Issues & answers with Eagles GM

MOBILE, Ala. - One thing Howie Roseman did not project yesterday was arrogance.

That's a word that critics of the Eagles' front office employ pretty often, and there have been times when it most certainly fit. But the general manager was pretty much the opposite of smug yesterday, in a 23-minute session with a reporter from the Daily News and a reporter from the Inquirer, between practice sessions at the Senior Bowl.

Roseman left the defensive-coordinator situation for head coach Andy Reid, but he agreed that some of the team's judgments last offseason were mistaken. Roseman talked about looking critically at how the Eagles evaluate and draft players, and he indicated he might wait until after the draft to hire a new personnel chief - because personnel people from other organizations won't be available until then. Though Roseman held open the possibility of promoting from within, the clear inference was that he is interested in filling the vacancy left by Ryan Grigson's departure to become GM of the Colts with someone steeped in a different culture, with a fresh perspective.

"Just like with players, if there was an opportunity to improve ourselves, we'd look at that," Roseman said. "We're going to try to look there at all the options and not make any rash decisions . . . We've brought in some people [over the past few years who are candidates] and we're looking at some people who can help us in the short term as well."

Former Browns and Ravens exec Phil Savage, who works with the Eagles more or less as a consultant, is in Mobile as part of the Eagles' party.

Asked to reflect on all the changes the Eagles made in last year's truncated offseason, Roseman said: "I think that when you're 8-8 and you're at the Senior Bowl [instead of the Super Bowl], you obviously look back and think that there are things you could have done a different way - draft picks you'd like to have back and some signings you'd like to have back. But when you step back and look at the core of the team, the blend of youth and experience and talent, we have an opportunity to be competitive and be competitive for a long time."

Other main points from the interview: