"The Eagles aren't going for anybody's understudy, this time around. The three publicly identified candidates to succeed Sean McDermott as the Birds' defensive coordinator are veteran coaches with extensive resumes.

The front-runner would seem to be Jim Mora, the former Atlanta Falcons and Seattle Seahawks head coach who was Steve Mariucci's defensive coordinator in San Francisco in the late 1990s, when Eagles offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg ran the other side.

The Eagles also seem to be considering just-fired Arizona defensive coordinator Bill Davis, whose father once was an Eagles linebackers coach under Dick Vermeil, and Dick Jauron, a member of McDermott's staff last season who has been a head coach with the Bears and Bills. But with Eagles coach Andy Reid on vacation this week, it seems unlikely they will make a decision right away, and Mora and Jauron, anyway, have other opportunities they might be pursuing in the meantime - Jauron is expected to interview in Cleveland today, for example.

McDermott, 36, found out Thursday he would not be returning for a third season running the Eagles' defense, though the team elected not to release the news while McDermott pursued other jobs. He has interviewed in Denver and with at least one other team, believed to be the Carolina Panthers. A source close to McDermott, a former La Salle High star, said he is doing well in the wake of the firing. Reports in Denver indicate McDermott might be the front-runner there to run new head coach John Fox' defense.

Also let go, team sources confirmed last night, was defensive line coach Rory Segrest, the team's former special teams coordinator. Segrest spent 5 years with the Eagles after joining the staff with no NFL experience as a player or coach. The defensive line managed just seven sacks in the last six games.

There seems to be a good chance the new coordinator will get to choose his line coach and potentially his defensive backs coach should Jauron either be promoted or leave for another team.

If the Eagles really wanted to hire Jauron, 60, they could have already done so, without taking the risk of losing him to Cleveland. Davis, 45, once an Eagles ball boy, didn't fare well running Arizona's defense and is believed to have called the Eagles about an interview, rather than them calling him. Mora, about whom there has been the most buzz, is a client of Bob LaMonte, who also is Reid's agent; it seems possible the team could reach an understanding there without announcing a decision until Reid returns.

Mora, 49, has spoken with Reid about the job, a league source told the Daily News, and is interested in the job. Like Davis, Mora has a father (also named Jim Mora, though they have different middle names) with a Philadelphia connection, from his time as head coach of the USFL Philadelphia Stars.

"I always thought [Mora] would be a perfect coordinator, because he is a defensive guy at heart, and he has that infectious personality - players relate to him," said former Eagles linebacker Ike Reese, who played for Mora with the Falcons from 2005-06. "He grew up around an NFL locker room. He has an aggressive approach. He's not an over-blitzer; Jim believes in getting after you with the front four and in strong secondary play."

Mora, of course, coached Michael Vick in Atlanta. Last October, he interviewed Vick on behalf of the NFL Network; Vick apologized to Mora for being immature and not being focused on his job when they were together."