Philadelphia's Reputation as a Potential Turn-Off for Offensive Coordinators
The city of brotherly love has a reputation for being one of the toughest places to coach or play in the sports world. While this may not be a bad thing for die-hard fans who demand excellence from their teams, it can be a turn-off for top-tier talent looking to join the Eagles organization.
According to former NFL offensive lineman Ross Tucker, some coaches are hesitant to take on the role of offensive coordinator with Philadelphia due to concerns about the city's reputation. Tucker points to examples such as Kevin Patullo, who was forced out of his job last season after a particularly brutal loss to the Bears.
"The way Patullo was treated last year... it's not a positive," Tucker said. "They know what the environment is like here. It's not a positive." This sentiment was echoed by Eagles fullback John Ritchie, who noted that being part of this fan base can be "hard to please."
But while Philadelphia's reputation may deter some candidates, it also seems to have an impact on the team's ability to attract top talent in the first place. Take Bryce Harper, for example - the superstar outfielder signed a 13-year contract with the Phillies despite being from California and having access to a more laid-back fan base.
This brings up an interesting point: does Philadelphia's reputation as a difficult city to coach or play in really hurt the local teams' ability to attract top-tier talent? The answer seems to be yes - at least, according to Tucker, who cites examples such as Eric Lindros and Scott Rolen, both of whom demanded trades out of Philadelphia.
Tucker also notes that when coaches do come in from other organizations, they seem to have a good track record. "Their philosophy of casting a wide net and being patient seems to be the right one," he said.
One potential solution could be for the Eagles to take steps to make their coaching job more attractive to top candidates. This might involve emphasizing the team's commitment to supporting its coaches, or highlighting the benefits of working with an organization that has a history of developing young talent.
For now, though, it seems that Philadelphia's reputation as a difficult place to coach remains a hurdle for many aspiring OCs - at least until the Eagles can figure out how to turn their reputation on its head.
The city of brotherly love has a reputation for being one of the toughest places to coach or play in the sports world. While this may not be a bad thing for die-hard fans who demand excellence from their teams, it can be a turn-off for top-tier talent looking to join the Eagles organization.
According to former NFL offensive lineman Ross Tucker, some coaches are hesitant to take on the role of offensive coordinator with Philadelphia due to concerns about the city's reputation. Tucker points to examples such as Kevin Patullo, who was forced out of his job last season after a particularly brutal loss to the Bears.
"The way Patullo was treated last year... it's not a positive," Tucker said. "They know what the environment is like here. It's not a positive." This sentiment was echoed by Eagles fullback John Ritchie, who noted that being part of this fan base can be "hard to please."
But while Philadelphia's reputation may deter some candidates, it also seems to have an impact on the team's ability to attract top talent in the first place. Take Bryce Harper, for example - the superstar outfielder signed a 13-year contract with the Phillies despite being from California and having access to a more laid-back fan base.
This brings up an interesting point: does Philadelphia's reputation as a difficult city to coach or play in really hurt the local teams' ability to attract top-tier talent? The answer seems to be yes - at least, according to Tucker, who cites examples such as Eric Lindros and Scott Rolen, both of whom demanded trades out of Philadelphia.
Tucker also notes that when coaches do come in from other organizations, they seem to have a good track record. "Their philosophy of casting a wide net and being patient seems to be the right one," he said.
One potential solution could be for the Eagles to take steps to make their coaching job more attractive to top candidates. This might involve emphasizing the team's commitment to supporting its coaches, or highlighting the benefits of working with an organization that has a history of developing young talent.
For now, though, it seems that Philadelphia's reputation as a difficult place to coach remains a hurdle for many aspiring OCs - at least until the Eagles can figure out how to turn their reputation on its head.