Mike Lombardi indulged in one of Angelo Cataldi’s favorite activities on the radio legend’s final show.
Shredding Jonathan Gannon.
The now-former Eagles defensive coordinator was criticized often this season – something Nick Sirianni and some others have said isn’t fair. But he has been back under the microscope this week after the Eagles lost the Super Bowl in a game that the defense allowed 38 points.
Clearly the Cardinals like him, they hired him to be their head coach right after the Super Bowl loss. But that decision baffled many, including Lombardi, who ripped the hire on the final show of “Angelo Cataldi and the Morning Team.”
“I can’t explain it, it’s called the National Football League, where Bill Walsh once told me it’s not the best and the brightest. And that’s true. The reality of it is I can’t explain it, he must interview really well, obviously.
“But guys like (Bengals DC) Lou Anarumo, who has played Patrick Mahomes four times and held him under 30 points and played him really well – and he’s a penalty and a punt return away from going to the Super Bowl – he doesn’t get the job. Don (Wink) Martindale up at the Giants, every offensive coach that gets interviewed for a job says the hardest guy to play against is Martindale, he doesn’t even get an interview.
“I don’t understand it, I don’t know how to explain it. I wish him nothing but the best. … (but) he basically should buy every defensive lineman in the Eagles organization a Rolex, because that’s what got him the job in Arizona.”
Indeed, the Eagles’ front was the strength of their defensive unit – and Lombardi has insisted that their pass defense was not as good as it seemed.
The Cardinals haven’t exactly nailed their recent coaching hires, and -- fair or unfair -- it appears to be a widely-held belief that the trend will continue with Gannon.
LISTEN on the Audacy App
Sign Up and Follow Audacy Sports
Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
Related
