 Bengals DC Paul Guenther (above) and Panthers DC Sean McDermott (below) have links to "Philly."  |  Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Doug Pederson says "just hold on a sec there" since he has his own connection here with having played for the Eagles as a quarterback and served as an assistant coach, all during Andy Reid's tenure in town as head coach. |
SAY WHAT?? Eagles fanspeak likely will have Tom Coughlin wondering what the heck his name is if he became coach. In keeping with a long-standing tradition of Philly mispronunciations and assorted verbal malaprops, highlighted/lowlighted by the likes of former Eagles Ty Detmer (Detner, Detwiler), Charlie Garner (Gardner), Barry Gardner (Garner) and Donavan (Dunnevin) McNabb (MACnabb), we present the following most likely head-coaching candidates due to their name-confusion possibilities: IN THE RUNNING - Tom Coughlin (Coglin or Coffin). Given. Very few, even among the descendants of Ireland, the country from which this name originates, seem to grasp that the first syllable is pronounced exactly the same way as the word that represents an annoying act that accompanies many colds, allergies or flus. Cough, people. It’s Cough-lin. Not Cog-lin. Those that do, then, are in danger of putting the old guy in the grave. - Doug Pederson (PEDersen). Honestly, can’t really bust too much chops here, and, really, the only reason it ranks so high on this list is because he’s the guy who will probably end up with the job. Don’t be surprised if the name somehow switches to something like Peters or Piedmont with the masses, though. - Paul Guenther (Gunt-er or Gun-ter or Gunner). Am partial to Gunner myself. Probably go with Pete as first name then, too. - Sean McDermott (MACdermott). Wouldn't be surprised if this slipped into something like Steve McDonald, or Sam McNabb. - Ben McAdoo (McDougal). No doubt, and also, switching sports, this is too easy: Bob McAdoo. OUT OF THE RUNNING - Hue (You) Jackson. In Philly (and NYC), any “H” to start a name is silent, so this would be a natural. But knowing the state of confusion many operate in here, the mind boggles at how humorous it would be to have Hugh (pronounced “You,” of course) Jackman bailing on his acting career to direct the Birds, metaphorically speaking. - Adam Gase (Gassy). Massey would be fair game then, or, those who tend to correctly rhyme stuff, Vase or Mace or Trace, would work. - Sean Payton (Clayton). A given, unless the more “creative” sorts out there opted for Creighton or even Paxton. |  It’s always been an issue. A silly, stupid trait that clings to the sports-following populous in Philly like a cancerous lesion forever attached to the brain, often affecting its ability to think rationally and clearly and without prejudice. See, when it comes to our teams, we choose local over logic every time. Provincialism is valued over professionalism. Like, the only way a “connection” can be made is if a connection already existed. It’s beyond bizarre here. Granted, most communities prefer to mingle with one of their own, or someone they have deemed as one of their own. Go anywhere in the country, heck, anywhere in the world, and you’ll find that to be the case. But here it just seems to go to another level, where someone isn’t deemed worthy of us if they are not one of us, or we aren’t worthy of them if we’re not like them. Pick a position on the self-loathing/self-promoting spectrum. Just make sure it is extreme. In the case of the Eagles coaching search, it has been, as expected, comical. From the very friggin’ start. Regardless of qualifications, legit or not, the true measuring stick for fans, media and, sadly, the guys calling the shots in the Eagles’ front office seem most concerned with whatever link, no matter how weak it may be, a guy may have with the city. Did you know …
Sorry, but that “info” is as meaningless as initial target Adam Gase’s family having a shore house in Ocean City or current brainstrust fave Doug Pederson’s ill-fated tenure as pre-Donovan McNabb guinea pig with directing the Eagles’ offense in Andy Reid’s first year. Obviously, the bigger thing is what these guys have done as coaches, and, if anything, with whom they coached or coached under. But you’d hardly know that by what you “hear” around town, in person, through print or broadcasted word. Owner Jeffrey Lurie and Co. seem overly, if not overtly, concerned with harkening back to the Reid era, which is why Pederson appears to have jumped to the front of the pack with Gase opting for sunnier skies and a better situation – Miami’s Ryan Tannehill has his detractors, but he’s a far better option at quarterback than Sam Bradford moving forward and, at this point, Howie Roseman is not employed by the Dolphins. Pederson, currently, is tied to the hip of Reid as Kansas City’s offensive coordinator. Reid likes him, always has. Lurie adores Reid, always has. The bond is strong, as is the transitional one afforded Pederson because of that. As if he can turn back the clock, and not only repeat the past that occurred for the Eagles during one 14-year stretch, but improve upon it. Which is just silly. Kinda like suggesting La Salle High, Ursinus College and Kennett Square as providing a real feel for Philly. - Jack Kerwin | ydkjack1@gmail.com |
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