A special edition of Birds 24/7 radio as Sheil and Tim dive into the important questions regarding the Eagles coaching search. Plus, reaction to Jeremiah Trotter‘s candid remarks about Andy Reid.

Click here to listen online and here to download.

Birds 24/7 Radio broadcasts live at Smith’s (19th and Chestnut) on Mondays from 6 to 7 p.m. on 97.5 The Fanatic.

The Eagles have requested permission to interview Bengals offensive coordinator Jay Gruden, Tim McManus has confirmed.

Gruden has been with Cincinnati the past two seasons. He’s done a nice job of developing young talent – specifically quarterback Andy Dalton. A second-round pick in 2011, Dalton threw 20 touchdowns and 13 interceptions as a rookie. His numbers are up across the board this year, as Dalton completed 62.3 percent of his passes with 27 touchdowns and 16 interceptions.

The Eagles will interview Oregon’s Chip Kelly and Syracuse’s Doug Marrone in Arizona, a source tells Tim McManus.

The team released a brief statement Saturday morning about their coaching search:

“The Eagles are committed to finding the right fit for head coach and are heading to Arizona now to kick off a week of interviews with a variety of candidates including Mike McCoy, Bruce Arians and Gus Bradley.”

Despite an NFL Network report last night that said Kelly and the Cleveland Browns were close to a deal, the Eagles will still have a shot.

Jeffrey Lurie offered this opinion of his team at Monday’s press conference:

“I’m very confident that this is the most attractive place for a head coach to work in the National Football League.”

Right now, it’s at least fair to ask if this is even the most attractive destination out of the six teams that currently have a head coaching vacancy.

Andy Reid is officially the first head coach off the market.

It looks like Joe Banner got his man. Chip Kelly is close to becoming the head coach of the Cleveland Browns, according to a report by Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.

The Eagles requested and have been granted permission to speak with Colts offensive coordinator Bruce Arians and Seattle defensive coordinator Gus Bradley.

The Eagles are expected to  interview Oregon head coach Chip Kelly and Broncos offensive coordinator Mike McCoy over the weekend. That will likely not be the end of their search. Jeffrey Lurie has promised a thorough process, and there are several assistant coaches involved in the postseason that they will likely want to sit down with.

But McCoy and Kelly are two hot names and both could very well end up with NFL head coaching jobs over the next couple weeks. One may even land in Philadelphia. Let’s examine the two side-by-side.

Andy Reid‘s plan is coming together in Kansas City.

The Chiefs announced that they are parting ways with general manager Scott Pioli. Looks like Reid’s vision for the franchise does not include Pioli as GM. It appears that was the final hurdle to getting a deal done.

Jeremiah Trotter is an Andy Reid fan.

He played a total of 116 games for Reid, serving three different stints with the Eagles. In fact, Trotter has gone as far as to say he loves Reid.

Which is what makes his criticism of his former coach even more intriguing.

“I do believe if it came down to both teams were even talent-wise, I think the opponents’ team would win if it came down to coaching,” Trotter said.

Some assumed Jeffrey Lurie was referring to Andy Reid when he talked about the mistakes made in the 2011 draft. But the better guess is that he was talking about Joe Banner.

Now, the two men are in a battle to find the next head coach of their respective franchises.

The Eagles interviewed Bill O’Brien, but the Penn State coach is staying in Happy Valley, according to multiple reports. Where does Jeffrey Lurie go from here?

If Jeffrey Lurie or Howie Roseman calls up Peyton Manning to get his take on Broncos offensive coordinator Mike McCoy, they’ll get a ringing endorsement.

“I think he’s ready; I think he’s paid his dues,” Manning said, per the Denver Post. “Mike’s a good leader. He’s had some good coaches that have been mentors to him, different coaches that he’s worked with in his years in the NFL that I think he’s incorporated some of their leadership philosophies and his own philosophy.”

Where’s Andy Reid headed? Are the Eagles close to setting up an interview with Bill O’Brien? And will Notre Dame’s Brian Kelly get a look from NFL teams? Here’s the latest buzz from around the league.

In 2011, Jason Kelce looked like someone who was made to play for Howard Mudd.

Tucked away behind the Eagles’ mistakes in the 2011 draft was the selection of Kelce, a sixth-round pick out of Cincinnati. As a rookie, he caught Mudd’s eye and stole the starting job from Jamaal Jackson on the practice fields at Lehigh. Kelce’s athleticism was exactly what Mudd wanted out of his center, and the rookie showed steady improvement, leading many observers to project a Pro Bowl campaign for him in 2012.

But in the team’s second game against the Ravens, Kelce suffered a torn MCL and ACL in his right knee, ending his season. Now, with Mudd retiring and Andy Reid gone, Kelce is waiting to find out what scheme the Eagles will be running in 2013.