The Eagles' disastrous season took a disturbing spiral Sunday when defensive line coach Jim Washburn entered into a war of words with offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg during the first half of a 38-20 loss to the Patriots.
In a mini-rumble that hinted at sideline spats of old, Mornhinweg initially bumped into Washburn, who shoved him back. The tender moment continued until the two were separated by Eagles personnel.
Some attributed the blowup to Washburn's ire over Mornhinweg's pass-happy play-calling, which contributed to keeping the Eagles' defense on the field. But team sources told the Philadelphia Inquirer that wasn't the case. Eagles coach Andy Reid backed that assertion Tuesday, saying "that wasn't the case at all."
"Things happen. It's an emotional game," Reid, who met with both coaches, told The Associated Press. "It doesn't matter if you're coaches or players, things happen. So you take care of business like grown men. They've talked. I've talked. They've worked it out, and we're fine here."
Still, it was a mildly embarrassing episode for a 4-7 team that's staggering on the rocks after entering the season with Super Bowl aspirations.
"That should never happen," Eagles running back LeSean McCoy said Monday. "Coaches or players, we're in this thing together. I guess things happen playing a sport like this, everything's always a team, team first. You might have disagreements, guys might feel a certain type of way, but you work it out."
So, a mean situation in Philly grows darker by the week. If there was any question about the Eagles' china-doll emotional state, we're starting to see it in the tangible results of a volatile, disappointing season that's fallen far short of expectations.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
