Those internet postings citing league sources hearing rumors on the NFL grapevine that Eagles general manager Tom Heckert “could be headed back” to Miami for a job with the Dolphins are just that – rumors.
The only thing on his mind these days: "Trying to win games."
Privately the link is Heckert’s long-time relationship with Dolphins owner Wayne Huizenga and team president Bryan Wiedmeier.
Then again in the very fluid NFL that could change in a nanosecond. If Andy Reid takes a leave at the end of the season and Eagles president Joe Banner wants to go in another direction, what then?
Heckert, from this view, has done a solid job of locating and drafting the players Reid and the coaching staff have sought. Certainly there have been mistakes such as Jerome McDougle, the career underachievement masked by chronic injury problems.
But the hits have been pretty good, among them Pro Bowl talents Shawn Andrews, Brian Westbrook and Lito Sheppard, plus Sheldon Brown, who’s having a Pro Bowl year.
Mike Patterson and Brodrick Bunkley look like the defensive tackles for the next 10 years.
What’s missing from the Eagles is continuity at position coach. The Birds have lost some very good position coaches including Ron Rivera, Leslie Frazier, Steve Spagnuolo and Dave Toub, and that’s inhibited the development of picks.