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Last time around, the Eagles shocked everybody and hired a relative unknown named Andy Reid to be their head coach. We have to at least account for the possibility that Jeffrey Lurie might favor the thrill of discovery over the security of a known entity once again.

Forget preference for a second. Even if Lurie did want a big name, who is to say he would be able to land one? There should be a lot of head coaching openings this offseason, and the Eagles don’t seem all that appealing at the moment. They might be better served getting a young, hungry assistant who is not just promising but willing to take on the hard labor ahead.

With that in mind, we made a few calls around the league and came up with a pair of sleepers to keep half-an-eye on.

The Eagles’ fan base is a confused group right now. And in many ways, it’s understandable.

We hear from you in the comments section, via e-mail, on Twitter and during Birds 24/7 Radio on 97.5 The Fanatic (podcast links here).

This week, I’ve heard a variety of theories, all suggesting the same thing: Andy Reid is coming back as the head coach in 2013.

I’m here to tell you it’s not happening.

Let’s tackle the arguments one at a time.

Every Thursday we select a few of your Twitter questions and provide the long-form answers they deserve. For a chance to have your question published on Birds 24/7, send it to @Tim_McManus.

When Jeffrey Lurie and his circle of trusted advisers decide on a head-coaching target this offseason, chance are, they could have some competition.

While there are still five games to go, we all know these are the final days with Andy Reid. But the Eagles are just one of several teams that could be looking for a new head coach.

Daniel Jeremiah of NFL.com, who worked previously as a scout for the Eagles, Ravens and Browns, recently took a look at 11 potential head-coaching jobs that could be open this offseason. He ranked the positions based on personnel, from most attractive to least attractive. Here’s what he came up with.

Jeffrey Lurie emerged from the shadows briefly Monday night to help celebrate Troy Vincent and Leo Carlin‘s induction into the Eagles Hall of Fame.

After recognizing the two honorees Lurie handed the floor over to Vincent, who was promptly steered into talking about the ails of the 2012 club.

“I just see a lack of leadership,” Vincent began, the owner just a few paces to his left. Not even in a celebration of the past could the woes of the present be avoided. Lurie stood there and absorbed it all before heading back underground.

That was how the night started. It ended with a 30-22 loss to the Panthers, pushing the losing streak to seven games and the Eagles into basement of the NFC. Most significantly, it put the Eagles’ loss total on the year at eight games. Lurie stated that 8-8 would not be good enough for Andy Reid to earn a 15th season. Reid can now do no better.

Here’s the latest coaching buzz around the NFL, including notes on Oregon’s Chip Kelly and Penn State’s Bill O’Brien.

Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving. Like many of you, I spent much of the day in front of the TV watching football. Here are five leftovers, with an Eagles slant.

From Jay Gruden to Andy Reid to Nick Foles, here’s a roundup of what the national media are saying about the Eagles this week.

Despite cries for answers,  Jeffrey Lurie does not intend to speak  this week, according to a team official.

There are no immediate plans to fire Andy Reid in-season, and the coach said on Monday that he will not step down before the year is out.

For the next six weeks, the fan base will likely be asked to grin and bear it. Relief will not come in the form of change or explanation. Not yet.

His team in a free-fall and his fate sealed, Andy Reid was asked if there was any scenario in which he would step down as head coach of the Eagles this season.

“I’m standing in front of the team and telling them, ‘These are the things we need to do, one of which is to continue to battle. And so I think that would be a cop-out,” said Reid. “That’s not how I see things. That’s not the way I’m wired. We’re going to keep battling and do it as a team. I’m not going to tell the guys one thing and then do the other.”

Here’s the latest coaching buzz around the NFL, with notes on Chip Kelly and Jon Gruden. Remember, you can find all these links, notes and rumors in our special section.

Here’s the latest coaching buzz around the NFL, focusing on candidates who could be plucked from the college ranks, such as Oregon’s Chip Kelly, Stanford’s David Shaw and Penn State’s Bill O’Brien.

In case you missed it, we’ve started a special Coaching Buzz section here at Birds 24/7.

You’ll find everything we write about Andy Reid’s expected departure and Jeffrey Lurie’s coaching search right there. That includes links, rumors and notes on potential candidates.

Yesterday, we shared some information on Oregon’s Chip Kelly. There’s an interesting debate among some very smart football people about whether he’ll be successful in the NFL.

Much of the conversation in recent weeks has centered around who will replace Andy Reid as the Eagles’ head coach at year’s end.

While that decision will certainly be significant, finding the right quarterback will probably determine when this franchise gets to the Super Bowl next.

As Tim pointed out yesterday, that will likely be the new coach’s call. It could be Nick Foles. It could be someone they draft or acquire via trade or free agency this offseason. It could even be Michael Vick. Who knows?

Below is a list of the coaches and quarterbacks who have appeared in the Super Bowl the last five years.

All year, the number eight has hung over the Eagles’ season.

With every loss that moves this team’s final record to 8-8 or worse, the end of the Andy Reid era seems to draw closer.

But recently, some have questioned whether that’s truly the case. The theory goes like this: Perhaps Reid will try to groom Nick Foles the rest of the way and convince Jeffrey Lurie that he deserves more time as the head coach. Time to help Foles (and a young roster) along, ushering in the next era of Eagles football.

That’s not happening.