Philadelphia Eagles Owner Jeffrey Lurie Can’t Be Trusted

The Philadelphia Eagles have a new head coach, the Philadelphia Eagles owner cannot be trusted, and Greg Lewis is back on the sideline. Let’s jump into this week’s Monday Morning Touchdown.

1) Jeffrey Lurie

It was a shocking moment, when during his press conference to introduce Doug Pederson has the next Philadelphia Eagles head coach, the owner of the Philadelphia Eagles admitted he started looking for Chip Kelly’s replacement well before he ultimately fired his third-year head coach. From the press conference:

"“In this process, we started with about 25 candidates that we completely researched, analyzed, vetted, however you want to describe it. And that research started during the season — at some point late in the season — and it gave us some time to — if we needed to go this direction — be fully prepared for the search process.”"

Later, when confronted with his own words by CSNPhilly’s Reuben Frank, Lurie backpedaled before ultimately confirming what he just said.

"“No. The research started. I’ve always been one to feel you have to have research started long before you ever make a final decision, because that research is the key. You’ve got to do the legwork or you’re going to be making it off of names. You’ve got to have, you know, so much detail of information, conversations planned, who you’re going to talk to about candidate No. 14; who are the connections that really know how that coach was when he was a coach or an assistant coach or whatever it was; who are the players that played for him; who are the general managers that he worked with; maybe potentially owners. So you’ve got to have it all planned out. We were ready to roll by the time a final decision was made on Chip… .”"

It was a stunning admission and one that, I would think, sent chills down Doug Pederson’s spine. Lurie – and, presumably, Howie Roseman – were putting files together on Chip Kelly’s potential replacements “if” they needed to fire him, well before they actually fired him.

You think that didn’t get around to Chip? To the players? Lurie never gave this season a chance to succeed.

And before you go defending him, imagine any other scenario where such actions would be accepted. Tell you what, how about you start putting files together on some people just in case you eventually decide to leave your spouse. I’m sure that’ll go over well.

So, to review: 1) Lurie begins the year by giving Chip Kelly full power over personnel, 2) Then sometime in the middle of the season gets together lists of people to replace Kelly, and 3) then pulls the plug on Kelly and crew before his first season of power even ended.

These aren’t the actions of an owner who is thinking straight, or acting in the best interests of his franchise.

Jeffrey Lurie might be the biggest threat to Philadelphia Eagles success.

2) Doug Pederson

Yeah, that was kind of a goofy press conference. In one breath, Pederson says he wants “Doug Pederson people” on his coaching staff, and in the next breath says this won’t be a “Doug Pederson team” but instead a “Philadelphia Eagles team.”

We really don’t care, Doug, so long as you win.

Overall, he seems like a quality guy and comes across as a genuine person. Does he have the fire to inspire people, the skill to lead men, the intelligence to game plan ways to beat guys like Cam Newton?

Only time will tell on that.

3) Greg Lewis

Back in the day, my wife and I used to love Greg Lewis. Why? Well, good old G-Lew always seemed to be hanging around near Andy Reid – like all of the time – almost begging to be put into the game. You could almost imagine him whispering to Big Red, or jumping into his field of vision every time Andy looked around.

Well, Lewis is back with the Eagles as the team’s wide receivers coach. This will be the guy working with Jordan Matthews, Nelson Agholor, Josh Huff, etc.

Good luck, Greg. Hopefully you can help these guys join a very exclusive list. After all, the only Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver to EVER catch a touchdown pass in a Super Bowl? Yup, Greg Lewis.

4) Jim Schwartz

I like the selection of Jim Schwartz as defensive coordinator, simply because having a guy who was a head coach in the NFL is, I think, a good thing to have with a guy who has only before coached high school football.

Schwartz has an impressive resume, but the thing I like most is that the last time he was a coordinator (2014) his defense led the NFL in sacks. He likes to attack, which is something that has been sorely missing from the Eagles defense for a long, long time.

5) Quarterback

Pederson was non-committal on quarterback, which makes sense because, even if he wants Sam Bradford back, you can’t go and say that with a guy you are trying to negotiate with.

There are a lot of possibilities out there. The Eagles could sign Bradford long term, or franchise him, or let him walk and draft what they hope is the quarterback of the future.

I prefer a hybrid approach. Franchise Bradford and draft a quarterback. I think before you offer a massive, multi-year contract, Bradford must show you he can stay healthy for a full season (something he did not do in 2015, or at any other time in his career).

Franchise Bradford, draft a quarterback and see where you are in a year. Quarterbacks are rare, limited resources in the NFL. If it turns out at the end of 2016 that Bradford is truly an elite quarterback, then sign him to a big deal and trade the guy you drafted for a good pick.  If Bradford can’t do the job, then you’re already a step ahead of replacing him.

6) Running back

Just as interesting will be watching what the Eagles do at running back. With DeMarco Murray and Ryan Mathews under contract, will there be a move here? Do you trade one of these guys to get back a mid-round draft pick and give yourself some flexibility to move up somewhere?

The Eagles have some needs to address in the draft. In my personal ranking: 1a) Offensive line, 1b) Quarterback, 1c) Outside linebacker, 1d) Corner, 5) Wide receiver. They have an abundance of running backs that, truly, they don’t need. I predict a move here to dump some salary and recoup a draft pick.

7) Free agency

A lot of guys on this list who I’d want in midnight green, but perhaps none more than Andre Smith, the right tackle from the Cincinnati Bengals. Sign a guy like that, move Lane Johnson to left tackle and say thank you and bid farewell to Jason Peters, who simply isn’t playing at a level worth his $9 million cap hit. This could be a big step toward rebuilding the offensive line sooner, rather than later.