"Senior Bowl practices began Monday with the Eagles' contingent short a few coaches.

The Eagles, of course, are still without a defensive coordinator as the job search extended to its 10th day. They lost a candidate for the job Monday night when the Denver Broncos hired New Orleans Saints assistant Dennis Allen to be their defensive coordinator, according to a Foxsports.com report.

The Eagles also have a secondary coaching position to fill after Dick Jauron took the defensive coordinator's job in Cleveland last week.

Andy Reid is back from vacation and conducting the hunt for a coordinator himself. The Eagles' coach, however, won't be vetting candidates from Alabama, even though most of the NFL is descending upon this Southern city for the college showcase. Reid, as usual, skipped this opportunity to scout prospects for April's draft.

General manager Howie Roseman and most of the Eagles' coaching staff were present and accounted for, though. Reid will lead the defensive coordinator search from the NovaCare Complex. So far the process has produced only one public candidate, Allen, who was interviewed by Reid and Roseman on Sunday.

Allen, 38, coached the Saints' defensive backs. He will join new coach John Fox with the Broncos, according to the Fox report, which cited sources close to the situation.

The Eagles have finalized their list of candidates for coordinator and are intent on choosing the right coach to lead the defense - no matter how long that takes - a league source close to the team told The Inquirer.

Asked if that meant waiting until after the Super Bowl to interview assistants with the Green Bay Packers or Pittsburgh Steelers, the source said that was possible. Roseman had no comment about a time line, or a deadline.

Reid is not talking and has yet to make a statement since he fired Sean McDermott on Jan. 13. McDermott, who was hired by Carolina as defensive coordinator just days after Reid cut him loose, also has yet to speak. Rather than attend the Senior Bowl, McDermott is filling out his staff in Charlotte, the Panthers said.

As far as the Eagles' search goes, there isn't much they can say publicly. If they had any plans to interview coaches from the Chicago Bears or New York Jets - Sunday's conference championship losers - they did not request permission to talk with those under contract through next season on Monday."