LITTLE ROCK — EAGLES DL coach fired
PHILADELPHIA - Defensive line coach and Jim Washburn was fired Monday, the latest shakeup for the sinking Philadelphia Eagles.
Coach Andy Reid dismissed Washburn (Fayetteville, Arkansas Razorbacks) just hours after the team’s eighth consecutive loss, 38-33 at the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday night. Former defensive line coach Tommy Brasher (El Dorado, Razorbacks) will replace Washburn.
This was the third major move on defense in seven weeks. Defensive coordinator Juan Castillo was fired on Oct. 16. Two-time Pro Bowl defensive end Jason Babin was released last week.
The Eagles (3-9) are mired in their worst losing streak since 1968 and searching for answers after opening the season with Super Bowl aspirations.
Reid is assured of just his third losing season in 14 years, and could be coaching his final games in Philadelphia. Owner Jeffrey Lurie already said the Eagles needed to make “substantial improvement” after going 8-8 last year and that a similar record would be “unacceptable.”
Regardless, Reid has one year left on his contract and is proceeding with important decisions. After firing Washburn, Reid said rookie Nick Foles would be the starting quarterback the rest of the season, even when Michael Vick returns from a concussion.
Washburn’s dismissal wasn’t entirely a surprise. Washburn was known for having a strong personality and being confrontational with other coaches. He had to be separated from offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg on the sideline during a game against New England last November.
One player, speaking on condition of anonymity, told The Associated Press that Washburn often was “disrespectful” to other staff members, particularly Castillo.
Washburn was hired on Jan. 19, 2011 after 12 seasons in Tennessee where he earned a reputation as one of the top positions coaches in the NFL. The Eagles hoped his wide-nine defensive line alignment would produce plenty of pressure on opposing quarterbacks. It did at first. The scheme helped the Eagles tie for the league lead with 50 sacks last season, but has resulted in only 20 so far this year.
49ERS
Kaepernick still QB
SANTA CLARA, Calif. - San Francisco 49ers Coach Jim Harbaugh is sticking with Colin Kaepernick as his starter under center as his team prepares for Sunday’s home game with the Miami Dolphins. And, no, Alex Smith isn’t out of this mix yet, either.
A day after a 16-13 overtime loss at St. Louis, Harbaugh accepted the blame for the fourth-quarter pitch that was fumbled by Kaepernick and led to Janoris Jenkins’ 2-yard fumble return for a touchdown and ensuing two-point conversion that tied the game. Harbaugh didn’t call the play, but relayed it through the headset to Kaepernick.
Harbaugh says he saw positives in the way Kaepernick responded after the mistakes.
At 8-3-1, the 49ers might get a push in the NFC West from the Seattle Seahawks (7-5) down the stretch. The teams play at Seattle in the second to-last game on Dec. 23.
BEARS Team banged-up
LAKE FOREST, Ill. - Coach Lovie Smith said the Chicago Bears are still evaluating injuries to linebacker Brian Urlacher and several other players in Sunday’s overtime loss to Seattle.
Smith seemed to indicate Monday that Urlacher pulled a hamstring on the game’s final drive, but backed away from that after a follow-up question. Urlacher told a Chicago TV station he was simply sore.
The Bears (8-4) had already lost guard Lance Louis to a season-ending knee injury in the previous game and ruled out Devin Hester (concussion) and guard Chris Spencer (knee) during the week. They lost a few more players in a 23-17 loss to Seattle.
Safety Chris Conte (illness) and receiver Earl Bennett (concussion) left the game, and cornerback Tim Jennings (shoulder) was injured on the final drive.
SUNDAY’S GAMES
Seattle 23, Chicago 17, OT Green Bay 23, Minnesota 14 St. Louis 16, San Francisco 13, OT Kansas City 27, Carolina 21 Houston 24, Tennessee 10 NY Jets 7, Arizona 6 Indianapolis 35, Detroit 33 Buffalo 34, Jacksonville 18 New England 23, Miami 16 Denver 31, Tampa Bay 23 Cleveland 20, Oakland 17 Cincinnati 20, San Diego 13 Pittsburgh 23, Baltimore 20 Dallas 38, Philadelphia 33
MONDAY’S GAME
Washington 17, NY Giants 16
THURSDAY, DEC. 6
Denver at Oakland, 7:20 p.m.
SUNDAY, DEC. 9
Chicago at Minnesota, noon Baltimore at Washington, noon Kansas City at Cleveland, noon San Diego at Pittsburgh, noon Tennessee at Indianapolis, noon NY Jets at Jacksonville, noon Atlanta at Carolina, noon Philadelphia at Tampa Bay, noon St. Louis at Buffalo, noon Dallas at Cincinnati, noon Miami at San Francisco, 3:05 p.m.
Arizona at Seattle, 3:25 p.m.
New Orleans at NY Giants, 3:25 p.m.
Detroit at Green Bay, 7:20 p.m.
MONDAY, DEC. 10 Houston at New England, 7:30 p.m.
Sports, Pages 21 on 12/04/2012