Hello, it’s me
I was wondering if after all these years you’d like to meet
To go over everything
They say that time’s supposed to heal ya
But I ain’t done much healing

Hello, can you hear me?
I’m in Carolina dreaming about who we used to be
When we were younger and free
I’ve forgotten how it felt before the world fell at our feet
There’s such a difference between us
And about 500 miles

Hello from the other side
I must have called a thousand times
To tell you I’m sorry for everything that I’ve done
But when I call you never seem to be home

Sean McDermott, who’s interested in a head coaching job, was on with Anthony Gargano and Co. on 97.5 this morning, presumably while eating a bowl of Lucky Charms. McDermott, a local guy, who’s interested in a head coaching job, essentially read his resume – which he undoubtedly has already prepared, because he’s interested in a head coaching job – and waxed poetic about Philadelphia, even name-dropping the Schuylkill Expressway. Boy, he seems interested in a head coaching job. Specifically, this one.

Listen to the interview

Problem for McDermott:

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There are no reports that any team has asked to talk to him yet. Now, let’s compare his results to those of two other coordinators in the playoffs, Hue Jackson and Matt Patricia, for whom the headlines are a bit different (note the teams are interested part):

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So I tweeted:

I took some flak for that one, I guess because I’m a hater and negative and all. Maybe. But it does reek of desperation that McDermott, who’s interested in a head coaching job, whose team is in the playoffs, agreed to an interview with a sports talk radio station in Philadelphia to remind people that he exists and is interested in a head coaching job.

Sean McDermott is interested in a head coaching job.

Some thought my Tweet was a shot at 97.5 for having him on (it wasn’t). McDermott, a head coaching candidate interested in a head coaching job, was a good get. It’s rare that you get the target of a coaching search (ostensible) to speak during the search. It’s rare because… it’s very lame. Like, at some point over the past day or so McDermott and his agent had a conversation and decided that this could help him get an interview. Yet, McDermott was with the Eagles for 11 years. Lurie knows who he is. He fired his brother. If he’s interested, he’ll call. Hopping on local radio to win over fans and rehearse your interview answers, should you be granted an interview, does nothing but make you look weak, like the type of small-ish Irish guy who would inspire no confidence on the sidelines. Still, McDermott came across well enough and touched on all the right points. Jim Johnson? Check. The defense he’s structured in Carolina? Check. Players being accountable? Check. Toughness? Check. His team’s 15-1 record? Check. His defense being in the top 10 for four straight years? Check. Tradition? Check. Relating to players? DING DING DING THE CHIP KELLY HOT BUTTON. SHOW ‘EM WHAT HE’S WON, CUZ! I mean, look at this:

“We’re not in the business of making doorknobs, we’re in the business of people. And you gotta connect with people, in particular the modern athlete, you know. There’s different things that you gotta do as a coach these days and as a teacher to relate to the modern athlete, and I think we do that well here. And then just communicating the vision and that daily standard: Hey, this is what we’re all about … It’s how we meet, it’s how we live, it’s how we practice, it’s how we play a darn pre-season game. This is what it’s supposed to look like, and when it doesn’t look like that, it’s not up to par…

It’s all about people, and we’re gonna do everything we can to help [the player] reach his goals and when he reaches his goals he’s in effect helping the team reach their goals.

I’ve been around situations like that in my 17 years in the NFL not everybody is a Luke Kuechly, who is a coach’s dream, and so they come in all different shapes and sizes so you gotta be able to relate to people and connect and find that trigger for each individual that’s gonna help them reach their full potential …

Being young in this business, I’m young enough where I can connect with the modern athlete, these young guys … I listen to their music and they get a big kick out of that. It’s fun to be around these guys, they love to see your true personality. It’s one thing to be one guy behind your desk in your office with the door closed, but they wanna see who you really are.”

I REHEARSED, ANT! I REALLY REHEARSED!

Hilariously, it worked on some in the “media”:

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Good going, guys. I’m sure Jeffrey Lurie fell for it, too… right?

Jon Marks didn’t appreciate my Tweet calling McDermott’s effort lame and pathetic:

That’s fair. But this is the same morning show that eviscerated Fletcher Cox for greeting opposing players after a loss. Imagine how they would react if an Eagles coordinator, during a playoff run, went on the radio in another city and openly campaigned for a position? I can only assume it would include a sit-in outside that person’s condo and a jewelry sponsor.

Other responses:

https://twitter.com/waltbates/status/684374823661891584

No (perhaps we should have), but I don’t recall Harbaugh going on Baltimore radio to openly campaign for the job while preparing for a playoff game. You do that stuff in private, or you have your agent do it.

https://twitter.com/RealMikeBradley/status/684374222672662528

Yes.

Maybe he was a bit kind, but I can’t blame them for having him on. Of course…

Now that’s humor.

https://twitter.com/CRJRP/status/684401080755695617

Actually, really astute observation. Tim McDermott is the chief marketing guy for the Sixers. A few years ago he was fired from the same role with the Eagles.

Anyway, am I making too big of a deal out of McDermott doing the interview? Probably. But it seemed desperate, and until I read a headline with McDermott’s name that isn’t about him or Ron Riviera telling people he’s available for interviews, I’ll keep thinking that.

UPDATE:

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Haha.