Falcons Might Be Interested in Giants Assistant Steve Spagnuolo

Last year, Steve Spagnuolo was the Philadelphia Eagles linebackers coach. The Giants had just canned Tim Lewis as their defensive coordinator and were looking for a change (preferably one that involved improving the defense).

When Spagnuolo got the New York job, Giants fans were underwhelmed, and Eagles fans were excited that coach of one of the defense's weakest links was taking over the entire operation for a division rival.

A year later, New York's front office looks pretty smart. So smart, in fact, that Spagnuolo might not be back with the Giants in 2008.

The Falcons, still without a head coach, remain interested in Spagnuolo. The Giants and Spagnuolo last week agreed that the time was not right for him to interview with the Falcons during preparation for the playoffs.

When the Giants' season ends, Spagnuolo will be free to travel to Atlanta to speak with the Falcons. Reports also have surfaced that the Redskins have targeted Spagnuolo to replace Joe Gibbs as the head coach in Washington.

Who knows what's going on in Washington -- every day we hear something different -- but the Atlanta job seems more like a possibility. And although that organization is in shambles, they could finally be turning things around.

Owner Arthur Blank hired Thomas Dimitroff away from New England, and he sounds like all business. And although coordinators don't always make the best head coaches, Spagnuolo has a solid relationship with his players, something Bobby Petrino didn't think was very important.

Still, a lot can happen in two weeks. But if the Falcons are serious about Spagnuolo they shouldn't waver. The Browns wanted Romeo Crennel in 2005, and waited patiently until the Patriots won their third Super Bowl before making the hire. I think that's worked out pretty well.