National Football League

Reid denies report about wanting Mangini

Published Oct. 12, 2011 1:00 a.m. ET

foxsports

In the midst of a three-game losing streak, Philadelphia Eagles head coach Andy Reid denied Wednesday that the team was in the market for a consultant to help with the struggling defense.

ESPN reported Wednesday morning that former Jets and Browns head coach Eric Mangini, now an NFL analyst for the network, had turned down an offer from the Eagles.

Reid said any reports about him wanting to bring in a defensive consultant were fabricated.

"Nobody. Zero. Nothing," Reid declared when asked if he had contacted anyone about helping first-year defensive coordinator Juan Castillo.

Reid has been under fire for his choice to hire Castillo, who served as the team's offensive line coach for more than a decade and had not coached defense since the 1980s.

The Eagles' defense has plummeted this season to 30th in the NFL against the run and is allowing 26.4 points per game. At 1-4, the Eagles face a must-win contest Sunday at division-leading Washington.

Since the NFL moved to a 16-game schedule in 1990, just five teams have made the playoffs after a 1-4 start.