman and the optics, it may have been. 

Can I blame Sirianni? Absolutely not. I too would like to keep my job as the Head Coach of a team in the NFL. If agreeing to two top coordinators was what it took, sign me up. Just know, that if the season doesn’t start well, or if they fall short of expectations, we know who the first person will be out the door. This is not Nick Sirianni’s team. 

There have been a lot of players on the Philadelphia Eagles throughout the years. They have been around for over 90 years, and teams have 53 players, plus the practice squad. Not to mention guys who were here in training camp but got cut. Most of the names that have come and gone have been unremarkable. Others, like Brian Dawkins and Reggie White, are legendary players no one will soon forget. But some others are very well known, just not for the Eagles. And those are the names we are going to talk about here.

I am talking about the names if I threw them out, many people would ask "Wait, he played for the Eagles?" From guys who came here late in their careers but were washed up. To guys who started their careers here but got cut or traded before they could break out. These 10 players failed to make much of an impact here. Even if they went on to make an impact elsewhere.

I will get this name out of the way. Frank Gore did not make the list. I know every comment under the article will say Frank Gore. We all know and love the joke. But since he never actually was an Eagle, he doesn't qualify. Every guy on the list at the very least were in Eagles training camp. I also left off names like Nnamdi Asomugha and Demarco Murray. They were such big busts as free agents that even if they were not here very long, no Eagles fans have forgotten about their time here.

The guys who made the list range from two Hall of Fame Coaches, a couple of former Pro Bowl Linemen who sputtered out in Philly, and even a now-famous actor.

Tom Brady made so many dudes like Amendola into stars. Julian Edelman and Wes Welker also fit the bill. But do you remember Amendola’s cup of coffee with the Eagles? I was before Brady made people know his name. He caught passes in the preseason from Kevin Kolb, A.J. Feeley, Mike Vick, and here is a name for you, Adam DiMichele.

He was a star in New England, but it feels unlikely he would have been that here. At best he would have been what he was with the Rams, which is an okay slot WR.

For years Haloti Ngata was a stud NT for a great Ravens defense. He made 5 All-Star teams, 2 All-Pros, and won a Super Bowl. Then late in his career, he signed on with the Eagles who were coming off the Super Bowl win. It did not work out here. He played one season, barely made an impact, and retired afterward.

He is an All-Time Raven. Not quite Hall of Fame worthy, but is already in their Ring of Honor. But no one besides Eagles fans will ever remember his stint with the Eagles.

John Madden was mostly known as a Hall of Fame coach and broadcaster. But did you know he started his NFL career with the Eagles. They drafted him in the 21st round of the 1958 draft. But a injury in training camp ended his playing career before he ever played a regular season game.

He turned to coaching and now is one of the most legendary figures in NFL history. His name is synonymous with Football thanks to his legendary career, and the video game series being named after him. But it all started with him being drafted as an Eagle.

Another guy more known as a legendary coach. But unlike Madden, he also had a great playing career. He made 2 First team All-Pros, and 3 2nd teams, while winning a Super Bowl with the Cowboys. But he did not make much noise In Philly as a player.

After the Eagles traded a 4th round pick to the Bears for him, he had two of his worst statistical seasons. In both seasons another TE on the roster, first Jim Kelly and then Fred Hill, outperformed him. The Eagles traded him to Dallas for WR Dave McDaniels, who they later flipped for a 7th round pick, and Ditka’s unremarkable stint with the Eagles came to an end.

This one most people probably remember because of the mania that always followed Tebow. But even then his time here was so short an unremarkable some people may have forgotten about it. He spent a pre-season here trying to outduel Matt Barkley for the 3rd QB spot. He did not win the job, and was cut before the regular season.

This one is cheating a bit because no one thinks of Terry Crews as a football player. But he spent a ton of time on various teams, with just 3 tackles across 32 games. And his final spot was with the Eagles, but he never played in a game here. His time spent with the Eagles was bleak enough for him to call it a career, and eventually find far more success as an actor on shows like Everybody Hates Chris and Brooklyn 99.

After 9 seasons in the NFL, Mostert had his first 1000-yard season last year. But he started out with the Eagles. They signed him as an Undrafted free agent back in 2015. And that year, he was the Pre-Season standout. His 351 total yards led all players in yards from scrimmage. But alas, he did not make the final cut. Chip Kelly kept Demarco Murray, Darren Sproles, Ryan Matthews, and Kenjon Barner instead.

He landed on the Eagles practice squad. From there bounced around between several teams, but finally found a long-term home with the Niners, for whom he had several solid seasons. But he has played his best Football in the last 2 seasons with the Dolphins.

When talking about big-name corners who sucked for the Eagles during the “Dream team” era, most people talk about Nnamdi Asomugha. But DRC was a huge disappointment as well. The Eagles sent the Cardinals Kevin Kolb for DRC and an 2nd round pick. And he got here, and just did not live up to the hype.

He was far from the worst player on that “Dream Team.” But he did not play as well here as he did for th Cardinals. His 2nd season here, the last season for Andy Reid in Philly, went a bit better. But still, the Eagles thought they were getting a elite CB duo. Instead, the team imploded and brought an end to the Andy Reid era.

Wallace was supposed to be the Torrey Smith replacement coming off the Super Bowl. He had 1,800 combined yards the prior two seasons. At the time, it felt like the perfect fit. He never caught a ball for them. He suffered a fractured fibula in week 2. He never played for the Eagles, or anyone else, ever again.

And his absence could be felt the rest of the year. The sorely missed having a deep threat. Torrewy Smith may not have been the most productive player in 2017. But the threat of him alone was enough to open things up. And the 2018 Eagles just lacked that all season long.

Kerrigan was a force for Washington. Nearly 100 sacks in 10 seasons. No one expected that guy when he came to the Eagles. But we maybe expected more than 3 tackles in 16 games. Kerrigan was not just some guy on the end of the bench. He played a lot of snaps for the Eagles in 2021. But he had just 3 tackles and no sacks in the regular season.

He did manage 1.5 sacks in the playoffs. But he was a complete no show the rest of the season. There were thimes that seaosn i forgot he was on the team. So a fan forgetting he ever played here, would be enitrly understandable.