Eagles

Offense

Childress and New England defensive coordinator are the first two to interview. Pittsburgh O-line coach Russ Grimm should also get an interview.

The deal should make him one of the highest-paid coaches in the league.

Gatlin doesn’t seem too interested. He’s focused on taking out Asafa Powell in a match race between the two world record holders this summer.

Added to the three years he already had remaining on his contract, Reid is signed through the 2010 season. Financial details of the deal were not revealed, but one league source said it was worth more than the $4.2 million per season New England coach Bill Belichick received.

New Colts GM Ryan Grigson is familiar with Mornhinweg, as they were together in the Eagles’ organization from 2004-2011. Grigson and Colts owner Jim Irsay have not yet formally decided Jim Caldwell’s fate, but the odds of Caldwell lasting through the front-office transition have to be long. Mornhinweg is a former quarterbacks coach and could be an attractive candidate for a team expected to draft Andrew Luck with the No. 1 pick. Mornhinweg also runs a West Coast-style offense, similar to the system Lucked played in at Stanford.

Lurie called the Eagles’ performance in 2011 “completely unacceptable,” “dismal,” “unfathomable,” and “the most disappointing” of his tenure as owner. While Reid will return due in large part to “intangibles” and respect around the league, Lurie made it clear that he will have to return to the playoffs next season. Reid will have control over his coaching staff, but Lurie hinted that Juan Castillo’s transition to defensive boss was a major mistake coming out of the lockout-shortened offseason.

“I expect Andy to be coaching this week,” Lurie said after speaking to Big Red. Reid took an extended leave of absence from the team during the 2007 offseason after a string of incidents involving his sons. “We’ve been with Andy for a long time,” said GM Howie Roseman. “He’s always been strong for us; we’re going to be strong for him right now. As a father and a friend, we’re all hurting.”

Banner, 59, isn’t a household name outside of Philly, but he’s been an integral part of the Eagles since 1994. They’ve managed their salary cap as well as any team in the league, and Banner has been a huge part of that. He’s now a “strategic adviser” to owner Jeffery Lurie, but is “a free agent now,” as the owner said. The Eagles deny that the reported power struggle between coach Andy Reid and Banner resulted in this move. GM Howie Roseman will assume all of the cap and contract negotiations Banner previously handled.

Reid is believed to be dealing with a personal issue, but there are no additional details. The team did gather in prayer before practice and players have been told not to talk to the media. An update is expected after the walkthrough.

There are no additional details at this time, but it explains why the longtime Eagles coach was absent from this morning’s walkthrough. Garrett Reid, 29, had a history of drug issues, starting with a January 2007 arrest for crashing his car while high on heroin. It’s safe to assume Reid will be away from the team for awhile, and no word yet if he’ll attend the Eagles’ preseason opener on Thursday.