Hey Fella
Posted: August 3rd, 2015 | Author: Tommy Lawlor | Filed under: Philadelphia Eagles | 288 Comments »Brandon Boykin clarified his comments in regard to Chip Kelly. It seems that Chip is no longer racist. He is now just “cold”. Apparently Boykin wanted more of a relationship with his former coach and felt nothing was there.
“When you’re a player, you want to be able to relate to your coach off the field,” Boykin told reporters at St. Vincent College, site of Steelers training camp. “There were times he just didn’t talk to people. You would walk down the hallway, he wouldn’t say anything to you. I’m not saying he’s a racist in any way.”
Okay, that is easy enough to understand.
“I felt a lot of guys in that locker room feel the same way,” Boykin said. “Of course, when you’re in the organization, you’re not going to voice your opinion. For me, I’ve always been a guy of honesty. Not trying to put anybody out in any way, but if you’re honest with me, I’ll be honest with you, and I felt like that honesty wasn’t there all the time.”
Huh?
How does being ignored in the hallway equal dishonest? I’m lost on that one. Boykin has not expressed himself well. Instead of pointing out a problem that can be addressed, he’s got me all kinds of confused.
Let’s try to understand Boykin for a minute. He comes from a close-knit family. His dad pushed him into sports at a young age and then pushed him to get a degree while at Georgia instead of just trying to get by and focus on football. While at Georgia, Boykin played for Mark Richt, a player-friendly type of coach. Richt’s wife is active with the team and there is somewhat of a family atmosphere down there. Boykin came to the NFL and was coached by Andy Reid, who at that point was a father figure to many of his players.
In comes Chip Kelly who is no one’s idea of a father figure. I’m sure there was a big culture shock with Boykin. He was used to a certain relationship with coaches and he didn’t have that with Kelly.
I think personality is a big part of this situation. Look at these comments from Jason Kelce back in May of 2013 on talking to Chip Kelly vs Big Red.
“With Andy it was more of… especially with me coming in later in his career after he’d built up such a reputation in Philly amongst the players in the locker room, it was kind of like there was an aura around him. You never wanted to be yourself around him. You always had to have this front up and you always had to be ‘Yes sir & yes maam” always on your Ps and Qs. He was a hard man to talk to and be loose around. It was always an uptight conversation whenever I had with him. Whereas with Chip, he’s much more, at this point at least, like one of the guys. He’s still the head coach and you still have respect for him, but he converses with everyone, strikes up conversations and is much more of a loose guy to be around than Andy was.”
Interesting. Kelce felt right at home with him. Who did Kelce play for in college? He spent 2 years with Brian Kelly and 2 with Butch Jones, a pair of intense, aggressive coaches. They’re screamers. Compared to them, Chip probably seemed like Mr. Rogers to Kelce.
Boykin would have preferred a coach who walked the hallways saying “Hey fella” or “What’s up buddy” to his players. Apparently that’s not Kelly’s style.
With race taken out of the equation, Boykin’s comments become largely irrelevant to me. If Chip is walking down the hallway focused on a new wrinkle for a run play instead of who he’s passing, that is just fine with me. Jeff Lurie hired him to run a football team, not be a greeter at Wal-Mart.
* * * * *
Let’s talk about Boykin the player. He will go to the Steelers and compete for a starting job. They have a very banged-up secondary right now. If Boykin doesn’t play outside, he’ll move back in to Nickelback.
Boykin started on the outside vs the Chargers in Week 2 of 2013. That’s the only game of his Eagles career that I remember him playing as an outside starter. Roc Carmichael started a couple of games at midseason that year. Nolan Carroll started in place of Bradley Fletcher late last year.
Boykin was up and down in the Chargers game. He broke up a pass and stripped a ball from Antonio Gates, but did give up a few catches. He showed promise, but wasn’t so good that you felt he absolutely deserved to be starting. Overall he had a pretty good game, but you have to factor in that he wasn’t going against top receivers (Malcolm Floyd, Eddie Royal, Vincent Brown, Keenan Allen).
I think Boykin has a shot to be an effective starting CB, but it is far from a sure thing. Playing in the slot is very different than playing outside. Think about Dallas. In the slot, you cover Cole Beasley. On the outside, you get Dez Bryant or Terrance Williams. That’s a pretty drastic difference.
There are some really tough slot receivers. Boykin had some tough battles with Victor Cruz over the years. They each won some battles and lost some battles. It won’t be like Boykin will be overwhelmed by outside receivers. Still, there is a big adjustment.
The Steelers are going to incorporate more Cover 2 this year and that’s perfect for Boykin. Plenty of 5-9 corners have had success in that scheme. Guys with good hands and ball skills can thrive, no matter how big they are. In the Eagles scheme, 5-9 CBs aren’t a good fit.
Some people like to point out that Boykin has a good vertical leap. He absolutely does. But that can’t help you all the time. A 6-2 corner with long arms affects a play with his size by just being in the right spot. That length doesn’t change. In order to use leaping ability to affect a play, the CB would need to gather his feet under him and then go up. You can’t always do that when on the run or coming out of a hard cut. Size is constant. Leaping ability isn’t.
I’ll write more about the Eagles love of big CBs, but understand they aren’t being illogical. You and I might disagree with their line of thinking, but there is good reasoning behind why they want what they want.
It will be interesting to see how he does on another team and in another scheme.
I was a Brandon Boykin fan when he was at Georgia. I was thrilled when the Eagles got him in the 4th round. I hope he does well for the Steelers. If he’s on the field more than 60 percent of the snaps, the Eagles get a 4th round pick in return for him.
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T-Law, I think this
is a different angle than the “no greeting in the hallway” stuff for Boykin. I directly thought about the “shot to play outside” stuff from Chip. It didn’t appeared as if Chip gave him that shot, at least an honest shot. So it’s a real possibility Boykin didn’t felt like he had a shot and therefore said “honesty wasn’t there all the time”. Would make sense to me, to be honest.
I think that “honesty” around giving somebody a fair shot at a job and not being clear when you haven’t (in Boykin’s eyes/mind) is totally a manner of “honest” that he could have meant.
And for the record, I’d be pissed at my job if I was afforded lower status than a flat out incompetent human being like Bradley Fletcher.
It definitely was the no chance in hell that you’ll start on the outside demeanor from Chip that lead to the honesty part.
I think this is it. The “cold” aspect does seem to be generally agreed upon by a lot of people.
In Boykin’s specific case though, I think he wanted to be given a shot to play outside, and from those statements I’m guessing he was given a bit of a run-around (such as Davis’ statements that he considered slot corner a starting position and the like). This aspect feels like a situation specific to Boykin — most interviews I’ve seen say that Chip lets them know exactly where they stand. Maybe there just wasn’t a good justification to let Fletcher keep starting, and Boykin didn’t feel that the answers he got were completely honest. And I can’t completely blame him. But that may have been relatively unique, and not something that most other players could relate to.
If that’s what Boykin meant, he should have just said that. It’s a perfectly valid point. The part about “culture” just reeks of subtle race-baiting.
The only guys permitted to have big, loud opnions ate the ones who post on Iggles Blitz.
CORRECT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ur deflecting tommy, and i get it. we dont like to discuss race in this country and its a ‘off-field’ distraction and we dont like them…especially because football is a form of escapism for many.
boykin said exactly what he meant and its STILL a racial issue…ur a smart guy read between the lines, there was more of a backlash than he anticipated and so he backtracked…and he did it to avoid being labeled a ‘troublemaker’ and fired/not getting the benefit of the doubt in the future, the same reason no one here blasts their boss while on their current job.
consider the fact that he went to Gunn and that we can not add Tra Thomas to the growing list of people who have suggested Kelly is a racist. still an issue and still hurting this team, but sure we can pretend nothing happened if you like.
I don’t want to address the part of your comment at Tommy, but I’d like to hear more of what you think in terms of race with Kelly and the team.
Do you think it might be something that’s overt by Kelly, but hasn’t really hit the fan yet with a specific incident?
Do you think it might be something that stylistically is ill-suited to a segment of the African American members of the organization that Kelly simply doesn’t care to address?
I’m just curious as to any elaboration on your part you can add to the discussion.
i think racism today is by its very nature discreet and the opposite of overt…it HAS to be. I cringe when i hear the kindergarden level understanding of racism comments by sanchez ‘we have colombian, mexicans, polynesian’ because we live in an integrated society. racism is as much disproportionate punishment and lower patience level as it is exclusion.
its allowing a 5th round pick making comments that will destroy a locker room to be handled internally, versus cutting a elite player because he ‘isnt a leader’ its allowing an elite OL to be disruptive for over a year versus trading your teams best player because his running style doesnt fit…as we’re seeing with bill cosby, ‘everyone else is wrong.’ doesnt hold water long. and while players cant always be frank in the media–they talk amongst themselves. we cant be fooled into thinking it wont start affecting free agents/players staying.
and in the end racism isn’t based on logic and results in poor decisions based on prejudice…which we’re clearly seeing.
Thank you for clarifying where you were going with your comments. I’m not how well I can add up the “smoke” from an external to the team point of view, but I guess we’ll have to see what future moves take place within the team’s decision making process with personnel as a part of how we’re judging Chip.
correct. time will tell, ultimately. as the tweet from banner suggested, this story isnt going away.
The whole racist argument is ridiculous. the only evidence of it is coming from guys who have just been released by the team (or who aren’t even in the locker room!)! Did you hear Maclin say anything about it? No, he left on his own. The guys who got ushered out of town are the ones who are talking about it. He cut Mathis – does he hate crackers too? Should I even bring up how many black players he’s signed this off-season? It’s just a way for guys that are mad at being cut (usually for the first time in their lives!) to get back at the man!
I agree that if he were racist it would be ridiculous and make no sense at all. Of course a lot of what Chip has done makes no sense to me, personally. This could very well be a case of player perception influenced by the Cooper incident and the first comments perpetuating further accusation.
Anyone who thinks that a racist coach or the perception of a racist coach is a detriment to the organization should be concerned. So much smoke doesn’t mean there is a fire, but it definitely means there is a problem, which is a different fire.
I understand your frustration though..
the numbers are just adding up, and knowing how may players go to Gunn/Stephen A. as ‘anonymous sources’ I believe there’s plenty of smoke. mathis is another example of disproportionate punishment IMO..imagine if shady or jackson had been outwardly disruptive and a malcontent like he was (for over a year) they got cut/traded for much less…and is tra thomas another malcontent? joe banner too?
lastly, if signing black players = non racist then I guess I cant be sexist since I..you know…have a wife. #stoptypingplease.
The numbers DON’T add up as he keeps bringing in more black players. While I think the trade for Boykin was under valued (should have been a 4 with a conditional 3), it was still made to get some value for a player that was gone next year. Again, it’s all just sour grapes – you didn’t hear a peep out of Maclin about any racism.
What did Banner say?
Boykins is just backpedaling because “people” (that is, many vocal sports fans) don’t want to hear it. Either they honestly don’t think racism even exists, don’t care, or just don’t want it mixed in with their entertainment consumption.
I do think it’s very odd that a football coach, who has obviously dealt with African-Americans his whole career, has managed to have this impression become current. I have heard of many coaches who were not people persons and who their players did not much like.I don’t recall hearing about any coach, NFL or NBA having a race issue in the last 30 years that I’ve been following sports.
What would cause these players to latch on to racism? Mass insanity? A covert pact to discredit the one who did them wrong? Just something in the air?
I don’t buy this. Either you think he’s racist or not. Don’t backtrack comments. It’s what aggravates me about guys like Stephen A Smith, Lesean Mccoy, or others who don’t want to stand behind their comments. If you feel a certain way, then own it.
Backtracking to me makes it worse.
Not to be that guy…but the Jason Kelce quote doesn’t do very much to contradict Boykin’s comments.
The fact that Chip was boys with guys like Kelce and didn’t really know how to interact with Boykin could very well be what he’s talking about.
Interesting point but what about Mathis?
$$$
I feel as if it was more like a middle finger to Howie.
If that was also a middle finger to Howie, Chip must have like 12 hands at this point.
$ome people might $ay the Mathi$ i$$ue had a $omewhat different $cenario a$ it were.
Mathis, although I steadfastly believe he should not have been cut due to his elite skill level and the team’s ability to tell him to go F himself on his demands, was really a different matter.
Eh some people blame him for wanting a new deal but it’s not like he was threatening to sit out games or give up. I would have been fine with him doing 2013 all over again with just Tobin as the RG instead of Barbre/Tobin as both OGs this year.
I 100% would prefer to see Mathis still on this roster.
Eh, we have no idea what their relationship was like before Mathis started kvetching about money.
Why can’t all the negroes be like that nice fellow Bill Cosby?
Tiger Woods was very popular among the WASP set as well.
Jason Peters and DeMeco Ryans would beg to differ. Chip wears his love for those guys on his sleeve.
DeMeco Ryans didn’t beg to defer, actually. He just said that Boykin’s opinions were entirely his own, and he wouldn’t contradict them.
The players that want to talk race, always go to DGunn. Boykin went to DGunn because he is black, and made a comment about men of “our culture”. Uh…yeah. He meant race. He can backtrack. Whatever. He meant what he said the first time.
Now after bringing the race stuff back up, he backtracks and only adds on more crap like being impersonal. Then finishes it off by saying that hes dishonest. What the hell?
Have fun playing with a bunch of guys calling you “candy bar”, Boykin. HAHA.
Speaking of race and of Hazelton, I was, circa 1980, the keyboard player in a band that traveled regionally. We had a black bassist and drummer. The bassist was flirting with a white girl one night in a club we were working in. When we were packing up at the end of the night there were 6 angry guys yelling “nigger” and threatening us. We got out of Hazelton real quick.
And that legacy continues via Lou Barletta. He’s a real piece of human excrement.
Hmm… He would have been about the right age…
Hazleton made national news about a decade ago making a bunch of anti-immigrant laws. They’re very serious about their whiteness
Things are going to change there. I referee high school sports and have seen whites cheering for latinos in Hazleton. It’ll take awhile, but they’ll be in the 1990s before you know it.
That was all about controlling the illegal immigrants. Hazleton has a huge problem with that right now. Hazleton is not a racist place. Hazleton began as a mining town with immigrants from all over the place settling here. Hazleton has always been a mixed town with many different cultures. The difference is that back then people came here for the american dream. They wanted to learn english, and work their asses off.
Today, we get illegal immigrants who cant speak english and expect handouts.
If they came here with the attitudes of Hazleton’s first immigrants, theyd be embraced. But people complain about them and they play the race card (having no idea about the history of the city, not realizing it couldnt be further from the truth.)
Its amazing how fast this town has gone downhill since the influx of, mostly, Dominicans and Puerto Ricans over the last about 15 years.
Of course, there are plenty of good ones and plenty of scum bag Caucasians here too.
I spent a year working in a distribution center here after grad school until I got a career job and I worked with plenty of great hard working latinos and hispanics.
And it sounds like an overgenaralization when I say things like what I said here. Unfortunately though, it is not. It really is the truth.
Went from a safe city to one where you dont go certain places anymore. One with MS-13, Latin Kings, Bloods, Crips, etc… and shootings and stabbings every day, prostitution… Small city with big city crime.
If you havent lived in hazleton and seen the change, you wont possibly understand. I just sound like a racist with this post, I realize….
The only thing Lou wanted was to see documentation, and to not allow so many families in to a single small apartment. Landlords were renting to undocumented immigrants and just allowing them to pack in to places and the places were unsanitary, and falling apart.
Today, we get illegal immigrants who cant speak english and expect handouts.
Not sure I follow.
By definition, illegal aliens are in the U.S. without legal status. And without legal status, they’re ineligible for “handouts” (other than E.R. care, for reasons concerning privacy that are not immigrant/alien-centric).
What legal handouts are the illegals looking for?
And why in Hazleton — as opposed to, say, Altoona or New Hope?
a grammar error. I should have said illegal immigrants, and immigrants who expect handouts. There are plenty of immigrants coming to the US to better their lives, and be productive members of society. Somehow though, Hazleton gets a large majority of those who are coming for other reasons.
I know for a fact, that specifically hazleton’s section 8 housing is advertised in parts of NY. My brother in law is a Dominican from the Bronx. And Ive had friends in high school tell me the same thing.
So we arent just getting people who happen to settle here already with jobs lined up. We are just getting a ton of people coming here cramming in to the cheap housing and letting their places fall apart. Drivingcars uninsured and unregistered, and piling up multiple shopping carts overflowing with food making grocery store lines unbearably long. Most of the time they are paying with their govt money. Other times, big rolls of cash…And theyre not all successful business owners.
I grew up north of Hazleton in the Scranton region. Every version of white immigrant came in there to work the mines and rail roads not speaking the English of the land. Every first generation immigrant gets fed crap, and is hated for working harder and cheaper. Their kids grow up in America, learn english in American schools, and become American as anyone. Sure a town rich with immigrants in Carbondale now live in relative white harmony now, but they weren’t always bastions of tolerance, and every newcomer takes their lumps.
I know that the town of hazleton had different sections. Youd find most Irish living on one area, Italians in another, Polish in another, etc.
They didnt know english when they got here, but they did learn it. And everyone grew together.
In hazleton, over the last 1-2 decades, things only seem to be getting worse between the caucasians and latin/hispanic population.
The more the city continues to crumble, the more contempt grows.
There are nice things, like the organization Joe Maddon started here, and his mission to fight against segregation.
But as the violent crime rate, and drug crime rates continue to grow, those things are counteracted.
Yeah I caught the early phases of it in the region before I left. Similar experiences are happening in Williamsport west of you. It’s troubling to see the place you live change, and when it comes with crime and such, I’m not surprised the tensions are up.
Im glad you can relate because I know my posts definitely sound racist. But Im telling you and everyone, its not, or at least it wouldnt be the people against other groups of people. Hazletonians know what their ancestors went through while building this city. This can be one of the more accepting places you probably could find to come to.
The tensions stem from the difference in the process today, and the attitudes that this wave of immigrants brings with them. Those issues though, are perceived as racism.
What I find most difficult about the entire discussion on race with Chip are the following two things;
– it is very difficult to ascertain the actual climate within the team because I’m not a member of the organization and doing so is a lot harder than determining that the WR coach is a stupid ass for taking up for Riley Cooper’s blocking when we all know he’s a sucky bastard and/or insulting our intelligence by keeping Barner on this roster longer than Josey.
– being a 38 year old white male; I’ve never faced any real discrimination in my life that has hurt me in any way. I, outside of economics because I’m not a 1%er, enjoy a tremendous level of privilege in our society. I don’t want to “white-splain” or poo poo every charge of racism that comes up because I’m not familiar with what it feels like to be a victim of racism. But I don’t want to see Chip painted with that brush unless it is valid.
Very wise comments.
At the same time, racism isn’t just about guys in white sheets with pointy hats waving the Confederate battle flag.
It’s ridiculous, to me, that people are using the “R” word with Kelly against a standard of overt, Jim Crow-style discrimination. One way or the other.
Whatever is bothering some of the black players on the Eagles, it doesn’t involve Kelly hanging nooses around the locker room, or using the “n” word, or calling them “boy.”
As Media Mike wrote, we are not inside the organization. Nor have the players been subject to lengthy, detailed debriefings by skilled questioners, as far as we know, on the issue of whether Kelly treats white players differently than non-white players.
All we know about are Kelly’s handling of Cooper’s racially charged comments at the Kenny Chesney concert — which Kelly and Kelce also attended — and very brief comments by a few players. And all are being judged against some vague standard of overt racism. Which has proven very unproductive and a huge waste of time.
Kelly is not a racist. But does he treat black players differently from white players? I haven’t a clue. And I doubt it strongly.
For the simple reason that we have not been getting leaks out of Novacare by unnamed sources bad-mouthing Kelly on this issue.
It seemed Boykin was going in that direction. But then he muddled the issue even more.
When leaks begin from the team, then there’s a real problem. Otherwise, to me, the conversation of whether Kelly a white-sheet wearing, flag waving racist is a TOTAL non-starter.
If Boykin was 100% football focused, his comments would be something along the lines of, “so excited about the opportunity to play outside cb in Pittsburgh.” If he was an edgy or rough football focused player it might read, “I never got a legitimate chance to start at outside cb in Philly, it’s time for me to show the league what I can do.”
But that’s not what we got…
Boykin should have consulted with you before speaking to the reporter.
What?
“so excited ,,,“is what he should have said; could even have been what he was thinking but sometimes brain and mouth don`t function in synch.
There are 2 major levels in racism
1) Purely Biological racism that was common in the 60’s. “You’re black, therefore you are inferior” It was automatic
2) Cultural racism. Basically it’s the negative view of of black culture. Sure you can become president of the united states with black skin, but you’d better white-wash yourself (pun intended). Major art forms dominated by African Americans like rap are associated with gang activity, Basketball with the street (NBA is so image conscious they have a strict dress code, does that mean they’re racist, or does the alternative make white viewers “uncomfortable”?), accents associated with the ghetto. Ghetto associated with wellfare, laziness, drugs, violence.
In regards to the second, it’s a huge project that has been decades long fight to sort of reclaim the black brand and defy racist stereo-types (IE if you’re white, people don’t see your skin color or hear a southern accent and think trailer trash). Guys like McNabb and Boykin who were raised in the middle class are often raised on the mantra of working twice as hard to get half as much. Both players work extremely hard and they are very proud.
So can I see the idea of Chips culture (which isn’t native to any race), placed on a high pedestal could rub some guys there wrong way, like infer that the culture they grew up in isn’t good enough, which can be a very sensitive subject.
So I can’t blame anyone who perceives racism here, regardless of whether it’s there or not.
So yes, ACV, anyone who lived through the 60’s remembers a different brand of racism, but there is a more subtle brand of it the runs through almost everyone, even when there is no active malice. So essentially progress has faltered under the veil of denial. Or to put it in a Chipism, “‘good enough’ isn’t good enough”.
A87:
Excellent comment. Very interesting.
And persuasive.
It’s a difficult conversation to have, because you’re always left second guessing. Is it there or is it being imagined? It’s definitely out there, but can be incredibly difficult to address on a case by case basis, especially in this case where there is virtually no information. I don’t think Chip is racist in the first sense in any way. In the second sense I do think he believes in superior culture, that’s his thing, but it isn’t based on racial supremacy or inferiority. As for does he relate well to people outside of football? People have been saying he’s awkward the minute you stop talking about football forever. I try to give both parties a benefit of the doubt in situations like this. Boykin might have percieved something honestly, but didn’t want to try to smear Kelly so he thought on it and back tracked. Kelly seems to be a decent sort, but is no people person.
Again, an excellent articulation of what’s going on.
We Eagles fans, known for our peaceful and understanding ways. This board is the best. So glad we have a Lawyer/football historian here along with just about every other thing imaginable.
I get the impression that Chip prefers to think only about football
during the working hours he mentioned (in a PC?): from 6am to 10pm. And i imagine he expects the people around him during those hours to feel the same, and act the same.
I’ve worked for people that single-minded, and never found them to have the slightest appetite for talk about life, family, or anything but the subject at hand. In fact they’d get testy if a conversation veered outside just that for more than a very short while.
Perhaps that’s Chip. If so, he needs to keep weeding out people who lack that singular focus, or decide to change himself. Maybe he simply has neither time nor patience for any other “culture”.
The race thing is weird. My best friend thinks he’s racist and I argue he’s not. We’re both black and look at race differently. In this case I think it’d be (for me) a hard sell to convince me he’s racist. My friend and others are quick to jump to conclusions <- and yes I really don't hold this opinion of others in high regard.
I think in 38 years of life I can pinpoint racism vs. bs. There's a lot of nuance and sometimes people are crappy – that doesn't make them racist, it just makes them crappy at life.
racism means you DESPISE an ENTIRE group of people because of the color of their skin, a deep rooted hatred that you won’t be able to overlook in individual cases. You can pretend you ARENT racist, but deep down you have to HATE EVERY black man to be a Racist… I don’t think you can Love one black man, and hate another and be a racist….you either have a genuine HATE for an entire group because of the color of their skins that you can’t overlook or you aren’t a racist…. If you love one Black man, and hate another black man, you are judging them on an individual basis, which is the exact opposite of being Racist
Hey man, I like reading your stuff because you bring a unique viewpoint and are always entertaining. But on this one, you’re way off. Racism is subtle and nuanced like most other things in life. When you speak with such conviction about football and get everybody all riled up, I enjoy it. About this, not so much. I don’t know if Chip is racist or not and I don’t think any of us does. I can’t eliminate the possibility for him any more than I can for any of us. I think you and I would probably come to the same conclusion, but for different reasons. You say it’s a non-issue because Chip can’t be racist if he likes some black people. I say it’s a non-issue because there is no way to tell from the information that we have. Either way, the debate is pointless. I don’t intend for this to start an argument, but in my opinion your view is too narrow on this.
There are legitimate race issues in the NFL. I think something is wrong when a majority of coaches are white when the majority of players are black. The most qualified candidates for coaching positions are former players, but that hasn’t translated into enough (clearly there are some) opportunities at the entry level. I also think there is still some racism by fans and more subtly by some coaches regarding the QB position. Blake Bortles and Johnny Manziel got all the hype in 2014 Draft, while Teddy Bridgewater was an excellent college QB who fell below them. The Browns even spent $100,000 on a study that told them Bridgewater was the best QB and they still took Manziel.
What I’m trying to say is this: racism is still a huge issue in our society. It’s still an issue in the NFL. But I’m not comfortable calling Chip a racist. He’s started white, black, Hispanic, and Polynesian players at nearly every position including QB. Josh Huff might be the player he’s personally closest to. Jason Peters and DeMeco Ryans are two of his favorites. He met with black players after the Riley Cooper incident and consulted with them on what to do. The Eagles might frustrate me when they lose, but they’re one of the most progressive NFL teams. In the Lurie Era, Ray Rhodes, Andy Reid, and Chip have all been good for racial equality in the NFL.
Ouch. Bobby Wagner signed a 4 year/43mil/22mil guaranteed deal with the Seahawks. If Kendricks continues to play well then I don’t think we’ll pay the man to stay here. The same with Kiko since I highly doubt that he’ll want to play out his rookie contract and get a new deal at the age of 27.
If Wagner is 4/$43/$22, I’d put Kendricks at 4/$34/$17 and essentially make it a deal I can get out of in two years.
We don’t have to pay Kiko until 2017 concludes and Hicks until 2018 concludes.
We can easily afford to pay Kendricks the deal he’d get on the market for two years and then cut him if we need to after 2017 concludes.
It depends on how well both guys play this year.
Unless Kendricks grows a few inches or erases some past horrible game tape (i.e. San Diego) or un-slacks coming back from an injury (Chip’s comments on the issue); I don’t see him being in the Wagner class of ILB. I think $8.5 mil / year is a good baseline for a guy of Kendricks good/great, but not superstar level ILB skills.
He’s awesome, but he ain’t Wagner.
When everyone sees how dominant Kiko and Kendricks will be flying around together, im sure it will be very very difficult for Chip to break up that tandem after this season… not Paying to extend Boykin, increases Mykals chnaces of an extension… If Mykal plays 16 games, doubt they will be able to not pay him, but like you said, it will be a nice contract, but one we can get out of in 2-3 years when we have to pay Hicks and Kiko
Is it possible that honesty in Boykin’s eyes means “Chip has been discussing trading me since the draft and he never once said anything about that during mini-camp or in any convo we have had since then”. It’s easy to feel betrayed by the ex who just dumped you.
The only problem with their logic is that they are not in the field of mathematics. There are no absolutes when the human element is in play. Intagibiles are equally important in the world of football. A Billy Bean has never existed in football. We can’t say Chip is trying to become the next Billy Bean because he does view Intagibiles (character) as part of his evaluation. It just holds a certain value that is mitigated by other factors.
In football especially how many extremely elite talents have never amounted to anything. How many balls of clay have become great? Jamarcus Russle… Ray Lewis. Let’s not forget when Ray came in the league he was too small. An even better example would be Tom Brady.
Just a reaffirmation that I personally am not in step with the talent evaluation of the Eagles. Like I have said all off-season though, that is probably a good thing.
Brady’s measureables weren’t really a question coming out of Michigan. He was platooned with Drew Henson (I think?) in his Senior year. That pretty much killed him in the draft.
Benjamin Allbright
@AllbrightNFL
1 Std.
Current and former players alike, black and white, jumping to Chip Kelly’s defense, yesterday and today.
Benjamin Allbright
@AllbrightNFL
9 Min.
Spoke with a former Chip Kelly African-American QB about the things going around about his former HC. He laughed. Called it “stupid.”
Benjamin Allbright
@AllbrightNFL
6 Min.
Whatever you think about Chip Kelly, his former players are universally rushing to defend him, even with nothing to gain/lose by doing so.
I think that’s pretty big. Current players will only give you hints, because they’d be axed asap if they criticize Chip in public. But off the record (for now, maybe he will post an article with on the record quotes later), with nothing to gain or lose, those are honest opinions imo.
Of course, it comes down to whether you trust Albright. I personally trust him on that one. He talked to former Oregon players and I believe him. And to be honest, ripping Chip with quotes from former players would be the bigger story for him, so…
I think Pitt asked about Boykin/Carrol and that’s where the interest was for Carrol.
I agree Boykin’s comments have become muddled as he has tried to “explain” them with more clarity.
However, the takeaway for me was never racial nor was it about interaction although the hallway story does point in that direction.
For me it came down to these two concepts: “he like to be in total control of everything” and “players can excel when you naturally let them be who they are”
The control freak observation I think is the most applicable since we’ve all seen how Chip has come into this organization and, in pretty short order, demanded and gotten all the football operations power. He controls everything from the draft to FA to salary cap/contracts to roster construction to coaching and everything in between or anything related to it.
We also know Chip runs a tight ship since we’ve sent DJax, McCoy, Mathis and now Boykin packing; all of whom had at least some friction with him and/or the organization under his watch. These are all very good players, but to whatever degree and for whatever reasons they did not fully buy into Chip as the guru leader or his program.
The other observation, related to Chip’s need for control, is that he is looking for very specific player personalities, characters and types (size, height, arm length etc.) and that a clear line exists for all the players on the team between “fitting in” and being left out in the cold. Players that do not fit all or many of the criteria need to either be so dominant or need to change their entire approach/mindset/personality to have a chance to stick around.
Boykin I think felt singled out and automatically eliminated from competing for a starting job on the outside because he did not fit the criteria and/or was not willing to “not be himself” i.e. change to fit in. I think Boykin felt for those players in his “category” that Chip did not waste much time getting to know them or giving them much coaching time because Chip was focused on the guys who did fit and had mentally checked Boykin off the list already.
Who knows if any of this is true, but I think it is certainly a reasonable position for Boykin to feel that and talk about it once he was traded. Boykin is not a malcontent IMO. However, I have no problem with Chip operating this way with the exception that I hope he continues to build in some flexibility like he has for Graham, Sproles and others. Talent is still very important to winning and no “system” should be so strictly followed that special cases are not give proper opportunity IMO.
A non-Eagles fan friend of mine insists that Chip Kelly will potentially lose his job if he does not win a playoff game this year. My friend cites fan anger about the release/trading of Desean and Lesean. (He hates both those players himself and has a very low opinion of Eagles fans. Thinks we’re all thugs. Terrified of ever going to an Eagles game; I’ve invited him on more than one occasion.)
Anyhow, I’m beginning to agree with him, but not because the players were traded per se, but due to the insinuations of racism. If Chip/Eagles do poorly this year, fans and media will be calling for his removal due to poor record and due to his perceived racism. In other words, if Chip were to miss playoffs sans racism charges, he’d be fine. If we miss playoffs and the specter of Chip being racist is still around, there will be pressure from fans and media for Lurie to move on. (Not sure how Lurie would respond; I think he sticks with Chip all 5 years unless we go 5 or fewer wins.
I want to ask an honest, complicated question as a 30-something white man. When Lesean said Chip got rid of all the good black players, many people fired back that we had just acquired Murray. A good black player.
Black commentators noted that “it’s more complex than that.” Boykin hinted at that by saying Chip is uncomfortable with “our culture.”
When it comes to racism, it seems that it goes beyond skin color. (And here is where I need help with understanding.)
The accusation has been that Chip is racist for cutting ties with Desean, Lesean, Boykin, etc. However, Chip has acquired Murray, Jordan Matthews, and extended Mufasa. All black players.
However, would anyone disagree that there is a “culture” difference between those guys? Is culture the right word. Is attitude a better word? I think some prefer culture, as Boykin said.
I have to be careful as I don’t won’t to offend or show too much ignorance. But when Obama was running for president, I recall certain black leaders suggesting he wasn’t “black enough” or something along those lines. Is that the “culture” piece Boykin is talking about?
Are naive white commentators thinking race is about skin color when it’s really about culture? Help me out here.
A few years ago, there was an Eagles game day cartoon that featured a black fan. The black fan in the cartoon was very rapper-like, for lack of a better term. He reminded me of Desean, really. Skinny and used slang. I recall Eagles media being upset over the video and how it portrayed the black fan.
So I guess I’m confused/unclear what is the tension.
Can we say it’s pretty clear Chip does not have a problem with black “people.” But Chip may not want on his team (black) players that want to live the rapper-like culture? Am I way off here? Is this the “complexity” that many commentators refer to? Help me out. Thanks.
You’re trying to start that ‘discussion about race” that many adults never have with themselves, much less with others in an open forum. People are comfortable with what they know…what they grow up with. In Chip’s case…explained by someone on this or 24/7…he spent his formative years in NH and 5 yrs in OR, neither of which was conducive to understanding players from a wide variety of backgrounds, which includes southern African Americans like Boykin.
I think Chip needs to stop telling the media to ask the players what they think and provide a more in depth answer. And if he hasn’t already, he needs to be reaching out to a black coach to get some advice. No, you can’t let people’s perceptions always guide what you do, but if there are players on his team that carry themselves a certain way due to adherence to a culture they love and value, which he does not, I think it would be wise for him to clarify.
Frankly, while one could argue sticking with Cooper showed loyalty as he did with Blount and Alonso in college when they made mistakes, the Cooper situation is different and sticking with him has been hurtful to the morale of the team. I get loyalty to a player who messed up, but one could argue the Cooper situation has been an infection brewing under the surface.
If Chip/Eagles continue to win, this issue will be put on back burner. If Eagles struggle, this discussion will continue.
I disagree. If he approaches it as anything other than dumb things said by former players who quickly backed away from their words when challenged, he would be giving the idea a level of validity that it does not deserve.
That seems to be the approach so far. Two 10-6 seasons and a hopeful 3rd year are giving him a buffer. If the OL falls apart and the birds struggle this year, ignoring the, albeit subtle/weak, accusations will no longer be an option.
There seem to be many Eagles fans who do believe he’s racist, and the Philly media are mostly negative/skeptical about Kelly and his ways.
If the Eagles have a sub 6-win season, expect the racism issue to grow. Ignoring it may no longer be an option. Chip likely knows this and likely does not care.
I think the number of Eagles fans that seem to believe Kelly is a racist is greatly inflated by the number of Eagles fans who don’t really think Kelly is racist, but they don’t like Kelly and will use anything to needle him in philly.com comments.
A hypothesis:
Kelly wants to run the team like an army, with obedient, bland, fungible players. But some black pro athletes do not dress, talk, or act in ways compatible with this paradigm. (Compare the identical crew cuts, the “sir, yes, sir!”, the quarter-bouncing beds versus the tats, the afros/cornrows/dreds, and the vocal inflections of hip hop culture). Therefore, he cuts them. He may not be thinking in terms of skin color or sub-culture but looking for players who fit a certain behavior standard, in a similar way to his obsession with measurables. He may have no personal animosity towards black people, but the effect of his policies could be identical to those of a racist. And this could be compounded by a lack of interpersonal skills, atta-boys and such.
MWC:
Damned interesting hypothesis.
Title VII — the federal anti-discrimination law covering race, ethnicity, gender, and religion — prohibits two types of discrimination:
1. Intentional Discrimination (treating 1 employee differently than another, with respect to the same terms and conditions of employment, because of a prohibited characteristic such as race or religion); and
2. Disparate Impact Discrimination.
Your hypothesis is a great example of what, in the absence of a business necessity justification, could be characterized as “Disparate Impact” discrimination.
(I’m not saying Kelly’s doing anything wrong. Just remarking on the interesting hypo.)
It is, but I thought you would need to be able to prove that the black players are getting cut/released/traded more than the white players?
The team has more black players, which in turn would provide more opportunity to cut/trade said players. Also, I think they drafted all black players this year IIRC, but the most vocal of the since departed ones are black.
Just my thoughts on your thoughts on the hypo. You’d be better to speak to how that would play out in court, but those would be my initial thoughts.
AG:
You’re right, for sure. Excellent point.
Given the demographics of an NFL team, a lengthy time-frame showing a long pattern of disparate-impact decision-making would be needed. (And evidence to overcome the “business necessity” reason.)
I purposely oversimplified — and should have said so.
I had a similar thought myself. Consider Chip’s appreciation of the Navy Seals. Personally, based on what I’ve seen and what others—both black and white—have had to say about Chip, I don’t think he’s racist. However, he clearly is building a team with a certain “culture.” It appears that swagger, style, diva, me-first, edgy, non-conformity, etc. are qualities that Chip is actively selecting against.
I’m not convinced the culture/attitude he is looking for discriminates against black players—as there are obviously several he’s acquired and several who remain on the team. However, there does seem to be an understanding that race is more than skin color and includes culture/attitude as well. Thus, Chip’s apparent selection against certain player attitudes/culture is perceived by some as racism.
However, I do think it has been a mistake to extend and retain Cooper. And it is understandible how Cooper remaining on the team has been upsetting to some players and many fans, despite whatever football skills he may (or may not) have.
If think chip would prefer a team of men, who don’t even think in terms of these things. Emotional stable men who understand how the business works and don’t talk nonsense as soon as their ego gets bruised
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no play felt the Chip Kelly Hammer worst then Maths, and he is as white as it gets… cole can’t consider it Raism, when white man Herremans was cut right with him… James Casey, white guy, who got cut, had some dignity and left with class…… MACLIN left us, never heard him say a bad word bout chip. He is pretty black last I checked
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Meco and Peters are two of chips Favorites,who he respects the most.. Both GROWN BLACK Men..
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Got rid of black shady, and we don’t have any white RBs..
I’d like to thank Gabby Johnson for an example of frontier gibberish little seen in this day and age. ..
Kelly’s critics in this area, if they could speak frankly, would probably say Kelly prefers his African American men in the -er ending category rather than the -a ending category.
If that’s not clear enough, picture Riley Cooper saying the n-word, then picture DeSean saying the n-word. They don’t sound the same, right? different endings? Kelly prefers the former.
If suffixes aren’t doing it for you, perhaps prefixes would help? Try “house” and “field”
? Are you saying CK is racist?
AG:
I think Cafone’s kidding around.
Ahh, ok. I think the sarcasm font is needed. 🙂
I was voicing what I believe Kelly’s critics are trying to say when they differentiate between players of color and their “culture”, but never actually say because it is too offensive.
“Wait, I speak jive.”
Desean and Lesean were the type of people who seems to be concerned with having “swag” if that makes any sense. J Matthews, Murray, and demeco aren’t like that. That’s the difference.
Wait, an NFL head coach will be in danger of losing his job if he doesn’t win?
NO.WAY.
Boykin, to my mind, is the one person who’s been sent packing after being dealt with unfairly. Let’s face it, no matter how many times Chip said “the best man plays” or “we bend the system to the skillset” or “we have an open competition at that position”, he never meant it wrt BB. A player should not have to divine the tea leaves about how the coach interacts with him in the hallway to determine his position on the team.
Boykin’s remarks, more than anything said by any departing player, provide insight to Chip Kelly, the person. While I may like the results he gets with the Eagles…and that jury is still out…I probably wouldn’t care much for him as a person. Yes, I played for coaches I didn’t especially like or who didn’t especially like me, but like the real world, life’s easier when you and your boss like each other.
No, just No… Just because Boykin is VERY GOOD in coverage, doesn’t mean he would ever be a best option playing press on the outside… Forget his height, lack of Legth is why he can’t play press outside against a guy like Dez BRyant who will throw boykin out of bounds if he tries to play Press.
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Boykin in practice played inside AND outside for the past 3 summers. If he was our best press corner, he would have played outside.. Just because you see him as a good cover corner, doesn’t mean he is suited to play corner outside in every scheme..
ugh, have to agree with GEAGLE here. I feel so dirty.
I was not commenting on whether or not Boykin would’ve cut it as a CB. It’s what CK said versus what he did. At some point, Kelly should’ve manned up vis a vis Boykin’s status. And, IMHO, he failed at Management 101.
He did man up, he gave Boykin reps at outside corner in practice. He apparently did not not impress.
Eagles add free-agent rookie WR from Delaware, Mike Johnson.
http://www.bleedinggreennation.com/2015/8/3/9089487/eagles-mike-johnson-delaware-wide-receiver-roster-players-limit
Reading the scouting reports on him, how the heck is not on someone’s roster?
6’2″ 210lbs. And, per Matt Waldman, a fine route runner.
Like that Kelly’s giving some local kids a chance.
I really don’t think it’s a good idea to give any kind of preference at all to local college talent because, let’s be honest, college football within 100 miles of Philadelpha is awful.
Brian Westbrook disproves your arguement
Not really any more than Tamba Hali proves Liberia is a football hotbed.
love this comment. multiple imaginary upvotes
Score one for logic!
Of the top of my head, what about . . .
Chuck Bednarik
Howie Long
Al Atkinson
Mike Siani
Joe Klecko
Richie Moore
John Babinecz
John Reinstra
Billy Walik
Lance Johnstone
Rich Gannon
John Taylor
Todd McNair
Raheem Brock
Jamaal Jackson
Darnerian McCants
Westy (as sutherneagle noted)
Terrence Knighton
Joe Flacco
Muhammad Wilkerson
Ben Ijalana
Bernard Pierce
Jahri Evans SB champ
Eddie George
Randy Grossman 4x SB champ
Marvin Harrison
Erik Williams 3x SB champ
Great list of area players who for the most part were good enough to get the hell out of this area to play college football.
Randy Grossman from Steve Joachim . . . .
Those were indeed the days.
You forgot LJ Smith and Jaiquawn Jarrett.
Or were you concentrating more on the the era before helmets?
Cafone . . . you broke me up with that! well done.
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Having grown up in Atlantic City, I always considered Rutgers to be part of NYGiants country — not Eagles territory. That’s why I left off LJ Smith.
As for Jarrett, I can only plead disappointment in his performance.
He’ll be in the CFL eventually. The guy just isn’t NFL material but best of luck to him.
That would be a great outcome for the kid.
I’m kinda glad Boykin is gone so people will stop clamoring for him to play outside, where he won’t be able to defend the fade, will get beat up on, and/or get burned. He is criminally overrated.
best take on the trade yet.
People thinking he would be our best outside corner when we play Press was pretty absurd.. Boykin is a great cover corner, but has no business playing outside in a press scheme…. Truth is, boykin has lined up inside and outside at practice for the past 3 summers… If he proved he was our best press option on the outside, he would have played on the outside..
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People get hung up on the height. But I bet we care more about Length on the outside, which is important in technique like press outside, or DL two Gap.
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thurmond ismt much taller then Boykin, but Thurmond would have a much better chance playing outside for us even tho he lacks height, because of his freakish arm length..
The reason the Chip Kelly racism story is a story is because he is not a racist.
Because racism is so institutionalized in the US, a story about a white person being falsely accused of racism is news, where stories of actual racism, like when a horde of racist jerks invade a little black girl’s birthday party, streaming confederate flags from their pick-up trucks and screaming “we’re gonna kill all you n****rs” (which happened last week), it is barely noticed.
Today’s current republican party is basically built on racism. The Social programs of the 40s and 50s, which led our country to incredible prosperity, were fine with just about everyone, including both political parties, until civil rights came along and black people were going to benefit too. Racism became the main tool for the republicans to lure voters to act against their own self interest so that imaginary black welfare queens would not take all their hard earned money, when obviously all their hard earned money was not being given to black people but was being redistributed to the wealthiest .01 % of our population so they could buy villas in France to house their servants when they visited for one week a year.
So, the new narrative is that racism no longer exists in this country, except for the truly hateful racism: the horror of white person being accused of it. And there’s nothing like the story of a white person being falsely accused of racism to help paint all claims of racial prejudice as nonsense.
There’s a lot packed in this comment and loads of other historical points that could be added – but no one wants to write a book in a comment. Great comment tho.
Yeah, really good comment.
Thank you. Vote Bernie Sanders 😉
I don’t want to turn this into a political debate, but the entire political system in this country today is built on racism. And both parties are responsible for that.
What goes through my mind every time I hear the ‘Chip – racist’ theme is how so many college and pro coaches have been racist to some degree and all this is for some reason piling on Kelly, without a smoking gun that convinces me of the veracity of the charges. The story is being driven by the three players. Warren Moon is a spokesman on the topic that I may not agree with all the time these days, but there’s no question in my mind that if he was white, he wouldn’t have had such a legendary career in the CFL before he got a shot in the NFL, and Chip had nothing to do with that. You may have a point that the media likes the story because it causes white people to get defensive and dismiss charges of racism in general, but the local reporters like Tommy and his gang have to report what the players are saying.
jason Peters as our leader should make a deal with Chip. If we win the Super Bowl this year, during the post game champaign locker room celebration, chip has to promise to sing and dance on camera “singing it loud, I’m black and Im proud” 10 times in a row while dancing his choice of “the dougie”, “the Nay Nay” or “The Tootsie roll”….,bet you could get that clown Rex Ryan to do it
All these guys are just butt-hurt…. i blame it on the catering to the elite athlete these days like they are actually people lol. On to the next one.
it’s not Chip’s/Boykin’s/eagles/NFL/Democrats/Republicans/general publics fault for this B.S….. IT’S THE BLOODSUCKING MEDIA. If i was president I would fix 3 things; education, tax reform and THE MEDIA.
Republicans broke our media on purpose: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fairness_Doctrine#Revocation so with a Republican house and senate there would be nothing you could do about fixing it as president. Maybe if you were King….
It’s not Rocket Science,,,, man is madly in love with woman, she breaks up with him, his hurt, bruised ego emotionally lashes out and starts to talk shit about the woman he “Loves”
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Being traded is a form of rejection. You can’t find a single black player who left us in free agency when his contract expired that says anything like this about chip.. only good players who thought they had a spot on this team and had contracts, that were cut or traded unexpectedly run their mouths about chip…. Doubt THATS a coincidence… Day before Camp, Boykin didn’t expect to be traded from a team he likes and wanted to play for… He is hurt, emotional, some bruised ego on the way out, and at an emotional time, the joke of the media pokes at him asking about the shady comments, and you have emotional bruised egos lashing out when we tell them we don’t want them
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If Chip was really racist, these players wouldn’t want to be here, they would be happy To be traded away and get away from a racist coach and go play for MIke Tomlin,fellow Blackman…. yet they are all shocked, and Hurt being cut or traded from a place they wanted to be…. You wouldn’t want to be here if Chip was the next Donald Sterling.. Get real… Please don’t waste any more of my time with such fucking nonsense
There’s a difference between being a person being a “racist” and a person making “racially motivated” decisions.
Excellent comments by Bruce and Ark87 thoughtfully address how racism has moved more underground (though not enough).
The most disappointing thing about all of this talk is the timing. Football is finally here, and there’s way too much digital ink being spilled on an overblown issue.
For the folks who run the NFL, here are a couple lead stories on eve of the 2015 season:
1. Deflategate – the overblown conspiracy that won’t end.
2. Chip Kelly – is he “The Grand Cyclops?”
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Closer to home . . .
Dutch Bradford and Concrete D-Ryans?
On a positive Note, Marcus Smith is impressing, and I hear Bradford is dropping Dimes all over Novacare today
He better watch his back. Nobody likes a snitch.
Well, we’re on luck then. Snitches get stitches, but Bradford already has plenty of those. He’ll hardly notice a change.
Meanwhile, the Sanchize stays true to the rough streets of his SoCal upbringing.
I guess 25 year old “grown men” of his “culture” are as ignorant and immature as 25 year-olds of every other “culture”. Just because you’re old enough to vote, drink, and be legally liable for your actions as an adult, doesn’t make you a grown man. Nor does earning a lot of money.
EVERY person that works in a company of size with management layers has been lied to, promised one thing and given another, been affected by management decisions above them that they have no idea on the deciding factors, etc., etc. Inner company politics are often the hardest waters to navigate.
Ultimately, Chip the Head Coach determined that Brandon Boykin was best suited covering the slot receiver in this defense (regardless of whatever was communicated about getting a shot at playing outside), and Chip the General Manager determined that Brandon Boykin was (rightly so) going to seek an opportunity to play outside in a defense more suited to his skill sets, and would look to be paid as such (which would be more than the Eagles could justify in managing their cap by position group). Chip the General Manager did the math and made the call.
As for the trade, Boykin’s landed in a great situation! Chip didn’t ship him to the Raiders or Browns. I like BB and wish him success with the Steelers or wherever his career takes him.
I’m pretty certain that when Brandon Boykin reaches his mid-30s and looks back on this, he’ll have a different “grown man” and “culture” perspective.
One thing I’ve learned about growing older in my 57 years on this planet – there’s a natural maturation process that comes with growing older. Things that seemed so important and vital to you in your 20s evolve and change as you enter your 30s, and the process continues with each decade you live.
LOL @ the Steelers trading for the man they dubbed “a Candy Bar”….
That was a weird game, remember Roethlisberger saying “I see you 22” right before the last first down? The play where they ran a pick on Boykin to get his guy open? Strange stuff.
Did Timlin or Colbert call Boykin “a Candy Bar”?
Or one of the players?
That’s how good Antonio Brown is. He’s multiple people.
I don’t think Chip’s thinking is irrational moving forward, I just think he wasn’t used correctly while we had him. I mean, even if he stunk it up out there, he couldn’t be any worse than Fletcher was, so what was really the downside to giving him a shot? Lost trade value? We only got a mid-late pick back anyhow.
I’m not sure where Chip is coming from talking about how we are loaded at cornerback either. Most of the guys at corner now are either rookies or have very little game experience. Maxwell is the obvious good but not great player who is likely to hold down 1 corner spot, and Nolan C. who’s ceiling is likely surprisingly solid corner (what we all hoped Cary and Fletch could be). Other than that, who do we have who has actual proven NFL ability? Thurmond is moving to safety, then we have Watkins who barely played last year and 2 rookies. They might look like good prospects but we don’t really know what to expect from any of those 3 guys, and at least 1 of them is going to be either a nickle or boundary corner on opening day. We’re an injury or 2 from starting an absurd amount of unproven youth at corner.
Maybe it works out and all those guys end up being ballers, but I really don’t understand how we could look at our corner situation, which was one of the worst in the NFL last year, and suddenly say we’re loaded because we drafted a bunch of guys. Stud prospects wash out all the time at cornerback, much less 4th or 6th rounders, even if they’re supposedly “steals”.
Maybe trading Boykin will end up being the right move but I’d hardly call our corner situation “deep” until we know whether the young guys can actually play or not. Plus we could have kept our choice of the best young guys and held onto Boykin too.
Just tell us he was too small Chip, we know that was the real reason all along.
Mmm. Short corner and good zone guy. I think the coach decided that he was not good enough. Plus a lot of Boykin was “I deserve” and “I want” … why are you opening your mouth at all? Play and let that stand for itself. Either you are beating guys or not.
“Play and let that stand for itself.”
He played better than every other corner for the past 3 seasons. I can understand the guy’s frustration.
Any body know what type of defense(s) specificially that the Eagles want to play this yr? I know last yr was usually a 3-4 front but I don’t know much more than that.
3-4 on first and second down… 4man line with lots of twists and stunts on 3rd down…
With Boykin gone, probably won’t play much dime… We will play Nickel, but try and stay in base as much as we can since both Jenkins and Thurmond can come down and function as a Nickel corner against the slot..
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Only difference between tbis year and last year is young players are more comfortable in this scheme, so we will see guys like curry, Graham. Barwin, Cox, Logan, line up in different spots all over the defensive front to keep opposing Olines off balance
MKSP —
Saw you in an upvote.
You’ve been missed.
Sounds like the JMatt-Bradford connection is budding which is fantastic news.
It can be taken one of two ways… The other is just a bad sign for our nickle corners.
I assume they still play with limited physicality at this point.
The corners may wind up sucking hard, but you’d expect them to get beat with no hitting.
I am more encouraged about the timing and comfort level between them at this point but yeah that is true…
And with Jacorey Shepherds amazing size with 5″11 we are now really big?
Not sure of the accuracy but given the reference bellow I would guess he falls within a standard deviation of the mean.
http://www.sprayberryfootball.com/page/show/292837-nfl-player-specs
There is about a finger nails difference between 5’11 Shep and 6’0 outside CB Nolan… People get hung up on DB height, but I assume Length is probably what we care about most
Nolan is 6’1″.
This doesn’t tell the whole story, but apparently the coaches believe that Shepherd is good enough to get the job done combined with a near 100% likelihood of Boykin walking next year and wisely took the draft pick.
malcolm Jenkins gave a very insightful interview, was very honest about last years secondary issues, how we were imposters who acted like we would press but not trust our technique and give recievers free releases,. jenkins talked in depth about our breakdown in technique, he said we had tight coverage but lack of technique failed us.
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Raved about Nolans offseason in every phase (allegedly we turned down a trade offer for Nolan).. Claims Nolan was the best DB in the weight room, strongest and most explosive DB… He has been very coachable, changing his entire technique and it’s showing on the field.
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talked about how impressed he has been with rookie Russell Shepard. I assumed jaylen would start opening day at nickel, and I hate rookie corners, but starting to sound like Shep has a real chance of starting in September.
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Russell was the WR.
YeaH yeah, JaCorey… You know what I meant
Travis Long left with an injury, no idea how serious
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MS2 allegedly looked good, and swore off fried foods.
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Saw a tweet that said bennie Logan threw a blocking slide off to the side with one hand…
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bradford 65yard TD down the seam to the Pope was said to be the play off the day… Apparently Jordan is looking fantastic.. Should be good traning for Russel Shepard to line up against Jordan in the slot.
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demarco was held out of practice by coaches yesterday, and no one is saying why. But it wasn’t health related
I’m beginning to legitimately wonder if the combination of the Philly media and departing player comments ends up driving Chip away from the NFL.
He didn’t sign up for this garbage.
I’d be shocked, I don’t think Chip is so sensitive that he can’t handle it, but this is the first time since he’s been hired that I’ve actually wondered if he’s cut out for this, or whether he simply wants to deal with it when he doesn’t have to.
It sucks he has to deal with this, but these are exactly the type of questions people had when he came in. Can he handle the personalities of the NFL. Everyone knew, including (especially) Chip that the NFL is a whole different animal off the field. He’s hanging in there and getting paid a whole bunch of money to do the one thing he loves at the highest level. I wish he didn’t have to deal with this, but I can’t feel too bad for him, don’t think he’d want me to either.
Honestly don’t think Philly media has anything to do with it. No sports reporter is going to pass up an opportunity to get a reaction from Kelly when the critical comments are amassing. I would imagine that Chip appreciates DeMeco and MJ quashing the notion that Chip “cannot relate”, but I wonder if this is not a lessen for all the youngsters on the team in mental toughness. If Kelly can demonstrate a singularity of purpose in the face of verbal shots from outside the NCC, it could serve his agenda by toughening his plebes.
The media will never influence Chip. But players certainly could. If Chip ends up not liking to deal with pro players every day, he could leave. I don’t see that happening because there is a strong contingent of players (Peters, Celek, Kelce, Ryans, Barwin, Matthews, Agholor, Jenkins, and others) who thoroughly respect Chip and stand by him. There will only be more of these players as time goes on. Your concern is valid but I don’t see it becoming a problem.
I tell you what, whatever anyone thinks of Billy Davis, the man can speak, good god he should run for office. He just has a way with word judo. Seems to always understand where the questions are coming, acknowledging concerns, and explaining the thought process going forward in a way that just makes sense.
To change gears a bit, I’ve been trying to prep on my $ league fantasy draft where I’m going 4th. I did a mock on ESPN again, so here is how it went.
CJ Anderson, Gronk, Forsett, Jon Stewart, Keenan Allen, Jarvis Landry, Allen Robinson, Ameer Abdullah, Charles Johnson, Markus Wheaton, Phil Rivers, Alfred Blue, Sam Bradford, Eagles D, Blair Walsh, Austin Seferian-Jenkins.
i dn’t like keenan allen and jarvis landry as starting WRs in this league. Jon stewart is your second running back? Why not just take a better WR there and rely on rookie RBs you take later on?
Stewart is my 3rd RB. CJ Anderson and Forsett are my starters.
Blue is 2nd year and will get starters touches as soon as Foster gets hurt in Houston again.
Abdullah is a guy who Evan Silva thinks will take the job off of Joke Bell in Detroit sooner rather than later. Following advice on rookies from Silva is what helped me take Hill on Cincy last year.
I hear on wide out not being as strong as necessary, but I couldn’t pass on Gronk at 21st overall in the 2nd round. As is, Allen, Landry, Charles Johnson (Vikings), and Allen Robinson Vikings are all going to lead their team in targets, so that should help me got over not having a Megatron type guy.
In either case, thanks for the feedback.
bell is banged up a little
Which Bell?
joique
Gotcha. More reason for my thoughts on Abdullah.
I’m picking DeMarco Murray #1.
Here was my thought on not taking Murray over CJ Anderson;
the Eagles seem poised to compartmentalize Murray’s touches and spell him often with Mathews whereas Kubiak (Denver’s new coach) tends to feed the crap out of his feature back until his legs fall off. And Monte Ball is kind of sucky.
But Murray should be consistently productive and a hard guy to pass over.
cj is still an unknown also.
Not according to his 2nd half production last year and what Evan Silva has set up for him this year.
http://www.rotoworld.com/articles/nfl/54813/59/broncos-fantasy-preview
top-4 pick Lacy/Jamal/AP/Lynch? none of these guys were around at #4?
I passed on Jamal and Lynch to take Anderson. Jamal screwed my team last year with missed games and Lynch was tough to pass over, but my guess is that Seattle ups the passing a tad this year with Graham being their big off-season addition and a few of theWRs being a season “better” if at all possible.
I’m a little leery of Gronk, he’s a big lumbering dude who seems primed to get hurt again at some point. Kind of a risky choice 2nd I think.
I took Gronk at the end of the 2nd round in two drafts last year and he killed it for me last year. I was more worried about his health going into last season than this one.
But yeah, his injury history is a tad troublesome.
where you have leveon bell pegged?
From what I read, he should still go #1. If I was drafting in a spot in any league where I got him, I’d have to consider that he’d have a great year after he’s done his weed vacation.
Every Day Connar Barwin keeps Marcus Smith after practice for 10minutes to work on the next days pass rush moves.
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MS2 sounds like a new man.. Claims he is 10lbs heavier but stronger and more fit, has sworn off fried foods…Working on Violent Hands “I have 10 inchm hands, if I slap someone, it hurts” lol
I could have been an All-Pro, but that “no fried foods” thing was a deal-braker. That and being 5-6.
So what you’re saying is that you and Corey Simon have something in common.
Yep, lack of will power.
It’s cool. *continues crunching on his oreos*
Great intel.
Thx.
God Dammit they didn’t tell me we included trashcan in the Boykin trade!!!
http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-training-camps/0ap3000000506144/Steelers-QBs-work-trash-can-drill
You haven’t seen the spider graph on his replacement -clothes hamper.
I thought this (refresh) was his replacement: https://www.wm.com/_ui/img/landing/40-yard-dumpster-resi.jpg
big dumpsters beat up little trash cans (just DO NOT let them catch on fire)
Camp battle.
A87:
You’re on fire today.
….proud to have graduated high school with that guy lol.
After this issue, I hope we all STFU about Race for the next year. if we all shut up, good chance Riley Cooper gets kicked to the curb…what I don’t want is for race talk to continue TIL next year and when Its time to cut coop, Chip feels defiant, and doesn’t cut coop because that would appease all the people who talk about Race all the time. Fortunately im banking on chip not caring what people say and cutting coop anyway..
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I know Bicknell and Chip do like Cooper to some extent, but I wonder what Howie Rosemans role was in how we handled the Riley situation. riley is a Florida boy, chip was a rookie coach, HOWIE had some Power at the time..wonder what role Florida alumni Howie ROSEMAN had in how we,treated the former Gator, Cooper situation?
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chip took all the heat for the Coop mess, And Howie didn’t even have to deal with the situation…. Yet Chip just fought to gain more power then what he had at the time of the Coop situation.
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If that redneck never acted like a piece of trash, we Probably would NEVER be talking about this.. Hopefully Cooper finds himself cut next year, and has to try and enter a new locker room, and try and fit in with other black players who don’t know him, but know he wanted to fight every black man at a concert. can’t wait TIL Coop is gone for opening this Pandora’s box and bring this race crap to our offseason… Can’t have 1 quiet offseason without people acting a fool
Not saying Cooper shouldn’t be punished, but we’ve all done stupid things when drunk. Smart move is just to not drink if your behavior gets you in trouble.
Yes, but Coop was forgiven, and then rewarded, and he brought this racial shitstorm on a man that dedicated his life to football who probably doesn’t deserve to go thru this…. I’d like to see Coop finally fall on his sword after this season, when his contract becomes easier to get out of,…. If coop played at an all pro level, I would probably feel different, but that’s the hypocrite fan in me.
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Coop should feel shame every time chip has to answer a race question
Well, he was “rewarded” because he played well in 2014, not because of his behavior one night.
HASNT lived up to his deal, not even close… And we are still dealing with the distractions of his ignorance…. In no way shape or form should Coop spend 1 more minute on this team once his contract can be more easily voided … he has failed to live up to his contract in every way possible, and once 3 or 4’WRs start to play ahead of him, he is way too expensive to be kept as a ST player/Redzone target.
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Riley Cooper has the worst on the team, in terms of not getting what we are paying for
If they want to cut him based on his performance, fine. If they wanted to give him a larger suspension initially, fine. It’s two years later though. Assuming that he hasn’t exhibited any other racist behavior since that one night, I don’t think it’s fair to judge him on anything other than how he is currently performing. If they were concerned about the lingering effects, they should have cut him initially or not re-signed him a year ago.
you don’t have to bother factoring this crap into the equation. No need when he so drastically failed to live up to his contract.. Stealing money for two years is plenty reason to get out of the deal the moment the dead money goes down
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You don’t have to punish coop for race, you can forgive him all you want, doesn’t change the fact that Chip doesn’t deserve to deal with this crap, thanks to Cooper bringing this to our team.
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But If Coop comes out and plays like TO, the hypocrite fan in me will be happy to have Coop, but that doesn’t change the fact that he should feel deep shame every single time his coach has to answer a question about Race,..
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coop so under performed his contract, he easily justifies being waived after this season soley due to “football reasons”… He has been so bad, race DOESNT even need to be factored into the decision
That’s fine if they want to waive him for football failures. Matthews/Agholor/Huff aren’t going anywhere. Ajirotutu is a STs beast and likely replaces Boykin at one of the gunner slots. Cooper is pretty good at STs so I think he’d have the edge over Austin if they go with 5 WRs. They gave Austin guaranteed money though. Good chance both make the roster, but hopefully one of the UDFAs excel and push one of them off.
I would assume we keep 6, with Tutu, Coop and Austin all making the team… But I could see Coop and Austin both gone after this season.
But you are right, Coop can ball on ST. And he is a big body target, and blocks well. If we want to keep him past this season, THATS fine.. But it would NEED to be on a significantly altered contract with Coop taking a big pay cut… Pay cut is the only chamce he has of lasting past this season IMO
that’s honesty.
my compliments.
Stupid things when drunk? Smashing a car window (parked and empty) with a brick. Stupid, for sure.
But calling someone a “n****r” to his face? Then screaming I’ll fight every “n****r” in this place (or something like that).
That seems more about expressing true feelings.
The only thing “stupid” was Cooper opening his mouth to let out the truth.
And, yes, I thought Cooper should have cut immediately.
(Ark87 — must part company with you on this one.)
I’m willing to let it be marked down as a stupid mistake while drunk. The question is how he reacts from it. I kind of view racism as cultural or legit. Cultural racism is where people are raised that way, but change when they realize it’s a bad thing (Paula Deen). I felt bad for her, but any white person over the age of 60 who was raised in the Deep South would have said that word. If they say they didn’t, they’re lying. But I don’t believe for one second that she’s racist.
Then, there’s what I call the legit racism where they believe it regardless of what information contradicts their worldview (David Duke). This is guy who ran on a platform and almost won a gubernatorial campaign in LA. Scary, but plenty of people like him (cough cough Scalise cough cough).
I’m willing to let RC slide into the 1st category, but if he messes up again then he’s done. I’m not trying to explain away his transgression, but I’m willing to forgive him this time. I wouldn’t be so forgiving a 2nd time, but giving people 2nd chances to fix themselves is something I believe in.
They say drunk tongues speak sober minds.
You had me at “we all [meaning you included] STFU”.
I support the action taken during that incident, I think it was a measured approach, that said Coop doesn’t deserve to be the 2nd WR, and got paid waaay too much.
I think you’re right, if that incident didn’t happen, followed by us giving him a pretty generous contract and defending his lack of production relentlessly, the notion of racism deflates at every level from players to coach(ing intern)s to the media to the fans.
That’s what’s really horrible about this…. Coop should feel so much shame, every single time his coach has to answer a race question
GE . . . en fuego
I do like all the veteran players openly starting to lash out at the media about how the race talk is absurd, that they are sick of hearing it, and that the media needs to stop asking them… sanchez, Jenkins, Pope all are stepping up to try and squash the ignorant trash..
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“Stop asking us, we are concentrating on trying to win a Super Bowl”-Jenkins
Travis Long tore his ACL again. Sucks for him. That’s now 3 torn ACLs. As far as camp depth goes, we have so many ILBs that Brad Jones I’d think will get mainly OLB reps. Solidifies Marcus Smith’s chances of making the team(which I never really doubted, but some did).
Wow, early casualty. I was just thinking about all the injury prone guys we have on the roster and what the reaction would be if someone like Bradford or Ryan Mathews went down in camp.
Think we may also see more of the Vinny Curry OLB experiment and even more 3 ILB packages as Davis alluded to
Cox and Vinny both did some drills with linebackers today… Why Cox was with the LBs? No clue… Dudes an athletic Marvel in the Jason Peters, Lane Johnson Molds..
I saw that. I prayed for Najee Goode.
Given how Cox has coasted through camp and pre-season the past two years (not that I hold it against him), it’s smart management to engage him at other positions.
Excuse you, Cox is reverede for being a fantastic practice player that constantly brings it and elevates our practices… Try again
I’m not at practice myself, so I don’t know for sure, but Jimmy Kempski (who, along with Sheil Kapadia) I tend to trust the most, has reported in the past that Cox doesn’t go full bore at training camp.
From Kempski’s recent “25 camp predictions article”:
“Most likely “Fletcher Cox Award” winner, for the player who will kind of take it easy camp, then will be awesome when the games matter: Fletcher Cox”
We.l documented Cox elevates the level of every practice… But that talk comes from the regular season, the weekly grind of getting ready for games, Cox and Sproles are said to be two of our elite daily practice players… Maybe there is a difference between camp cox, and practice week cox during the season, but you can easily find multiple players Rave about how Fletcher practices, and just about every coach has also said it ..
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FYI, Kempski said means NOTHING to me… I’d rather not even know what he said
Did I say “regular season”?
No.
I said “camp and pre-season”.
Try again. Actually, please don’t.
You clearly weren’t paying attention at camp for the last two years.
He’s taken it easy in summer. As he should.
You’re the only creature on the Internet who claims that. He’s played mellow for the past two training camps.
Good observation.
No way,,, I know he got hurt, but don’t say its ACL…. That’s terrible for the kid. I don’t even care that we,don’t have a 4th OLB, I feel horrible for the kid… This is leonard weever type sad… Really feel for the young man….rehabbing for two straight years is not easy, especially without any reward of playing time… To do all that rehab work, and this happen is terrible
That sucks. He’ll likely never get to play again..or in the NFL.
Sad, sad story.
Any details? Contact? Non-contact? Slip-and-fall deal?
_____________
T-Long’s problem with his ACLs supports the theory of some orthopedic physicians that the likelihood of an ACL re-tear is a function of the size of “canal” thru which the ligaments run in the particular individual — which is congenital.
Small sample size, but compelling numbers. Still, doesn’t really pertain, weren’t 2 of Long’s injuries contact?
Injury against the Jets last year to his left knee was non-contact.
Not sure about today’s left knee-injury — although the players were without pads. So contact would have been above the waist, at least.
Haven’t been able to nail down his right knee-injury at WSU. Contact or not.
Interesting, then.
Both of Maclin’s were non-contact. Reid might have done us a favor.
Probably won’t get a statistically significant sample size on 3 time ACL tears.
Study was just on repeat, but point noted. Of course, being limited to non-contact means that it needn’t be limited to football players to be relevant.
Bradford and I have our fingers in our ears, singing loudly.
Laaaaaalaaaaalaaaaaa I hear nothinggggggg…..
What are the odds that we have TWO players tear their ACL’s for the third time, I mean Travis basically dove on that grenade for Bradford.
Long deserves a nice severance package and pension from the Eagles for his noble sacrifice.
That sucks. A lot.
At least we don’t need to see Casey Matthews again.
Casey is injured too…
Karma grab one of his body parts?
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/–w8Aa26pPX0/UyL5BPSLJlI/AAAAAAAAK4A/oIGOINc0Slc/s1600/six-million-dollar-man-family-guy.jpg
My hope is that Kelly offers Long the opportunity to become a coaching intern.
Time for this poor kid to stop football.
Agee. Long needs to pursue coaching. Tough break for a tough kid. But time to move on.
For me, this kind of calls into question some of the “percentages” that have been thrown around regarding the chances of re-injuring an ACL.
Why? Percentages are built on large data sets not individuals. Another way to look at is is:
If you have 10 people at risk and the risk is 10% you would expect at least 1 injury. Of course that is an oversimplification but the point is that a single re-injury doesn’t nullify the probability of injury as were previously stated.
I once flipped a coin and got tails three times in a row, leading me to call BS on that 50/50 talk.
how’d you get three tails in a row if you flipped the coin once?
now that’s something.
Typical Chip arrogance, rearing it’s head again…
Posts that make you say, wtf?
What’s to understand? Only Chip, with his typical “college” arrogance, would count on a guy like Travis Long as a backup OLB. Everyone else in the world knew that on August 3, this backup linebacker would injure ANOTHER ACL. Way to go, Chip, for not properly planning what we all knew was going to happen. When will he learn that these are the ACLs of men, not college kids? But what can you expect from someone who sometimes passes people in the hall without speaking?
so true
Good one Iaealge. Heeehaaaaa love it.
Gotcha, I thought the sarcasm season was just to tide us over until camp started. I’m so ready to talk more about the team than the coach.
We are down an OLB, and Billy Davis says we will see 3 ILBs on the field at times.,.. Now that our young players know the scheme inside out, think it be cool to screw with opponents by coming out in a 4-3 every once in a while.. Maybe after playing our normal defense in a tight game, open up the secon half in a 4-3 that teams won’t be prepared for… Let them scramble to make changes, and switch back to our 3-4 on the next drive,..
.,
MEco in the Middle, Kiko at SAM and Mykal at the WIL..
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In no way do I think we should move away from the 4-3.. But if our DL already plays some 4man line on 3rd down, won’t be that hard to get Mykal and Kiko comfortable in WIL and SAM requirments just to be able to throw a different look at opponents who won’t be at all prepared for it…
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But I love our 3-4, so I’m just talking about the 4-3 as a wrinkle… If your players already play a 4-2-5’on Nickel, not hard to add a 4-3 wrinkle to the play book
Related . . .
Long’s torn his ACL in both knees.
Right knee in college.
Left knee twice with the Eagles.
If there was ever an argument for ACL tears have something to do with your DNA, and the knees your parents gave you, Long’s proof.
Plus Curry may factor in on the outside in some sets as well.
Fear this D! Kiko will be the catalyst for mayhem… Expect carnage and pain. You’re going to love the carnage.
I already know… 3 years ago I said we would have a beastly defense THIS YEAR!!
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It’s well documented
I mean they have a bad ass 4-3 group imo.
Basically … Can’t ever be too versatile
Okay, way too early in camp projected 53-man roster:
QB: 7 Bradford|3 Sanchez|11 Tebow
Comments: I’d keep Barkley or go with only 2 QBs on the 53-man roster but I think Chip just envisions creative things he can do with Tebow.
RB: 29 Murray|24 Mathews|43 Sproles
Comments: Pretty set in stone IMO.
WR1: 14 Cooper |19 Austin
WR2: 17 Agholor|16 Ajirotutu
WR3: 81 Matthews|13 Huff
Comments: Don’t make too much out of the 1-2-3 designation. I listed Matthews as WR3 because he’s going to be the primary slot WR but he’ll play some outside too.
TE: 86 Ertz|87 Celek|47 Burton
Comments: Yep, Ertz as the true #1 TE assuming his blocking has improved. I like Celek and I know Chip has a man-crush on him but I think most actual GMs would be looking at Celek as a prime salary cap casualty. Paying $4.725M to what is primarily a blocking TE is not smart. We kept Casey as a way overpriced #3 TE last year so I don’t see the Eagles actually releasing Celek. The smart move is to either negotiate a pay cut or release him before Week 1(if he’s on roster as of Week 1 then he could claim his full salary as termination pay if cut) and then try to re-sign him at a reduced figure the next week. Hopefully one of the UDFA TEs emerge. You can usually find a blocking TE on the street though.
LT: 71 Peters|73 Boyko
LG: 76 Barbre
C: 62 Kelce|79 Moffitt
RG: 64 Tobin|66 Gardner
RT: 65 Johnson|77 Graf
Comments: I actually suspect Gardner or Moffitt may beat out Tobin to start but for now he’s the front-runner. Moffitt played center in college and can fill in there in a pinch. I’m not going to keep a real liability like Molk just because of the experience factor. I’ll keep Moffitt and one or two of the young guys(Andrews/Coccia) on the PS. I’m keeping Boyko because I think we need a LT to develop and while if Peters gets injured long-term Johnson is likely to shift sides, I’d rather have a guy to plug in if Peters only needs to miss a short time than disrupt the line by having Johnson shift sides.
DE: 72 Thornton|75 Curry|97 Hart
NT: 96 Logan|94 Allen
DE: 91 Cox|93 Bair
Comments: Initially I was only planning on keeping 6 DL with Bair being the casualty but with Curry possibly also factoring into the OLB position I’ll go with 7.
OLB: 55 Graham|56 Braman
ILB: 50 Alonso|59 Ryans|52 Jones
ILB: 95 Kendricks|58 Hicks
OLB: 98 Barwin|90 Smith
Comments: Was going to go with 10 here before Long’s injury. Jones beats out Najee Goode because of inside/outside versatility.
CB1: 31 Maxwell|38 Biggers
CB2: 23 Carroll|32 Rowe
NCB: 36 Sheppard
S: 27 Jenkins|21 Couplin|33 Prosinski
Comments: I suspect there will be those who disagree with this line-up. I see Biggers and Watkins as essentially competing for one position. Both have some inside-outside versatility and both can play safety. One would think as the younger player with more upside that Watkins would have the ege. However, for end of the roster players, STs is the primary determinant for Chip and Biggers has been a good STs player in his career. Most peg Watkins as primarily a Howie pick so I don’t think Chip necessarily has any allegiance to him. As far as safety goes, the fact that Couplin was on the 2nd team initially ahead of Wolff is significant IMO. They seem to like him. Maragos and Prosinski are STs mainstays and again Biggers can play the position in a jam.
K: 1 Parkey
P: 8 Jones
LS: 46 Dorenbos
Comments: These guys are locks.
S: 26 Thurmond|42 Maragos
Agree with your picks. Tebow will be active for “test” games, think Skins, and active for “must win games”. Also agree, Jones beats Goode for versatility.
Very good mock. Agree = SB
I still can’t get my head around why tebow makes the team. but we have all seen him win games years ago.
and recall how chip talked about john fox tailoring the offense for tebow then manning. he has always had his eye on big tim?
what are these special things he can do by the way.
throwing isn’t really one of them is it?
Tebow has “something” that Chip saw in his film. He’s convinced he can win a game or more.
I am open to his potential. He is a fierce competitor. Sometimes winning is a function of will to win. Tebow has the will to win despite his limitations.
I believe that.
That something was a good team that won despite of him sucking for 3 quarters.
The fact that Tebow mania seems to be dead…. I can really be on board with him.
You know, I never really bought into that idea, that somehow Tim Tebow’s will to win was somehow winninger and willinger than everyone else. I don’t actually believe that most NFL athletes got to where they are today without the will to win, not all, but most. Tebow just gets a big dog and pony show about it because of the media circus that surrounds him.
Tebow was out of football last year (and thus available), but maybe Howie was against it?
How many QB to fullback conversions were there in the league? Tebow can be the first if there wasn’t any.
I have been a little disappointed in Kelly’s non-use of gadget plays and players, but apparently you think Tebow will be different.
I like it for the most part. Would like to not see Coop on here at all, but your probably right. If demeco is really ready I just think Chip loves him to much to not play him 3 downs.
I was upset in 2008 when Andy Studebaker was cut, and he’s available now, listed at 255 lbs, grading well against the run and of course, special teams. Lest we forget he is still a legend of the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin.
No thanks. Associated with Wheaton College.
I’d give Jason Worilds a call and ask him if he’s having any 2nd thoughts about retiring.
Hell no,.. A healthy kid in his prime who walked away, is not someone you want to go to war with
Wow.. He is still around?
haha probably not…
but I always thought he looked pretty solid when he saw the field with the Chiefs.
Wait though. Wasn’t he in KC? Andy must hate that guy!
D3 STAND UP!
Chip Kelly allowed a player who screamed ” I want to kill all FuKc|ng n|GGERS!!! ” to remain on the team. Yes Chip Kelly is racist.
If you’re referring to Cooper that’s not what he said. Get your story straight then try to make real comments.
You need to slither into the hole you came from LongDong. Love your baiting comments but they’re getting old. Time to take a Xanax and go bedeeeby. You add nothing here.
Treated.
Served!!!
That quote though.
What does Boykin, Shady and DJax all have in common, besides race?
They should all have adhered to this great mans words of wisdom.
“It is better to keep your mouth closed and let people think you are a fool than to open it and remove all doubt.”
Mark Twain
Riley Cooper too. ..
Abe Lincoln said it first.
My first thoughts on Boykin’s comments on CK’s management style were to wonder why anyone would give credence to someone in his mid-twenties with only 2 bosses in his professional carrier. This is not the voice of experience speaking. My next thought was that, when I find a warm & fuzzy boss in my career,it will be the first one. Welcome to the real world!