Thursday, January 31, 2013
More DC options for Saints
By Tim Kavanagh
After New Orleans Saints HC Sean Payton was reinstated by the league, he didn't waste too much time in handing DC Steve Spagnuolo his walking papers. While firing the coordinator of a defense that was one of the NFL's most porous was not a shock, Payton and his associates must now figure out who will replace Spags. The buzz has been that the Saints will be running a 3-4 defense, and out-of-work gurus of the 3-4 such as Romeo Crennel, Eric Mangini and Rob Ryan have been linked to the vacancy.
Payton admits that the process will likely speed up after the Super Bowl has been contested, as assistants from both teams are in demand for clubs looking to run a 3-4 defense in seasons ahead. The New Orleans Times-Picayune -- which identified 49ers D-line coach Jim Tomsula and DBs coach Ed Donatell as potential candidates earlier this week -- offered up three new suggestions on Thursday: 49ers LB coach Jim Leavitt, Ravens LBs coach Ted Monachino and Browns LB coach Billy Davis. Davis has already drawn attention from the Eagles for their DC vacancy, and some believe that Donatell is the front-runner for that post.
