The Eagles announced Jim Johnson would not be traveling to Hawaii to coach the NFC Pro Bowl defense, as he undergoes treatment for melanoma that has metastasized to his spine, where a tumor grew that caused his back problem. The team said Johnson, 67, wants to continue as the Eagles? defensive coordinator, as his treatment allows. The Eagles did not offer a prognosis; however, metastasized cancer is very serious, and team athletic trainer Rick Burkholder indicated that the tumor is not Johnson?s only cancer site. Burkholder said Johnson underwent melanoma surgery in 2001 but has been cancer-free in regular checkups since then. ?He presented with the back pain the week of the Minnesota game,? Burkholder told Daily News and Inquirer reporters in a hastily arranged call from the San Francisco airport, where Burkholder was changing planes for his trip to the Pro Bowl. ?We got him an MRI right after the Giants game, and the MRI looked funny. We thought he was going to have a disc problem, because of the symptoms, but it actually looked like there was a tumor beside this stress fracture in his spine. That alerted our doctors that something else might be going on. They did further testing, further scans, had him see some other doctors, and it looks like the melanoma is back, in his back. It?s manifested itself in a tumor in his spine. ?He?s already started treatment, radiation treatment. That?s the first course ... I think about 4 weeks of radiation, then we?ll take the next step from there.?