Bobby April to the Eagles

[SmootSmack]

A lot of people here wanted him so I thought I'd make it a new thread

No link yet

[TheMalcolmConnection]

Of course.

[rbanerjee23]

Is there something he was particularly notable for? sorry for the ignorance but like is he the next great coach or something...

[Monkeydad]

Bloghead - Philadelphia Eagles

Eagles Tab Bobby April New Special Teams Coordinator

The Eagles acquired one of the hottest assistant coaches on the market when they named Bobby April the new special teams coordinator on Thursday. To hire April, the Eagles terminated the contract of special teams coordinator Ted Daisher after one year in that role. The Eagles also terminated the contracts of strength and conditioning coach Mike Wolf and assistant strength and conditioning coach Jay Merlino.

April had just concluded his 18th season in the NFL and his sixth with the Buffalo Bills when on January 4, all of the team's coaches were told that they could pursue new jobs. Reports also indicate that April had a clause in his contract which allowed him to opt-out of his deal with two years still remaining on it. There is currently no head coach in Buffalo and the only in-house candidate appeared to be interim coach Perry Fewell. April reportedly had drawn interest from the Steelers, 49ers and Redskins.

In his first five seasons, the Bills special teams finished No. 1 in the league three times, according to Dallas Morning News columnist Rick Gosselin's detailed rankings system, including in 2008. The 2009 rankings have not yet been released. The Bills were in the top five of the rankings the other two years. April was also voted the NFL's special teams coach of the year in 2008 by a vote of his peers.

April inherits a talented core group of specialists which includes a pair of All-Pros in kicker David Akers and punt returner DeSean Jackson. Punter Sav Rocca has also set the franchise's single-season net punting average in each of the last two seasons.

[MTK]

I'm guessing Danny Smith's return is pretty close to a lock now.

[SmootSmack]

Thanks for the link Buster...not a site I generally visit

[Lotus]

No no no no no. In the division? To the Pigeons? Triple ugh.

[Monkeydad]

Originally Posted by SmootSmack

Thanks for the link Buster...not a site I generally visit

Me neither, but trying to help you out...so I took one for the team. Now I feel dirty.

[CRedskinsRule]

So April, a very good to outstanding ST coach is gonna get to coach DeSean Jackson. I second the aforementioned UGH's!

[Ruhskins]

Originally Posted by CRedskinsRule

So April, a very good to outstanding ST coach is gonna get to coach DeSean Jackson. I second the aforementioned UGH's!

I wonder if he'll continue to play in ST now that he has obviously become the #1 wideout in that team.

[CRedskinsRule]

Originally Posted by Ruhskins

I wonder if he'll continue to play in ST now that he has obviously become the #1 wideout in that team.

Maybe(probably) not, but just having that threat to put him in in any clutch situations only makes April's job easier. Hopefully he gets pulled off, and then we can learn to shut him down, like others have shut S. Moss down.

[Lotus]

Originally Posted by Ruhskins

I wonder if he'll continue to play in ST now that he has obviously become the #1 wideout in that team.

They can sub in Maclin.

[SBXVII]

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Sorry. I just pounded the crap out of my key board. God I hate the Eagles. I hope, I pray, I insist we shove the ball right up their back sides next year.... twice. Blow up the score Shanny. I hope next year we are atleast good enough to run the score up on a couple of teams like happened to us and piss all over the Eagles field.

[SBXVII]

Eagles nab Bobby April | ProFootballTalk.com

Eagles nab Bobby April
Posted by Mike Florio on January 14, 2010 3:47 PM ET
As former Bills special teams coordinator Bobby April was being pursued by the likes of the Steelers and the Redskins, another candidate for his services was gliding under radar.

And that candidate has landed his services.

The Eagles have announced that April has been hired to take over Philly's special teams. He replaces special teams coordinator Ted Daisher, whose second stint with the team lasted only one year.

The fact that the Eagles didn't fire Daisher until they had the newest bird in the hand allowed them to chase April discreetly.

The Eagles also have terminated the contracts of strength and conditioning coach Mike Wolf and assistant strength and conditioning coach Jay Merlino.


Permalink 30 Comments Latest stories in: Buffalo Bills, Latest News and Rumors, NFL Mobile Exclusives - Rumors, Philadelphia Eagles, Pittsburgh Steelers, Top Stories, Washington Redskins

[SBXVII]

Also the Patriots just fired their DC. Couldn't do it prior to Haslett. Wonder if they could bring him in as a consultant or something. Then again maybe it would be too many cooks in the kitchen.

[I][Report: Patriots fire defensive coordinator
Posted by Gregg Rosenthal on January 14, 2010 4:37 PM ET
The ugly end to New England's season has reportedly cost defensive coordinator Dean Pees his job.

Shalise Manza Young broke the news that Pees, 60, was fired Thursday.

Pees kept a low profile as the team's defensive coordinator, although he was recently in the news for being hospitalized for shortness of breath in Week Seventeen.

A former head coach at Kent State, Pees was with New England for six seasons, including the last four as defensive coordinator. He also coached under Nick Saban at Michigan State.

The Patriots came in fifth in scoring defense this year, but came up small in big games. Pees' defensive squads in New England didn't finish worse than eighth in scoring defense in his four seasons.

ESPN's Michael Smith suggested on Twitter that linebackers coach Matt Patricia will be a candidate to replace Pees. Patriots fans will wonder why the team didn't bid on Romeo Crennel, but the Patriots traditionally promote from within for their coordinator positions.
/I]