Has Chip Kelly Lost It?
Posted: March 11th, 2015 | Author: Tommy Lawlor | Filed under: Philadelphia Eagles | 1,237 Comments »Chip Kelly was the King of Philadelphia in January of 2014. The team had just come off a 10-6 season and appeared to be something special in the making. Kelly was the mastermind at the center of it.
6 weeks later he cut DeSean Jackson. That was a puzzling move to more than a few fans. And more than a few people are still struggling to accept that move.
This offseason got off to a crazy start with the news that LeSean McCoy was being dealt to the Bills. There was some logic to the move, but it still was surprising.
And now Kelly has struck again. He traded away Nick Foles…and he brought in Sam Bradford.
What the hell is Chip thinking?
It is very fair to question this move and wonder what Kelly is doing. This is a very risky move. And it is just flat out strange. I never in a million years thought Sam Bradford would be someone Kelly would want, let alone trade for.
I’m a big Chip Kelly fan. I think he’s very smart. When someone like that does something that shocks me, my first instinct isn’t to just hate it. Instead, I wonder what he knows that I don’t know. I wonder what he sees that I don’t see. What made him want Bradford? That’s why I wrote the post trying to explain the move.
Kelly has burned through a lot of trust with his moves in the last year or so. I totally get that and it is more than fair to question him right now. The Bradford deal could be a stroke of genius that will put the Eagles over the top or it could be the beginning of the end for Kelly. This time next year GM Howie Roseman and Coach Bill Davis might be unveiling their plan to fix the Eagles.
I’m still a Chip Kelly fan. I still have faith in him. But I’d be lying if I didn’t say that faith was starting to get seriously tested.
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Your 2015 Philadelphia Eagles!!! pic.twitter.com/AxlL1dFtbG
— Dave Janik (@DaVetTurf) March 11, 2015
Ouch.
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The Eagles signed CB Walter Thurmond today. They are expected to sign RB Ryan Mathews.
Good additions, but still risky due to injury histories. Both players are talented and help out areas of need.
Meanwhile, somewhere in KC
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/B_1OFgfU8AAq5px.jpg
6th highest paid WR – not worth it
He’s a borderline top 10 WR, which is not far off what he’s being paid. I look forward to Josh Huff and Riley Cooper playing exactly up to their far less expensive contracts.
So you think Maclin is going to produce 22x as much as Huff?
I’ll take your bet.
No. But I do think Maclin has proven he can produce like a legitimate #1 receiver, despite having hot garbage like Riley Cooper as his counterpart at receiver and an unsettled QB situation. He may be overpaid at $11 million/year, but he’s not wildly so. And it’s 90% likely that whoever replaces him, while being cheaper, will also be less productive.
That cap space can also be used elsewhere. So its not just is Maclin better than player X. It’s is Maclin better than player X and say being able to pay Cox.
I get that. But they blew the cap space they saved by letting Maclin leave on what is at best a marginal upgrade from Nick Foles to Sam Bradford. So it’s not a tremendously compelling point in favor of letting him go.
They didn’t though. Many of the things they’re saving cap space for (extending Cox, Kendricks, potentially Boykin) won’t be required until 2016 when Bradford’s overpriced contract will be off the books. Either they extend him (for a lower cap hit) this year or he plays well enough to earn a similar contract moving forward – either way, he does not constitute blowing the cap space they saved.
The cap is probably going to go up next season, as it always does. Besides, they will have other guys they can cut next offseason to create space if needed (Cooper, for one).
You don’t win NFL games by penny-pinching cap space. There’s a tradeoff between money on the books and talent on the field. Some guys, like Cole and Herremans, are not worth overpaying by one or two million. A guy like Maclin, who’s a borderline top 10 player at his position and is in his prime, is not someone you should worry as much about overpaying. I think the production they are almost certain to lose at receiver next season is going to be worth more to the franchise than a million or two in cap flexibility.
hope he has a great season!
45 catches and 3 TDs ill predict .. andy reid is still an all time jerk
In other words, WTF?
Well, at least we have most of our draft picks. Based on trades and free agent signings, the front office needs to scour the potential draft picks to find out who’s coming off of a serious injury.
Yes. It’s all over. There’s no going back from this awful, awful, awful trade. Chip has his QB and his QB sucks.
So says the expert on QB potential and ability. I guess I should trust that you evaluated tape.
How exactly does Sam Bradford suck?
I won’t say he sucks. But he has a five year track record as an NFL player suggesting he isn’t anything better than mediocre. Ignoring that in favor of talking about “potential” and “ability” and Chip’s ability to get the most out of players smacks of wishful thinking to me.
So your gonna say that when Chip talks about evaluating a player beyond statistics its just a qoutational wish to you?
with your thinking, Coaches would never be able to discern true talent.
a person can have great numbers and be great.
A player can have mediocre numbers and be great.
just because you don’t want to travel that deep into the details doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist.
Potential is a real thing, and our opinions should weigh every factor.
cause if your looking at his track record, not just “looking” you would find that his team were among the tops in the league drops and sacks when Bradford was at the helm.
Does that mean hes gonna be great, no, but goes to show that due diligence is in order.
I know, we all don’t have time to look at every play.
Well that’s why we should take into account that maybe Chip is speaking some truth when he says flat out that he looked at “every throw Sam made” and they evaluated him deeply.
just sayin.
Chip Kelly took all of 20 minutes to consummate a trade that sent the best RB in franchise history to Buffalo for a linebacker who is talented but has real injury questions. “Due diligence” is clearly not a concept he understands.
Its my understanding that Chip knew lesean was gonna be a cap casualty because of the money we needed to fix the defense.
So instead of just releasing him or not being able to match other offers in free agency and he walks, he found a trading partner.
and when he found out he could get a guy like Kiko Alonso, which im sure he had knowledge of the injury and felt with his knowledge of the situation, which im sorry, far eclipses your knowledge of the situation, he couldn’t believe he would get the deal.
He said it himself that he didn’t believe the trade would go through. so he quickly accepted it.
It seems to me you are looking on the surface.
Due diligence is not a concept he understands? listen to yourself.
do you really believe that slight?
its so inflammatory that it doesn’t make sense. You expect me to listen to that and believe that Chip Kelly or any coach doesn’t understand the concept of due diligence.
I respectfully disagree
Because I watched him play and he sucked.
Chip Kelly watches all his plays and thinks differently. Think ill go with the coaches opinion
Because he’s infallible? Because he can never be wrong and is above all criticism?
No, because he would explain to me in detail about Bradfords mechanics and analyze each play and i would be able to identify where he and i disagree givrn the opportunity. With ur i saw him play poorly once therefore he sucks. If im choosing between that and Chips press comments that he did his due dilligence without any other information. Im going with Chip.
So Andy Reid was right to make Juan Castillo a defensive coordinator because he’s a coach and I’m not? And I was wrong to say that’s a stupid idea.
By your logic, that would have to be the case. How about being an objective fan?
Its not being objective calling something stupid without taking into consideration all facets of a situation.
People are saying Chip is lying and is still going for Mariota.
At certain point i think you have to accept when you, the fan just dont have enough information to make sufficient judgement.
There have been many cases where coaches have been judged incompetent and yet when they get sent somewhere else they perform better.
You can have whatever opinion you want.
But im not gonna sit here and say Chip is dumb. There is sense to what he is doing.
I was critical of Andy when it became clear he needed to move on. And he admitted he took on more than he can handle later down the road.
I think you confuse superficial judgement with objectivity.
BG press conference moved back to 1:20
His moves seem bold (impulsive?) but not tactical. Peter Principle in play, as I saw someone on twitter say. How well does a good football coach’s skillset match a good GM’s?
just because you can’t see a plan, doesn’t mean there isn’t one… of course it doesn’t mean there is one either…
Stop with such nonsense… It’s Chip we’re talking about here
Live by The Duck, die by The Duck. I’m with CK until the bitter end.
CK as in D U CK ???
Giants re-signed Hynoski
For everyone jumping off the bridge, keep in mind we haven’t seen the finish product. This is day 2 of free agency, a lot can happen (good or bad).
All I.R. Pro-Bowl.
When you look at Belichek, his formula is pretty simple. Build the OL, have a stud QB, and invest $$ and draft picks in the defense.
The one thing Chip was missing was the QB. This was clearly an attempt to get that guy. They are not easy to find. Bradford certainly has the pedigree. Only time will tell.
If Bradford turns out to be healthy and really shines in this offense, Chip will come out looking like a genius.
If we kept the team in tact, we’d probably be looking at a string of 10 win seasons and early playoff exits. This may end up in an epic fail, but Chip is trying for championships. I respect his approach.
if by “Have a solid qb” you mean “have arguably the best and inarguably top 3 qb od all time”…
#Pedigree. That and $5 will get you a coffee and starbucks
I just watched Chip’s presser and I like the deal even better than I did before (and I liked it a lot before). It’s always fair to question the price paid and the cap considerations, and I don’t know about other offers for Bradford. But all that hinges on whether Bradford succeeds here and they re-sign him. If he does, the price is worth it; if he plays badly or gets hurt and then leaves, it’s a bad deal based on what you gave up and paid. Chip’s evaluations of knowing player values in the other 31 offices has been questioned, also, and it may be an area where he’s learning in the NFL and needs staff help, but I have no reason to conclude that he overpaid – when you’re talking about a 2nd and the odd guy out for your starting QB I’m not too concerned.
He said that he’s never talked to other teams about Mariota and argued against overpaying picks for one guy. I’m not aware of Washington or Atlanta making that argument before getting RG3 or Jacques Jones, trades that were disasters. Maybe he’s bluffing and wants to enhance Bradford’s trade value and lower the price for Mariota, but at least he understands that overpaying for a college QB is very risky and their use of the picks they have will determine how they compete in the next few years. I personally am not against trading the draft chart value of a second pick in the draft for Mariota.
I believe we have a highly effective guy in charge that has done an enormous amount of research on the options available to him. The last two drafts have been weak on QBs – Garappolo and Bridgewater are the two guys last year I liked, no one’s even been better than Barkley the year before, and the top two QBs in this draft are likely to be snapped up quickly if top teams take them or deal the picks. Sanchez was the top FA QB, and my defense of him last year was partially knowing how he could run the system compared to what else was out there. So who’s the alternative? Bradford has been improving in the NFL and he has all the skills and intangibles that you need for the position, including more foot speed than Foles. The other moves I like as well- we can agree that the D has a chance to be much better this year. Who they get for WR and RB is still to be determined.
Kelly also let Maclin walk.
no, he got out bid, there is a difference. He tried to get maclin back, but the chiefs wanted him more.
By not overpaying him at a position he clearly thinks does not need those funds allocated.
Greg Cosell does not like this deal for the Eagles
http://www.insidestl.com/insideSTLcom/RadioShows/FeatureInterviews/tabid/339/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/16813/Greg-Cosell-Breaks-Down-Bradford-Foles-Trade-on-The-Press-Box.aspx
no one does
ALERT: BRILLIANT INSIGHT FOLLOWS
Incredible. Twitter followers and lemmings, together forever
We’re not worthy!
Look at that wonderlic …. I always thought thats the most important trait in Quarterbacks for Chip.
My question is, what the hell were other teams offering that forced up the price so high? Even if Bradford succeeds here, the cost of the trade is insanely high given Bradford’s history and lack of success in the nfl thus far. I just don’t see why anyone would offer so much.
probably mid round picks, maybe even a first
Why is everyone crying? How many Superbowls did Foles, Maclin, Jackson, McCoy, Herremans, Cole win while they played together? You all know the definition of insanity. He’s blowing this thing up. Exactly what he should be doing. This is a rebuild, deal with it. Personally, for good or bad, I’m on board and going to enjoy the ride.
Exactly – most coaches blow up their new team in year 1. Kelly waited to see what he had and has been getting rid of those parts he doesn’t think fits. I still have faith – but we’ll see what this year and probably next years brings before I give up hope.
That’s my biggest problem, should have just done it year one. Any coach worth a damn always comes in and blows it up…Kelly is no different…except 2 years late.
I was JUST thinking the same thing this morning. We’ve never won a superbowl. Never. Chip might be insane, the moves might not work out, but nothing to this point has worked out so I’m ready to throw caution to the wind. If we get to draft this year, chip fails and is fired next season, at least we didn’t mortgage the future AND lose our head coach.
Yep. Would rather go down swinging. “‘We’re from Philadelphia and we fight.”
Been seeing this for the last fifty years.
I think it’s pretty simple, its Chip as GM versus howie as GM. With Howie at the controls we had a roster that was nearly ready to contend for a super bowl. Now Chip appears to be doing his own thing.
Will it work? Hell if I know, but it sure looks bizarre what he’s doing and I’m sure people see him as dismantling the building process that brought us to the cusp of contention for a championship.
Remember until late last season we were considered a super bowl contender. Despite playing atrociously bad, we only lost to Seattle 24-14.
We weren’t ready for the big show, but we were close.
So, I think people are wondering what the moves would have been if Howie was at the controls as opposed to what Chip is doing.
Besides, moving picks and Foles for Bradford isn’t exactly a big balls Chip wild ride move, it’s just bizarre. Big balls Chip exciting would have been moving all in for Mariota. That’s a ride I could get behind. This just feels like something out of the twilight zone.
Forget about Super Bowls. How many games have Bradford, Mathews, etc. won? How many division titles?
He’s junked the core of a team that was reasonably successful, and is replacing them with players who are either less accomplished, or totally unproven. There’s no way to be totally on board with that for me.
I hope you enjoy the ride, because I think it’s going to be bumpy. 6-10, here we come.
Or to look at it from a slightly different perspective:
He took a team that went 4-10, retained the core of it and, by implementing his scheme and coaching methods turned it into something reasonably successful. He has now exchanged that core for a new group that he feels will be even more receptive to his scheme and coaching methods and, as such, should be expected to have even greater success.
Jackson, McCoy, and Maclin were productive players on a top NFL offense before Chip got here. Foles has stats as good as anyone through his first 3 NFL seasons. If Chip wins by replacing proven stars (or players who have been somewhat promising in Foles’ case) with veterans who have never been anything better than mediocre at the NFL level or are totally unproven, I will owe him all the apologies. But he would be literally the first coach in NFL history to succeed with that approach so I think it’s pretty reasonable to doubt what he’s doing.
We need to stop saying Kelly needs a running QB because so far he hasn’t shown any interest in getting one. Maybe he realizes running QB’s don’t last long in the NFL?
Unlike guys like Foles and Bradford who are iron men.
Maybe he just want an injury prone QB, that’s why people link him to mobile guys.
We can’t say what Kelly “needs” because he has no idea what he wants.
My only concern about Bradford was that he wasn’t exactly Aaron Rodgers mobility-wise BEFORE he tore his ACL twice.
Well as long as that’s you’re only concern….
I bet he still is more mobile than Foles after 2 ACL’s
I’m ok with Walter Thurmond coming in even if I see it as the end result of mishandling Boykin badly, but Ryan Mathews makes 0 sense unless he’s here as an alternate/plan B kind of guy. Going into the season with Ryan Mathews as plan A… that would be alarming.
The alarm bell is deafening at this point
Kelly said Boykin will have chance to battle Thurmond and Carroll for outside spot
I still think the trade makes absolutely 0 sense
Silly to question Chip Kelly the coach.
I think Bradford could work out, and I’m pretty sure Nick was limited in his ceiling here.
Legitimate to question Chip Kelly the GM.
No doubt this was not a savvy move. I don’t know it for certain, but it seems to be a move that Howie could have done for Chip, probably in a much cost-effective manner.
At the end of the day, all the matters is the value Chip Kelly and Jeff Fisher placed on Bradford, and I’m willing to believe they know more about Sam Bradford’s potential than I do. I’m not happy about it, but its absurd to give up on Chip Kelly and this team before they’ve even played a game.
Stop being a drama queen/king and go with it, because what the fuq else are you gonna do? Stop rooting for the Eagles. Ya, right.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mlFPAY9WnBQ
I’ve lived in San Diego for the past two years. The Chargers are my AFC team on the side. Trust me, Ryan Mathews is nothing special.
Woah, Chip Kelly is actually talking at the PC to announce Graham re-signing. I doubt he takes questions though.
I was in for a penny as far as trusting that there was a vision and a plan, so I’m in for a pound. That said, I’m a lot more skeptical than before.
Eagles Insider
@EaglesInsider
43s43 seconds ago
Kelly: I didn’t think I needed to control personnel. That’s a decision our owner made
… Really.
Laughable…
Chip is actually speaking to the press
Philadelphia Eagles
@Eagles
11s12 seconds ago
Coach Kelly: LeSean McCoy is the all-time best running back here, we know that. Have to give something to get something.
Albert Breer
@AlbertBreer
13s13 seconds ago
Kelly says bc of financials, Eagles saw it as getting Maxwell and Alonso for Shady.
Ok Chip… Now begins the spin cycle
Geoff Mosher
@GeoffMosherCSN
30s30 seconds ago
Said current FO/scout staff setup helps bec they have a vision of a certain
kind of player they want. Is new setup better? “It better be.”
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Preferably those with significant prior injury history…
Eagles Insider
@EaglesInsider
44s45 seconds ago
Kelly said it was “essential” to get Mark (Sanchez) back. The deal with
Bradford is that if he never tore his ACL he’d never be traded
Jesus, it’s essential to get Mark Sanchez back I guess because our new starting QB has string cheese for tendons?
Jeff McLane
@Jeff_McLane
35s36 seconds ago
Chip Kelly said that Sam Bradford and Mark Sanchez are his QBs.
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hmmm no mention of Barkley
“Let’s disspell that right now. We will never mortgage our future to go all the way up in the draft.”
Eagles Insider
@EaglesInsider
38s38 seconds ago
Kelly dispels notion that the #Eagles will try and trade for Marcus Mariota
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Eagles Insider
@EaglesInsider
35s35 seconds ago
Kelly said that Marcus Mariota is the best QB is in the draft, but they won’t
mortage the future and there are too many other needs
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Did Chip ever have it? I mean, as far as being a GM is concerned?
This is a joke. I “understand” that I don’t “like” this move – not for what it got us, and certainly not what we paid for it.
The off-season (so far) has been an unmitigated disaster.
how can we say that before seeing everyone in practice? I mean, how many times have teams have had “great off seasons” that did not translate to the field.
So we turn off our thinking brains until when exactly? After the first practice? After the first game? After the season is over… Or after Bradford’s tenure has played out and we can put it all in perspective?
No, we should look at the situation objectively. Over reacting on the second day of free agency is reacting to incomplete information – which is turning off your brain and not thinking. As I said, until we see the team that takes the field we don’t know who will be on it, or how they fit into our system.
lets look at some basic examples:
Nnamdi was coveted and we rejoice – Wrong
Barwin was considered a bad pick up – Wrong
Mathis was an afterthought – Wrong
Hell Patric Chung was on the SB winning team!?
but yeah based on 1 day of free agency we can say this is an unmitigated disaster with no hope
Ok, I’m shutting down till we have our 53. That sounds like a good time to do the next evaluation, lol.
Boy, keep those cogent insights coming. We appreciate you chiming in on everything said, doubting it remorselessly without any evidence other than your own opinion.
I know, I’m on an island with my thoughts here, lol
Geoff Mosher
@GeoffMosherCSN
28s29 seconds ago
Chip said too many holes to fill in draft to trade all his picks
Many of which he created
“I get along great with Howie.”
We don’t care if you get along with him Chip…
Eagles Insider
@EaglesInsider
28s28 seconds ago
There has been no talk with Sam Bradford about a contract extension at this time, per Kelly
Yeah, he says he hasn’t even spoken to him except on the phone
We’re going to extend him after the season if he works out. If he doesn’t work out we gave up picks and Nick Foles for an expensive 1 year rental. What a mess.
exactly
Geoff Mosher
@GeoffMosherCSN
8s8 seconds ago
Chip said he has great working relationship with Howie, a lot of stuff out there that’s not true.
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“We don’t look at paper.”
Obviously
Eagles Insider
@EaglesInsider
22s22 seconds ago
Kelly: Everything’s a one-year season for everyone. We wouldn’t have traded
for (Bradford) if we didn’t think he had tremendous upside
Eagles Insider
@EaglesInsider
22s23 seconds ago
Kelly: I think (Bradford) has a tremendous skill-set … Praised his smarts,
accuracy. Said Pat Shurmur’s knowledge was helpful in decision
“Again, you’re not going to get involved with any of these players if they were never injured.”
Eagles Insider
@EaglesInsider
21s21 seconds ago
Kelly said that the #Eagles did their due diligence on Bradford’s injury history
Apparently their due diligence did not include video or access to media in general
If Chip doesn’t extend Sam before the season it makes you wonder how much he really believes Bradford is the answer.
“We definitely wanted Mac back…we just couldn’t go has high as Kansas City did for him.”
Ian Rapoport
@RapSheet
14s14 seconds ago
What. RT @greggrosenthal: Chip: I was offered a first round pick for Bradford this morning.
I’m sure, lol
What? Do it now, Chip. Probably Cleveland’s #19 pick.
Seriously. If you’re not willing to extend Bradford, you obviously don’t believe in him enough not to take someone elses (likely fairly high) #1 pick.
Who says they’re not going to extend him?
They might, but I doubt it. I suspect he’s here to play out his 12 million dollar 1 year situation in a prove it type of thing.
Which would be a waste of a year…
ICD:
No context to extend Bradford . . .
except a low-ball Maclin-type deal.
Bradford and agent will want “show me” oppty.
Worst that happens is he gets a 1-year 4 million deal next year.
Chip says he was offered a first round pick for Bradford this morning.
Right…
Why would he lie?
He clearly does not care what people think, and does not care about justifying his moves to anyone.
I think the question is why did he? If he’s so confident being out there all alone, why not just stand behind his decision?
Geoff Mosher
@GeoffMosherCSN
43s43 seconds ago
Chip: not difficult to have new players, happens ever year.
Eagles Insider
@EaglesInsider
21s22 seconds ago
Kelly said that there were other teams involved in the Bradford sweepstakes. They only talked with Rams about Foles
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Albert Breer
@AlbertBreer
13s13 seconds ago
Chip Kelly says Tom Gamble’s ouster wasn’t his call. “I love Tom.” Said he
hired Ed Marynowitz, Marynowitz will hire/fire personnel staff.
This day is already BANANAS
Geoff Mosher
@GeoffMosherCSN
18s18 seconds ago
Chip: DeMeco Ryans will be back.
This is an incredibly contentious presser. Chip is like a cornered tiger right now. This is intense. Anti-confrontational Ben would not like to be a reporter at this PC
I’m glad he’s at least available and answering questions.
Eagles Insider
@EaglesInsider
16s17 seconds ago
Kelly said that the #Eagles are trying to add as many talented football players. Inside LB with Alonso, Kendricks and Ryans will shake out
25 front
They should let Kendricks play saftey. He runs a 4.41
Philadelphia Eagles
@Eagles
21s22 seconds ago
Coach Kelly: Obviously I know @Kiko__Alonso very well. Very instinctive, runs well. Intelligent football player.
“I can’t comment on anyone who hasn’t come to terms with us.”
Boykin will get his shot! Awesome
Eagles Insider
@EaglesInsider
29s30 seconds ago
Kelly said that Walter Thurmond, Nolan Carroll and Brandon Boykin will compete for the starting spot opposite of Maxwell
Boykin’s going to get his shot! Like that.
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Nice
He’s prepping for this position.
https://twitter.com/BrandonBoykin2/status/575683449761193984
Ugh.
“My accountability is to Jeffrey Lurie.”
“And that’s it?”
“…and to you, Howard.”
I cant tell what he is being truthful and what he is not. very cryptic
Greg Richards….you’re awesome. Thanks!
Brandon Lee Gowton
@BrandonGowton
28s28 seconds ago
Chip says the Bills leaked the LeSean McCoy trade before the Eagles were ready to announce it.
Oh well . . . I guess Kelly didn’t consider that could happen.
Eagles Insider
@EaglesInsider
10s11 seconds ago
Kelly explained how talented players become free agents either because of $$ or injury reasons. The key is doing due diligence
“we have not had any discussions with anybody about any draft things.” (meaning trades)
LOL @Howard Eskin.
Eskin: Who are you liable to?
Chip: Jeff Lurie.
Eskin: Anyone else?
Chip: You Howard.
LOL!
Geoff Mosher
@GeoffMosherCSN
13s13 seconds ago
Chip: We didn’t bring Sam in to be a (trade) chip. I’m the only Chip here.”
Hahahaha.. what a line! Genius#
Sorry I don’t buy anything chip says.
and he was working so hard to make you feel better
Sucks to be you.
If you do, you are not much better off.
Geoff Mosher
@GeoffMosherCSN
11s12 seconds ago
Chip drew the comparison between Drew Brees and Sam Bradford given Brees injury.
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Brees has had 1 injury and missed 4 games out of 208 starts (2%)
Bradford’s missed 31 of 89 starts (35%)
Yeah, that comparison works.
Eagles Insider
@EaglesInsider
24s24 seconds ago
Chip Kelly said the biggest different in the draft will be having final say. Said he did not have that last two years
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“Will Howie be in the war room with you this year?”
“Sure.”
… “I value his opinion.”
Chip: “Thanks Howie…”
In relation to the Eagles and what QB we might go after
Geoff Mosher
@GeoffMosherCSN
9s10 seconds ago
But Chip didn’t say whether last year’s draft woulda been different if he had final say, avoided hypothetical.
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“When we have news, I talk.”
Geoff Mosher
@GeoffMosherCSN
10s11 seconds ago
Chip: “When we have news, I’ll talk.”
Now up: Brandon Graham
And just like that *wooh* he’s gone.
he’s giving it to them now man. it’s not his job to calm every bit of speculation
Graham on Chip: “He gained my trust.”…”I’m with him all the way.”
$14.5 million buys a lot of trust.
Eagles Insider
@EaglesInsider
11s11 seconds ago
Graham: All (Chip) wants to do is win championships, and if he has to do something crazy then I’m with him
“I just can’t wait to show what I’ve been doing this offseason.”
Who said that?
Graham
thx
Love Graham’s confidence.
Now that Trent Cole won’t beat him out again . . . why not?
I want the moves to work. I’m willing to accept the players brought in. I just don’t expect it to.
Listening to him today, I have to say he does seem like he has a plan. We may not know what that is or how it’s going to play out, but he is cool as a cucumber.
you can tell he’s like “well i have a plan that i’m not working on because i have to convince you all that i’m not insane”
I got the same feeling. I’m not happy about this off-season, i think we did pretty much all the wrong things, but i’ll give it to Chip. The guy knows what he is doing, he knows why and he is executing his plan. I might not like the plan, i probably dont understand the plan, i certainly dont know the plan, but there is a plan about how we win the Super Bowl. Also, listening to BG and some of the guys on twitter, Chip has in no way lost the locker room. Even Shady said that Chip was an offensive mastermind.
My trust in Chip Kelly is gone, but he has reeled me back within distance, to a point where winning cures everything.
> winning cures everything.
Yes it does.
Sam Bradford is undefeated as the QB of the Philadelphia Eagles.
He has not “lost it“, he is just proving that a GM, with knowledge
and appreciation of the concepts of market value, patience, roster building, is
important. Chip is just like a kid in a candy shop, and now that Papa Roseman
is not holding the credit card anymore he is going nuts.
can you hate his moves, i sort of trust him.
I do too. I’m skeptical, but not going to say he’s an idiot or suggest I know as much as him.
But, it doesn’t mean I won’t make light of the situation and have fun with it. He made some really tough decisions over the last couple of days, and a lot of GMs don’t or can’t make those decisions to move on from fan favorites.
will say when he talked about giving up nick foles it sounded like he was going to get mariota.
i was hoping for kevin white. never thought it was likely, but i was hoping
Press conference over.
Ryan Mathews official.
what is the deal?
3 years 11.5mil…5 mil gtd
you can see they were really tied to that $4m a year
could be way worse
Yeh, it really could be. Seems like not a ton to pay for the potential.
Not a huge fan of him as a player, but that’s a reasonable contract.
I feel more confident in Chip. That was a ballsy press conference! He even did the Frank Underwood double tap on the podium when he left.
Guy is the man
For a guy who has repeatedly deemphasized the contributions of the draft the 2 previous years on the that year’s team, Kelly suddenly emphasized what the roster will look like Sept 1st including the draft.
FU to Roseman and now that Kelly is calling the shots the draft will pay immediate dividends starting in week 1?
or there’s nuance – the draft isn’t the only thing but it does have an impact; FA isn’t the whole thing but it does have an impact; player development isn’t the whole thing but it does have an impact
Kelly was pretty clear on that and went out of his way to mention the ’12 Seahawks draft and the immediate impact it had on the ’12 Seahawks.
Kelly was kind of full of crap though that it was rated an ‘F’. I looked at a few different sources and the source for the ‘F’ grade was Bleacher Report. Give me a freaking break even citing that as a credible source. Kiper had them at C- and a few other gave it mediocre grades.
even so was it a C- draft?
No of course not but that wasn’t being entirely representative. It was far from being universally panned as Kelly led you to believe from that comment.
Seriously citing Bleacher Report as a credible source? Give me a break.
C- ain’t great, but i remember there was a lot of confusion about that bruce irvin pick.
GEAGLE’s definition of soft…
Pro Football Focus @PFF 6m6 minutes ago
Ryan Matthews averaged 2.8 yards/carry after contact last year. Only 4 RBs had a better mark.
only 25 carries though. Will say shady was one of the worst.
74 carries in 2014, Mr. anon. 285 carries for 1,255 yards in 2013.
Ive been waatching hiighlight all day, guy runs HARD. Nothing special tho, rather had CJ
Now we are going after a demarco hard…
The 4 headed monster! All chips in!!
Bring back the power run game baby!
well if they’re both hurt you need lots of bodies
Kelly won the power struggle this offseason after Gamble got tossed and now is doing as he sees fit. He is supremely confident in his scheme and its ability to overcome talent. He was dead wrong on Jackson/Cooper although the passing game really didn’t see an overall failoff in production last year.
Still like Kelly the coach. As a GM so far, I think he got played as an amateur and a chump.
I wished the reporters had asked about the McCoy trade including the due diligence and if they had talked to multiple teams. Based on Kelly’s responses and what we can piece together it sounded like:
– Buffalo clearly leaked the results ahead of time on the McCoy to announce his extension and bask in the PR
– Kelly was clearly pissed that it took place
– McCoy trade got leaked early and after McCoy found out he talked trash including to Gore
– Once Gore got more feedback and talked to McCoy, he got cold feet and decided to go to a team that has a better chance of contending next year.
– Now the Eagles had to go after and sign Matthews which I would argue is the worst move this team has made since Kelly became the GM
This whole series of moves make Kelly look like an amateur who got played a bit and doesn’t bound well for his more immediate dealings as GM.
As for the Bradford thing, Kelly clearly wanted Foles gone. After he realized that he couldn’t move up to get Mariota without it crippling the franchise moving ahead forward (great job on winning that last game and costing the team the 15th pick), he settled on Bradford. He overpaid and the trades looks even worse when you include the draft picks.
This team is in limbo right now and even if they draft Hundley in the first round (and I still think there is a good chance they might) the direction is pretty uncertain.
Not exactly a ringing endorsement but if Lurie gave Kelly the reigns this is going to be a multi-year process.
Re-listen to the Foles part, and the part where they were offered a 1st for Bradford this morning. IF they wanted to go for Bradford they have 2 1s in 2015 to do it. It was obviously clear that they weren’t going to get great value for Foles elsewhere.
On Buffalo, I don’t see how that’s chip’s fault. But Kiko is a beast, everyone hear knows that McCoy isn’t the right back for the team.
On RBs, Matthews is a steal at $4m/yr. If we get meco as well we have the best power running game by far in the NFL. We just need a guard.
GO and watch Bradford throw the ball, its pretty to watch. Then go watch his OL (STL still has no o-line, poor foles). Then go watch recievers drop balls.
Kelly made a good point — injury rate is 100% in the NFL.
Kelly throw that out there and you have no idea if it was entirely true or what the value of the pick was.
must have been browns, jets, titans, probably browns since they have two #1s. Notice that Jets traded for Fitz, first thing this morning, i think they were players.
A:
Lots of good stuff.
Regarding Bradford’s production with the Rams . . . weak receivers, weak O-line.
Great QBs overcome that.
If the Eagles’ Oline gets racked by injuries again, then I guess we should expect Bradford’s production to fall — like Foles.
If the O-line’s healthy, he should put up 27-2 ?
Kelly’s scheme will help Bradford’s numbers — like Sanchez’s were helped.
Beyond that, what’s changed?
BS77:
Great take.
If you’ll be upset that something you said or did will, in 5 minutes, be on P-1 of the newspaper . . . then don’t do it.
Otherwise, expect everything you do to be promptly reported.
I tell that clients every day.
I feel like we are collecting the all pro injury team. Whats next Sean Lee?
Why has Kelly burned through trust? Analyze the risk/reward for this move. He clearly did not think Foles could put us over the top. Is there any reason to doubt his analysis on this? He wants a shot with Bradford. May not pan out, but the risk (cap space), seems to be very much in line with the reward (former Heisman/#1 pick/Off Rookie of the Year).
Josh Ennis is on the radio saying that Sam Bradford is not good enough. Fans are saying Sam is not good enough. People are looking at statistics.
So you know how good Sam Bradford is compared to a whole team of experts whose job its is to look at Sams tape?
What makes us think we know the worth of a player better than these guys?
I mean I offer my opinion, but that has to be taken into the picture.
I mean a guy just said he would feel better if we get Demarco. Certainly that would be another proven , yet older and more beat up guy. But I mean, your just looking at the name and stats and judging from that.
There is more that goes into a players worth than the name and stats!
I JUST NEED ONE OTHER PERSON TO JOIN ME IN SANITY ON THIS.
Ennis isnt from around here… grain of salt, what did BRUNO say?
Bruno was logical, but he is outnumbered. Bruno was on the fence, but Bruno seemed to be on the wait and see team after Kelly spoke. because Kelly gave a great press conference.
I mean he explained everything
I like the wait and see approach… Ennis is good as a talk show guy.. not a fan of his sports rants.
I was disappointed, cause im new to listening to the radio show. I was following what Josh was saying, but where im concerned is that Jeffery Lurie would actually consider firing Chip over this. Drumming this opposition based off of hyperbole and conclusions based on stats alone.
its idiotic. I want to hear objective and good sports talk based on analysis. not gut feeling and hyperbole.
A lot of times you would be shocked at how the ‘expert’ consensus from people with a lot of experience/education on issues who is horribly f’ed it would baffle you.
Foreign policy and war preparation/analysis of results are a great example. Even large companies I have worked with which have extensive strategy plans (5-year plans) and a large strategy team in place can be very cut off from the input process at the C-level/board or have disastrous conclusions.
I know what you mean, but that doesn’t mean you ignore reality.
Chip just gave his reasoning. He looked at Sams tape they analyzed it.
Not liked he said I looked at one game and I think hes good because of my gut feeling.
I watched two games of Sams last nite. The guy has such a fluid throwing motion. Its really pretty. He makes good decisions. Guys were dropping perfect passes. I see where Chip is coming from
These idiots calling in and Josh Ennis and Ike Reese. These guys say stuff that is the opposite of having any sort of analysis behind it. Like zero.
your point doesn’t give them the right to counter with insane hyperbole
How is Riley cooper trash? He had a good year and a down year. that doesn’t make him trash. Not saying he deserves a big contract.
but im tired of trying to make my point. im done
Cooper isn’t trash. They paid him like a starter when he wasn’t and got nothing of value for Jackson.
It was a horrible set of poorly-thought out and executed set of transactions.
We can’t say for sure that Chip gave Cooper that money. Roseman does do the contracts.
That’s true but it is clear that Kelly wanted Jackson gone regardless of how it was achieved or what they got they in return.
I really do think Kelly believes in the supremacy of his scheme/buy-in from players vs talent. I think he is going to be sadly mistaken this year on offense with very mediocre results.
I can agree with how Chip buys into his system. I don’t know the results. Everyone last year said we would suck on offense without DJax, and that Maclin wasn’t a true #1. The offense was like 4th in the league in DVOA and Maclin had a career year.
We don’t need to be the #4 offense, but if we have the #10 offense or somewhere in that area they’ll be fine.
Every coach believes in their scheme and wants 100% buy in from players.
I think he thinks Sam Bradford is the most talented QB he could attain and fill the holes on the roster.
That’s the narrative on Cooper.
Your doing exactly what im saying by saying it was poorly thought out..
how do you know….it was poorly thought out.
How do you know they could have gotten anything for him.
It could have just been how it went down.
But the narrative is that because we don’t know..
that’s the point im making.
there are psychological reasoning behind that (like group think). That being said, the way data is presented in the sports media is so poorly done and innacurate that I have a hard time listening to the media evaluation. Especially from someone like Innes who is just trying to stir up controversy.
Listened to him once or twice when he was on at night. I almost never listen to any sports talk/talk radio in general. It is just lowest-common denominator with little/nothing of value in terms of entertainment or insight.
Maybe NPR depending more upon the subject and the guest.
I agree about sports radio.
I used to listen to WIP but just couldn’t take it any more with the direction that station is going. I couldn’t take Josh when he was flipping out over people criticizing him and then would go on rants criticizing others. I like NPR most of the time. But they are Journalists and typically pretty fair and balanced. At a minimum they are well researched.
But more to the point, sports statistics are embarrassingly poorly done. No scientific journal would accept any paper with data in the way they present it. And before someone says numbers are numbers, that is true however, they are only presenting a small portion of the data which is heavily based on assumptions, some of which are not valid. (Sorry for the run-on sentence) And few, if any, of their conclusions are properly verified.
The problem is that Bradford has torn his ACL twice since he last threw a meaningful pass in the NFL. Plus we gave up a guy, that in this system, had the 3rd highest passer rating for an season in NFL history. And has his jersey in the HoF for throwing 7 TDs in one game. I know that Foles didn’t look great last year, but you have seen him do it before. We don’t even know what Bradford will look like coming back from his injury. And to top it all off, we gave the Rams a 4th this year and a 2nd next year. But hey, we got an extra 5th rd pick this year too. Who the hell does that!?! I was on board with every move made so far, and McCoy was my favorite Eagle. I cannot find a reasonable explanation for this. Believe me I have tried.
Ok. I saw that. I looked at all the stats. I got a subscription to pro football focus and I watch old games on nfl game rewind.
But when a coach comes out and says he checked with Doctors and feels good about the health of Sam Bradford coming forward
When they talk about analyzing a guy not on his stats, like 7 TDs but on how is that player truly effecting the game? how is his mechanics? how is his throwing motion etc….
And they come back from all of that, and decide Bradford is worth it. I think you go and look at the stats but there should be a middle ground.
to say that Chip is stupid and that Sam cant do it is not rooted in the same analysis and depth of analysis Chip and his staff have access to.
On top of that its a 5th we get for a 4th and a conditional 2nd if Sam plays the whole year.
So your saying if he plays than hes worth the second. the 4th for the 5th is just moving back on that pick.
I feel there is a hyperbolic reaction to all of this.
Just because you don’t know the true worth of Bradford based on stats compared to Foles, doesn’t mean Chips assement is wrong.
You just don’t know.
I am skeptical at best.
Eagles get – Bradford, 5th rd pick this year, conditional 3rd or 4th rd pick next year.
Rams get – Foles, 4th this year and 2nd next year. The 2nd rd pick to the rams is not conditional.
Last 3 Eagles 2nd rd picks: Kendricks, Ertz, and Matthews. We gave up Foles and a potential starter for Bradford.
And to top it off, Bradford is on the last year of his deal anyway! Best case scenario, Bradford kills it this year, then what? Are we going to lock him up at $20 mil a season? We have seen other QBs do well for a year in this system. Bradford has been hurt a lot in his NFL career.
Just because the last three years 2nd round picks have been starters doesn’t mean that we would have hit on 2016. I would need many more years of statistics if your trying to make that a legitamte thing.
And you know Chip doesn’t believe you cant find talent in the later rounds.
Lets not forget the many stars that were late rounds or never drafted.
Also, it could imply Chip is betting on the eagles having a high pick in the 2nd round 2016.
Whoever does well and proves they could be the number one guy will get paid their due.
What im saying is that there is a gap between your outrage over superficial knowledge and what Chip knows.
How about you combine the two and come to a objective place.
The trade seems risky. But your making it seem like its the worst trade of all time and all this mess.
Just think about the trade. include all information in your analysis. not jus the parts that fit your belief system of whats a possibility and your judgement of a players value.
I mean I just don’t trust many peoples opinion that ignore the opinion of those whose job it is to make these hard judgments.
Give Chip an ounce of respect is all im saying.
not saying hes a genius. but the trade cant be that idiotic and stupid just because you cant find the logical reason from where you are sitting.
“We probably would’ve picked a bust anyway” is not a good argument for trading away draft picks.
Never said that. but neither extreme is a good arguement
You’re right about this. A player’s history, team context, etc. are crucial to consider. Tommy talks about this a lot and with specific regard to Bradford. But outcomes (e.g. lots of different stats) are important to consider too. This is all data that should get used as evidence for a bigger claim about: Who is this player? It’s what social scientists refer to as triangulating data.
We obviously need to also consider the contract number, the current market for QBs, etc. It’s a complex equation.
My take is that, all things considered, it’s a big risk/reward move. We gave up a ton to get big-time potential at LB and QB. We arguably did the same thing at RB with Matthews (though I personally don’t like him as a player). We could only get that potential in large part because of the injury history. That’s the biggest risk in this whole thing across the board.
I consider it all. and I have come to the same conclusion.
But Chip admitted this today. he said he feels you have to take risk and I understand it was calculated.
all these people assuming they did no due diligence are ignorant.
he alluded to Drew Brees and his story.
I do not think Chip has lost it…however I think the changes he has implemented are questionable and will need explanation from him once we have a chance to hear from him. I hope when he does face the media that he will be a lot more open about why he made these moves, how he views the timeline to win a SB now and what the new players will bring to the table to help us get closer to achieving that goal.
One concern I continue to have is how long Chip will be here and if he is committed, granted Lurie retains him, to seeing this re-tool process through to the end. It would be a real shame if he made a lot of changes and then bailed for another opportunity, leaving the Eagles in a ditch.
He just did a PC. Explained everything.
I think it was a good explanation
Oh thanks, I had no idea…I’ll go listen to it on the eagles site
What did Kelly *really* say?
1. I’m not the guy who drafted:
LJohnson, Jordan Matthews, Zach Ertz, Benny Logan, or MSII, Josh Huff, and Matt Barkley.
Roseman did that, and Lurie — all by himself, with no pressure from me, implied or otherwise — realized those moves were keeping us from winning the SB. So Lurie knew he just had to give me all the drafting and personnel power — because, wow, those were all horrible decisions.
2. Bradford’s our guy — unless he’s not ’cause I can make a reasonable deal to move up to get MM.
Otherwise, I thought it was a critical to acquire a QB on a 1-year contract costing $12 million by giving up a young QB and a 2nd Rd pick — with no guarantee this new QB will play a single down or resign here.
3. I traded McCoy to free up cap money so I could afford Alonso and Maxwell. “We’d love to keep everybody if we could pay everybody but it’s not baseball.”
Oh, did I fail to mention that Bradford used up every dollar of cap savings by trading McCoy? Left that out? Oops.
___________
Kelly wants to win NOW.
The Giants were willing to wait a couple years and spend big to get their QB in 2004.
They won 2 SBs.
Let’s see Kelly do that.
This is the kind of nonsense that Kelly gives at PCs, which should be taken with a pound of salt.
Kelly’s pressers provide material that would do Pravda proud.
Please clarify:
In case the Eagles trade Sammie, will they automatically receive a 4th rounder next year. And in case Sammie gets injured with his new team, will they receive the 3rd rounder as well?!?
either or.
Ok. But also if Sammie plays for any team but the Eagles?
I don’t know if it transfers. I think it does. Like how we got the conditional from buffalo that was based on what stevie johnson did.
So if a team plays Bradford next year more than half of starts we probably don’t get anything. But we’ll have Mariota, so who cares.
So this is what it feels like to be a Rams fan
Stop crying. 😉
I was in denial last night trying to rationalize, not so much today
Foles glad to be out of Philly.
http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2015/03/11/nick-foles-described-as-overjoyed-hes-out-of-philly/related/
Old News. 😉
Probably. I’m on and off today. Don’t know what’s been posted before. I am lazy and didn’t read through the couple hundred comments.
No worries, mate. It was posted in those 5000 comments from last night.
It seems that we never really did get rid of Andy – we still seem to have “the smartest guy in the room.”
All HC are like that
He is the smartest guy in the room.
Yep
Coaching wise – maybe. As a GM, I think he got exposed pretty badly from both an operational and strategic perspective in the last few days.
maybe, or we are all falling into the trap he is setting up, and he is pulling an all time great bluff. Time will tell.
As one poster posted last night: when a guy makes a series of baffling moves that appear from the outside to make no sense, give away assets for less than their market value, and weaken the team, he’s either incompetent at his job, or he’s some kind of secret mastermind playing three dimensional chess nobody else can understand. Occam’s razor suggests which is more likely.
Or no one knows anything which has been proven year after year by pre draft and free agency evaluations and predictions…
how do you figure? what would you have done?
If he didn’t think Foles was the guy, trade him this offseason for a decent pick. Look to round out other areas of the team for players who fit your scheme in the draft.
If the Eagles really like a QB outside of Mariota/Justice, then use a high draft pick on him. If not, start Sanchez and play through a mediocre season and put yourself in a place to possibly grab that QB in ’16.
how is “Get rid of a QB with the hope of drafting one this year or next year without worrying about having someone in place right now” good negotiating strategy?
Eagles are generally employing this strategy and hedged with Sanchez as a result on that 2-year deal.
They just traded for Bradford instead and gave up the 2nd round pick next year (arguably the worst part of the trade)
that may be true, but if they didn’t have Bradford and gave up Foles then they could not argue their QB need is no longer an issue. Therefore, any negotiating leverage they have now would not exist, and they would run the risk of teams jumping ahead of them in the draft/demanding a steeper price to move up. Trading for Bradford was necessary regardless of their plans.
Why especially if he isn’t healthy and even if he is and plays fairly well next year he’ll want to get paid? Do the Eagles want to give him a moderately large, long-term contract?
if other teams are interested in Bradford, the eagles are now more convincingly settled. Reality is not as important as the general perception of reality.
and do what with that pick, maybe Foles on fetched a 4th / 3rd at the best. what are you going to do with that pick? Get a QB in that round? Spend a late round first on a Qb this year and have him sit?
This way we get some time to try out Sammy B (or trade him) and if we don’t like him cut him for free, get some compensation back and then draft a QB. We’re not in a materially worse position.
Gave up a 2nd round next year too in the trade and I would be willing to bet Foles would have garnered more than a 4th especially if the pick (2016) would have been made conditional.
But this is because you don’t like Bradford.
“Coaching wise- maybe.” Was there any other NFL coaches interviewing him? I must have missed that part. He is absolutely the smartest guy in the room coaching wise and unless Bill Polian was part of the media contingent, he was also the smartest GM in the room.
He was talking to the media, not the HOF.
Statement means and is used when referring to his peers.
None of his peers have expressed that sentiment, only fans and perturbed media members.
When you use that statement, it is meant for peers.
You aren’t going to take a bunch of lay common people vs an expert in his field and say the expert doesn’t know more than the common people around him.
Frankly I hate the statement and it is often poorly used. There are different kinds of intellect (several different kids) and abiliity that almost any person will have some relative strengths compared to another.
I’m aware of how the statement is used. It has more validity when a peer expresses that sentiment. It has less validity when a fan throws it out there because he was being snarky with the media.
aren’t a whole bunch of fans here (lay people) saying they know more about being a GM than Chip?
More and more I don’t think the Bradford trade was about Bradford as it was about Foles & his what Kelly perceived his limitations to be.
That’s fine. I just wonder what they will do now including if they will draft Hundley.
Just a gut call but I would be stunned if Bradford is here beyond next season. Reminds me a lot of the mid-90s when this team floundered to find a top-flight QB after Cunningham was finished. Meandered for several years with modest success through a series of average/below average QBs until they drafted McNabb.
I think Bryce Petty is the guy, not Hundley.
I think the basic problem was that this team was stuck at a 10-6 ceiling without a better QB. I don’t think Bradford is the answer and I don’t like the trade, but Foles really isn’t/wasn’t either.
I do see what Kelly is trying to do, although I think a number of his moves are questionable (mostly the Bradford trade).
Bradford trade isn’t bad if you think he’s the one. They’ll obviously know in pre-season whether they’ll keep him.
Yeah, I mean he is worth a shot, but I don’t know about what they paid for him. IF he stays healthy, I think he will be better than Foles was last year at least. But they gave up too much for taking a flyer like that.
That’s quite possible but I do think they will draft a QB very high in the draft this year and drive people here crazy in the process.
What do you think about the rest of my theory – the idea that the team as currently constituted was never going to go beyond 10-6? If you accept that (which I do), I think what Kelly is *trying* to do makes a lot of sense.
Clear as day Kelly thought and why he has largely blown up the team this offseason since he gained control.
The Eagles whether they like it or not are in a semi-rebuilding phase. I just get tired of hearing how this an elite organization. BS.
They are nothing more than a run-of-the-mill mediocre franchise the past decade or so. Certainly not a basket case and as poorly run as the Skins but they are from they seem to think/portray themselves publicly.
Oh, sure. But I have to say I’m more excited now for the season that I would have been, if only for novelty value.
I do think Philly fans overrated some of the offensive talent. McCoy clearly declined last year (backs like Lynch, Murray were clearly better), Maclin good, but nothing special, Foles is a bottom-tier starter in the league.
That said, I didn’t like the Jackson decision last year and don’t like the Bradford trade. But overall, I do see what Chip is trying to do and am interested to see how things unfold.
I’m not. Kelly dodged the question about whether this team is better right now than the one that ended the ’14 season. Said instead to focus on Sept 1st roster.
It was kind of a cop out because the answer is ‘yes’ Right now this team seems headed to a 6-10/8-8 year next year including being home in Jan for the 4th time in 5 years. None of this isn’t going to sit well this incredibly inpatient fanbase even if Kelly isn’t headed everywhere unless he wants out to head back to college.
I don’t think that will happen next year but the season afterwards. Kelly will be frustrated by not getting the players/personnel he wants and the lack of success he is having will make him want to head back to college a year early.
I am because I think the team would have had exactly the same type of year. We could be worse next year, but we might not. Still gotta see everything play out. If we suck, well Kelly will be gone.
McCoy is 26 and led the NFL in rushing the previous season and had good seasons before that. His “decline” last year was about 1400 yds…the guy is elite. I like Alonso a lot, but we should have gotten at least 1 pick as well. Maclin has also had good seasons when healthy and was a definite special #1 last year, he is 26 as well, in his prime. Foles is not a bottom tier QB, more like middle tier (top 20) who was absolutely dominant one year and ok the others…he is not a stud, but to give up additional picks + Foles for Bradford is clearly questionable.
chip basically was like we got Maxwell and Kiko for McCoy.
Hate to break it to ya’, but it wasn’t the QB play that held the team back the last two years, it was the defense.
turnovers from the QB position killed us.
Last year, yes. But not as much as the Bradley Fletcher/Cary Williams/Nate Allen fireworks show did. And in 2013, turnovers from the QB position weren’t an issue AT ALL. The defense was ranked 31st and 32nd the last two years. QB play was not remotely the biggest problem on this team the last two years.
I am taking Chip by his word for now and believe him that he won’t mortgage the future for one player. That being said the focus can be shifted to the draft when it comes down to filling the current hole at WR.
I won’t be surprised if we spend another two high picks on WR this year. And there should be many available to drool over…!
I certainly hope not.
huh?
2 of their first 3 picks on WR
WR is deep.
OL is top heavy.
Pick 20 is far more likely to be spent on an OL than a WR.
Rounds 2 and 3 qualify as high picks in my book. 😉
Gun to your head, who do you predict the Eagles take at #20?
If he’s there TJ Clemmings.
To start where from day one?
RG. It plays to his power and hides some of his weaknesses as far as struggling against top speed rushers and balance in run game. Still allows you to use his athleticism to pull him and get him in space. Lessens learning curve since he’s pretty raw.
Cool, thx.
What WR would you choose over a OL at #20 if available?
White or Parker.
Have you done a report on him yet?
http://scoutsnotebook.com/2015/02/03/scouting-report-t-j-clemmings/
Signed Ryan Mathews to 3 year deal… And is still involved in trying to get Demario Murray? I officially have no idea what’s going on
feels good to just admit, let’s see where the road takes us.
just leverage to sign more money with Dallas….
Im totally fine with that.
This smacks a lot of the MSII draft pick last year – Chip had a plan, it didn’t quite work out (OK, they rarely do), but then he panicked and made a last-minute desperation move by selecting MSII.
Now this time, he cleared out all the cap space to make a bunch of moves, culminating in Mariota, but then he lost out on McCourty, Gore had second thoughts, Andy was desperate enough to way overspend on Maclin, and the Rams weren’t about to switch first round picks with us. So now he has all this money and no one to spend it on. So what the heck, lets just take on Bradford, his 2 ACLs and his $13 mil and – since we don’t seem to care about past injuries and getting on the field any more – take on Thurmond and Mathews as well.
At this point, I really dread draft day – I don’t even think that God knows what kind of craziness will happen on that day with Chip.
It almost – almost – makes me miss Andy (sorry, Big Red).
he said MSII was Howie’s pick flat out in the PC.
No he didn’t, he said Howie had the final call on the pick. Doesn’t mean Chip wasn’t into him just as much.
Been enough conjecture that Roseman ran the draft last year and had the final call.
I am willing to bet the draft impact last year including MSII did play a key role in why Kelly won the power struggle vs Roseman this offseason.
Eagles didn’t heavily invest last year in FA and emphasized the draft. Besides Matthews, they got almost zero contributions from it and that really hurt them and their ability to take a step forward last year.
This reminds me of when Andy brought Vick in. Feel like it’s wasted years ahead. I suppose new system and upside is good and I never like to speculate on injuries.. It’s all the other holes and losses that aren’t helping either. Moore visiting hou now, get a safety cmon
In 2010 we gave the packers the best game they had in the playoffs, including the Superbowl. That team was a legit contender. I don’t consider that wasted.
Re: GARP-ACL Injury Theory . . . DOA [repost]
Here’s some interesting information about the recurrence of ACL injuries:
“One expert in the field of knee injuries says it’s not unusual for a player that has undergone surgery on a torn anterior cruciate ligament to re-tear the same ACL.
“It’s fairly common, actually,” said Dr. Bert Mandelbaum of the Institute for Sports Medicine in Los Angeles. “When you look at all data and you compare
people who’ve torn their ACL, they have a 10 times greater likelihood of tearing their other ACL or the same one.
“The probability’s about 10-fold greater.”
http://www.stltoday.com/sports/football/professional/can-rams-count-on-bradford-long-in/article_9d095957-3152-5870-85a7-50ff848fc5ee.html
____________
Sam Bradford tore the ACL in his left knee on Oct. 20, 2013 against Carolina.
The ACL in the same knee was torn again 10 months later on August 23, 2014 in a preseason game in Cleveland.
______________
Apparently, there’s no reliable data on 3 consecutive ACL injuries . . . but who remembers Cornelius Ingram?
TRIFECTA, anyone?
Often hear about people re-tearing achilies. Good thing about second ACL is that almost a year will have passed by the time he hits the field for real.
Thomas Davis of the Carolina Panthers tore up the same knee 3 times. After looking to be a lost caused he came back to become a pro bowl linebacker the last 2 years. I say it possible for Sam to resurrect his career but its hard to have faith. Davis is just an exception.
Buckhalter blew his out twice in two years and came back to be productive. He’s the only other example I know of
patellar tendon.
not ACL
never the same back as he was his rookie season
It’s 2:54 pm est where I’m at. If you’re here now, check out espn2, Trent Cole will be interviewed after the commercials.
BC1968. . .
will you provide with the highlights — no access to TV
Actually they are talking Eagles right now, getting more than my money’s worth from the preview. They are right now basically saying the same stuff, but right now Trent has just come on, brb
Edit: Trent on the Chip Kelly plan, It looks like he wants younger players, I’m just a player there to do my job, for him and the organization. As you see, a lot of us, productive players are gone from the Eagles right now. He has a plan and we are not in the plan, we have to move on as players. We all know what we have left in us, we know we can still play. We just have to wait it out and then put your opinions on it. He has a master plan, and Trent says he’s looking forward to seeing it put together.
He’s surprised that he was let go after a decade, it’s business, etc. He’s glad they(Colts) gave him the chance, they decided they(Eagles) wanted to part ways and I had to move on. He knows in his heart that he can play and hes going to keep going.
They asked why the Colts? Because other teams he visited. He said he liked all the teams, the Colts are in the midwest, his home, great QB, great line, geniune coach, feel the vibe, they want to win. This organization wants to win, they want to go all the way and they are filling the pieces and I want to be a part of that. He’s very excited to get the chance.
What’s the plan for him in the scheme? He knows they will put him in a situation that he’s good at, getting after the QB, he doesn’t know too many things yet, but he’ll know when things get going in April.
OMG that’s pretty good for me! Maybe i should learn shorthand and work in a courtroom LOL
fantastic work getting that out so fast
Lots of questions. Lots of uncertainty. But there is one really troubling aspect to this. Roseman almost certainly would have gotten a better deal. You make the decision, Chip, but don’t be so pig-headed that you can’t walk all the way over to Howie’s office and ask for help in the trade negotiations. He couldn’t have made a worse deal than you did.
He literally just stated that Howie is still involved in negotiating deals.
That is the role he is primarily in when it comes to the football side of things. He has other business responsibilities, but he is still in on the cap and money aspects.
“Negotiating deals”, in the absence of specific language to the contrary, would apply to contract negotiations. Not typically applied to making trades.
Looking for the nearest pond, I’m just gonna start drowning every random duck I see
It’s not duck season….lol
Woosah a little with this broski.
AC got all Trent info below, almost word for word, took typing in school. lol
thx
I’m so stoked for next season…
Bradford, Alonso, Maxwell, Thurmond, Mathews, supposedly still in the mix for Murray, still some viable options at S and WR on the market and still have most of our picks in the upcoming draft.
I know it all depends on your perception of the individual players, but I feel like each of those signings is a legitimate upgrade on the guy they’re replacing (with the exception of Mathews) and there’s plenty of time to add more pieces in FA and the draft. Either way, I’m excited to see how it all plays out.
Getting warm outside but I think there is still time to #getyourCoateson. I’m just saying!!!!!! How ironic would it be that after all the unsure handed receivers Bradford had in STL, we would get him another in Coates?
After listening to Trent Cole, it’s pretty interesting to hear him say he’s interested to see what Chip’s plan is and how it’s going to turn out. Imagine after a decade and being one of the top pass rushers ever for the team, of course not Reggie and the great line we had with Buddy talent, but pretty damn good. He’s an all time Eagle in my mind and will miss him greatly. He showed a lot of class in his interview.
My favorite player on the team and I was bummed he was cut even if it did make fiscal sense. Class act, always a max effort guy, and never made excuses or embarrassed himself.
Yep, had a little drop off a few years ago and came back strong with Chip, I really think he’s grateful for Chip and his health regime helped him greatly and I bet he stays with it. We saw how he dipped a little at the end of Andy and then came back strong when Chip became coach. Also standing him up at linebacker probably helped, I feel that has to be better than always being in a down position. I believe he has no hard feelings with Chip at all, I wish him all the luck in the world, especially since he’s out of the division and conference. Will always root for him.
Foreshadowing: at one point in the presser chip was asked about having 3 inside LBs — and he said he didn’t have 3. He talked earlier about keeping demeco and none of us expect the wounded duck kiko to be moved. Will be very disappointed if kendricks is moved. Him and kiko can be one of the best inside tandem for 7-8 years here
Or maybe Kiko is moving outside?
kiko said in his interview he was staying inside.
Hmmm. Maybe Meco is getting cut or traded?
Kelly said meco is stayjng… So I’m perplexed to say the least
Me too. I don’t know what to say.
He doesn’t have 3 ilb he has more lol
It sounded like he said we don’t have 3 starting ILB’s which is obvious because there are only 2 ILB spots available. Then the reporter rephrased his question by asking about 3 “starting caliber ILB’s.” Maybe it is just a hedge bet because they all were injured at one point or another.
I’m hoping so. Just seemed to be some uncertainty with kendricks the last couple days. Cox and kendricks (and potentially curry/Boykin extensions would be the best move of the off season if they happen. Guessing we will wait until after the draft for that kind of news though.
I honestly don’t see a huge rush to extend Boykin either.
Mmmmh, interesting at the very least:
Eagles – Murray discussions have heated up significantly today. Bradford, by the way, was a Murray college roommate at Oklahoma. @NFLonFOX
Chip was offered a first round pick for Bradford this morning, according to Chip. lol…From who? A team down at 32, the Pats?
Browns maybe? They have 2 1st round picks and were linked to Bradford earlier in the off-season.
How high is their lower 1st pick?
12th overall is the high one and the 19th pick is the lower one.
Ok, I’m sure it would be 19. I wonder what the Eagles could do with 19 and 20? I guess nothing because doesn’t sound like Chip took it, if it’s true.
12 and 19
Alright, I’m calling BS on one thing that I read about in Kelly’s presser right now. Kelly claims that he was offered a first round pick for Bradford by an unnamed team. The typical understanding is that a pick from the next years draft is usually worth a pick one round lower than one this season. That means St. Louis essentially traded Bradford to the Eagles for the rough equivalent of a third round and swap of fourth and fifth round picks with injury concessions. If anyone thinks that St. Louis wouldn’t have taken a first rounder from any team for this season or next season instead for Bradford, they need their heads checked.
Out of all the decisions Chip Kelly has made as a pro coach, his taste in QBs has been the strangest and most difficult to understand. In his first season, he drafted Matt Barkley and Chip claimed he had a grade a full round higher on him. He then orchestrated a rigged competition between Vick and Foles that we all knew would result in Vick starting unless he completely fell on his face. Two seasons later, Kelly’s moves have made clear that Barkley isn’t trusted to do anything more than run the scout team and probably wold be replaced in a heartbeat if a better option came along. In his second offseason, he signed Mark Sanchez. A move that baffled and horrified fans at the time. While some called for him to play after Nick struggled early last year, most of us remembered that he was Mark freaking Sanchez and realized it would be a disaster. Nick did what he’s done most of his pro career and got injured again leading to us having to watch Mark be Mark and blow any chance of the Eagles getting to the post season. This year, he traded for Sam Bradford and has the gall to lie to us and claim he was offered a first round pick for him.
I love Chip Kelly the coach and respect the hell out of his schemes, but when it comes to QBs I truly believe that Kelly has determined he has to prove that he can with without a QB who truly fits his scheme. His insistence on shoving square pegs into the round hole of his scheme is his greatest failing as a pro coach. I will continue to cheer for the Eagles just as I continued when Andy’s inability to manage the clock or run the ball enough drove me nuts. Just don’t expect me to not acknowledge the elephants in the room.
So your telling me, you know for a fact that Chip Kelly is lying. And your whole explanation proves this.
If I was a NFL anything, I would never talk to the media.
I respectfully disagree with you
Raiders want Murray. He doesn’t wanna sign there. Eagles sign him and trade him there for the 4th pick, take Mariota or move to 2 then cut Bradford getting back that 2nd pick. Bradford is then currently now the backup plan in case they can’t sign Murray and bradford cost them nothing because he’s not on their roster day one
Yeah, the Players Association would love that maneuver…
That would be a very genius way to get a player who doesn’t want to play for you. Maybe the Eagles should trade Sam Bradford straight up for Frank Whore?!
Sounds like the Raiders are going harder after Murray, they are trying to get him in for a work-out/physical right now.
Bucs set to release DE Michael Johnson. Could He play in the 3-4?
We had zero interest in him last year, but yea he could be a 3-4 OLB
Had to Roseman’s decision
Is Vick done? This is not me saying I want him, not even close, just saying I haven’t heard anything about him.
he was terrible last year so probably
Agreed, not even worth backup money anymore.Remember the days of ALL Madden ALL World! Long, long ago.
Bears stuck with Cutler and you think our situation is bad.
Dallas still may keep Murray after an offer is made. They’re saying on espn2 that he doesn’t even want to leave. hmmm
Neither did maclin.
Sure, but if you’re the Eagles there’s a benefit from showing interest and making Cowboys pay as much as possible to keep him.
Just like 99% of the Eagles fanbase, I too was shook to my core over all of these changes. What a whirlwind of activity in such a short time frame. I thought “Surely Chip must be off his rocker”, then I decided to watch a little tape of Sam playing in College and then it hit me. Chip thinks he can plug in Sam into his system and he will light it up. I noticed Sam does have a rocket arm, and in College he was very accurate. He could even drop a pass into the bread basket deep down the field.
Then I saw how good Sam played while on the move, when was in College.
He won the Heisman in 2008 and was the #1 overall draft pick for the Rams.
In his first season, he won rookie of the year and broke the record for the most completions by a rookie QB.
The decision to trade Nick for Sam shows us that Chip is living up to his nickname “BIG BALLS CHIP”, and then some.
If this all works out and the Eagles win the division and a playoff game, who would be mad? I doubt anyone would be upset if he proves to us that he was right.
Something tells me Chip knows exactly what he is doing and when the dust settles he will give you that sheet eating grin just like he always does when his plan works.
It’s like betting against the house though. His injuries give me little to no faith. What SB winning QB has ever had his scenario of injuries?
Forget the injuries. What Bradford did in college is pretty much irrelevant at this point. JaMarcus Russell and Ryan Leaf were also good college players. Bradford has been in the NFL for five years and has never been anything better than mediocre. If people want to say he had a bad supporting cast, bad coaching, etc., fine, I’ll buy taking a flier on him. But you don’t trade premium assets to take a flier on a reclamation project, which is what the Eagles are doing. It’s like shopping for a house, finding a run down fixer upper, and spending as much on it as you would on it if it were in pristine condition. It makes no sense.
Umm, if he were healthy I would take him in a heartbeat…
Why? When healthy, what evidence has he ever given that he’s capable of being a franchise NFL QB?
He has the right tools in being highly accurate passer and quick thinker in the right system. It worked to a degree with Shurmur. Im not gonna sit here and vouch for him because of the injuries. You have to think though if healthy the potential is higher than Foles.
He’s going to be 28 next season. At a some point raw tools become much less relevant than a track record of actual NFL production, and I think Bradford is well past that point.
As I said, I’d be fine with taking a flier on him – trading a midround pick for him, say. But they gave up premium assets to get him. I think that’s insane.
Umm, I dont want them to give up any picks either. I still dont want Bradford; but that is because of injuries. And if we did want him when healthy Chip should be trading players only and not assets.
Check out his stats from 2010 and 2012 when he was actually healthy and his stats weren’t that bad at all.
…
2010 – 16 games played, 60% completion percentage, 3512 yards passing, 18 tds to 15 picks
…
2012 – 16 games played, 59.5% completion percentage, 3702 yards, 21 tds to 13 picks
That’s pretty weak sauce. So you’re telling me I should be reassured by Bradford’s career best stats, which are comparable to what Nick Foles’ stats from last season would’ve been prorated over 16 games, in a season that caused everyone to (reasonably) question whether Foles was the answer?
If you want to talk yourself into Bradford with that logic, go for it. I’m not convinced.
I’m not talking myself into any logic but you’re over here talking like Nick Foles was the next coming of Tom Brady. Just don’t bash somebody just because that player got injured because you don’t make a valid argument that way.
I don’t think Foles was the next Brady. I was okay with trading him for the right return.
I’m not okay with trading him, plus a premium draft pick, PLUS $10 million in cap space, for a guy who is older, more expensive, and has had less NFL success.
I don’t want a QB whose 2 best years in the NFL, he put up stats that “weren’t that bad at all”. How are those stats not that bad? So his 2 best years in the league avg out to: 3600 yards, 19.5 TDs and 14 picks! That is our franchise QB!?
Yea because Foles’ career average are just Peyton Manning-esque right? Explain to me to again Foles career stats.
Explain to me where I said that Fole’s stats make him a franchise QB.
You may not want to go that route. While I don’t think Foles’ stats make him a surefire franchise QB by any stretch, they are significantly better than Bradford’s career stats.
you just stated the biggest busts in history.. bradford won rookie of the year.. did those jokes? NO… if you wan to remember the injuries then the story is a bit different..
Bradford is not a total bust like those guys. But he’s also never proven he’s capable of being a good NFL quarterback, even when he has been healthy.
X-man!!!
You could be right. Or… https://a.disquscdn.com/uploads/mediaembed/images/1824/7762/original.jpg
Im gonna say this.
I think Sam Bradford will thrive in this offense and win a playoff game this year.
I may be the only one.
But what I see in the stats, and game tape gives me comfort.
The guy has the skills. Now he has a good system
when you watch the tape. you see WRs dropping his passes and him getting intense amounts of pressure.
You see the team getting hurt with penalties on drives he leads down the field with great precision.
im with you.
While you’re watching tape, pop in some of the Rams with Austin Davis and Shaun Hill, and you’ll see them struggling with the same issues and putting up comparable or better numbers. Then put in tape of Nick Foles in this offense last season, and see him putting up better numbers than Bradford has over his career while facing the same problems with pressure and drops. I’m happy that you’re optimistic. But I think you’re dead wrong.
I happen to think Austin davis and Shaun Hill are good QBs as well.
Nick Foles didn’t experience the same level of pressure and drops as Sam Bradford with the Rams. Nick Foles had considerably better talent across the board.
And I will go look at Austin davis’s tape and his numbers. I’ve only seen him play twice. Pretty good QB.
I guess not in your book though.
Ducks Unlimited Chip Kelly (DUCK) just dumped most of that talent !!!!!!!!!!!!
OK, so if Austin Davis and Shaun Hill are pretty good and performed better than Bradford and cost 1/10th of what he is paid, why the heck did we give up wayyy too much for Bradford? And I beg to differ in regards to Nick Foles and the pressure last year. I have not watched enough of Sam last year, but I watched his previous 3 years and I see a QB with much pretty much the same issues as Nick. Happy feet, is a leg thrower, poor decision making under pressure and exceptionally injury prone. And Nick was getting killed last year before he got hurt. He had 3 practice squad players starting on O line at once for a few games.
Dude, idk if we are watching the same tape as Bradford. Bradford throws better than all the QBs you mentioned.
I don’t know why A. Davis and S. Hill had better numbers than badford or even if that is true.
But there are so many factors, im no expert. That’s why I watch what I watch and listen to the experts. like when Kelly says he looked at every throw Sam has made.
I went back and watched him play seattle. I did not see happy feet. and a leg thrower and bad decision making. I watched him play the cardinals, I watched him vs us and the redskins and some other games from his rookie season.
I did see him evade a rush and throw a bullet 15 yards for a completion.
something I have never seen from Foles.
And don’t get me wrong, I like Foles. But I think Bradford has a better arm and better footwork.
Nick does this weird foot dance thing when he rolls out. I neve rliked that about Nick.
As for our oline….despite all the ruckus. They didn’t play that poorly last year.
If you look at the team statistics the rams, when Bradford was playing, was in the top 10 for sacks allowed.
But what was worse and its hard to find a Sam game where his receivers didn’t drop perfectly placed passes.
Instead of us going back and forth. put me on bro. I wanna see what you see.
jeff Maehl’s gonna have a RECORD SEASON !!!
So your one of those “we have no receivers guys”
great. I get it.
Since potential and looking at what a guy can do doesn’t count. Im just gonna give my humble opinion.
Jordan Matthews is pretty good, and Josh Huff is pretty good.
Riley Cooper can be above average as a possession receiver.
And we can still draft young talent. I think we will be ok at Receiver.
Oh and Z. Ertz. pretty good tight end.
But I guess since we don’t have any guys that have eclipsed 1000 yards receiving yet, its impossible so ill try to be sarcastic and in depair like you and ignore any glimpse of talent the guys on the roster may have.
I remember though that many didn’t think Jeremy maclin was even a guy that could be a number one. then he went out and had a great year.
Im not a soothsayer, but I think you can be optimistic within reason.
You’ve got some serious green-colored glasses man.
Respect. I disagree with you.
What about Josh Huff has proven to you that he his pretty good? I see a guy who runs like a RB and has great moves. However, I also see a guy with hands like a RB and route running like a RB. To me, he has not shown anything to warrant “pretty good”. I think the reason that many are skeptical is because the Sam Bradford apologists say he had no receivers. Ummmmm, look at our roster man. We have Jordan Matthews, who showed promise as a rookie IN THE SLOT. Chip himself is on records saying he is strictly a slot. He lacks the speed to separate outside. He certainly is not Kenny Britt, who Bradford struggled to find open. There are certain QBs that elevate their WR corps, and others who need the guys around them to be very good to succeed. Sam Bradford has already proven that he can’t be very good with mediocre WR corps. It may be a stretch to describe our WR mediocre at this point. And yes, we had a great WR corps and in the brief time that Chip has been here he has let them both leave for NOTHING.
I wanna say, you are among the first to approach me with some sense.
I see your point about Josh, I jus tbelieve his hands and route running are correctable. That is me having optimism in his development. I think his moves and ability to shed tackles are rare qualities our other receivers lack.
and Matthews did operate out of the slot. but I believe he can learn to use his size to get separation which I did see in moments where he played the outside last year, which he did but very very rarely. Chip did move guys around. So I am being optimistic in his development as well.
I think we need more speed. Definitely. But to me, I think we will add someone in the draft.
I disagree that Bradford proved he cant be very good. there are games he was very good with mediocre wrs.
I also hope that Huff turns out. You are right, he has shown very, very good balance and RAC skills. But, he fights the ball when he catches it and doesn’t have the greatest hands. I think we can be optimistic, but planning on him being a big contributor is not reasonable. I think we reached on him a bit in the draft as well. As for Matthews, I think he fits well in what Kelly wants from a WR, but he could not consistently get open against a good NFL CB on the outside. His size helps mitigate his lack of speed on the inside. He also doesn’t have great hands. Cooper is terrible. Absolutely terrible.
I disagree. I think huff will be a big contributor. People told me the same thing about Matthews, and he was a big contributor last year.
Im not gonna sit here and try to develop solid reasoning. cause I could go get data and try to show how WRs develop, but im not in that business.
When you look at Huff you can see his potential in his play. his hands are not as bad as your making them out to be although your description seems accurate. so he fights the ball, doesn’t mean he cant turn out 30-40 catches next year, especially if his hands get better. and there is no way I can develop a evidence of that happening. But I believe, you don’t have to that’s your opinion.
But Saying cooper is terrible is hyperbolic. I can accept average. but whatever. im starting to not care.
Kenny Britt and Bradford have never played a down together. His top guys for his whole career were Chris Givens and Amendola. Watch film and all you see is free rushers and recievers dropping easy catches. The guy is a stud injury issues aside. In 2013 he had 14TD to 4 INT. 3 of those INT’s bounced of of both hands of his recievers into the air.
If I could upvote you twice I would
I upvoted him once for you..theres your 2 .. hey but YOU didn’t even upvote him once (yet)
My internet connection is going bad. my screen is flippin gout on me.
I was wrong on the Kenny Britt year. However, a stud QB makes average WR look great. And Sam Bradford is not a stud, by any definition. His NFL statitics are very ho hum. His career passer rating and efficiency rating is average at best. His arm strength may be worse than Foles. Have you heard about his knees? Sam Bradford may turn out to be alright. But he is not a stud or elite and we paid WAY TOO MUCH when we had a guy on the roster who is arguably equal and paid way less.
fran35:
good QBs make everyone else better — exactly.
Sanchez’s numbers in Kelly’s system made him look like a very good QB.
I assume Bradford’s numbers will jump.
the question is, how will Bradford fair against the NFL’s better defenses?
if Sanchez is any indication . . . Bradford will revert to form.
I don’t think we had a guy with a 1000 yard season going into last season either.
ertz & celek nice YES! !!
huff ill agree has better than 50/50 future
cooper ..why did he tail off so much this year?
J Matthews is our best Matthews yes !!
…
but you call them all “pretty good” it looks like im higher on them than you actually are
That’s the thing, its hard for me to quantify where I put these receivers.
I could but its debateable.
I guess that’s why people just say either they are good or they suck.
Alright so Bradford looks the go at QB.. Him n Sanchez along with the injury prone Matthews.. Fingers crossed Eagles get Murrray.. Anyways looking at it the only way this looks to be successful on O is to protect the injury prone players n let them thrive.. OL no.1 priority now in the draft i see along with WR
IVE LOST IT !!! past two days completely fupped DUCK !!
google DU and one gets Ducks Unlimited http://www.ducks.org/
sorry to say it but from now on–> Ducks Unlimited Chip Kelly
condensed version
what the duck, chip?
(but mine spells out DUCK)
seeing so many ppl calling coach CK made me think DU
Andre Johnson to the Colts officially.
Josina Anderson
@JosinaAnderson
8s
8 seconds ago
Andre Johnson, 3yr 21M to colts
Would have been too much money for me to like that deal.
yup
Depends on how much is guaranteed
Charles Robinson
@CharlesRobinson
58s58 seconds ago
Source familiar w/ DeMarco Murray negotiations: #Cowboys offered around $5 mil a year prior to him stripping Dallas off his twitter account.
he was huge reason for their success last season, Id be bitter if I were him also. They will miss him, guess O line helped but hes a beast.
Dolphins are copying the sports science thingy apparently.
Putting professional athletes on body and nutrition plans isn’t exactly a genius philosophy. I know it’s more than that, but the fact that this is a big deal in professional sports is sad. Every player should have invested in nutrionists and strength coaches in a sport this demanding
Credit Kelly for institutionalizing it, but yeah. It certainly seems like it should be obvious.
the best NBA players were way ahead of the curve on this practice.
Gilchrist in negotiations with jets, per source.
Do we wait to get one for bargain, aim for draft, but still feel confident that wolf Watkins or someone like Allen should start?
Think they gonna hit S at draft now.. All the top S or targeted S are off the market.. Dont want to settle for whats left S
Maybe Marynowitz is selling Landon Collins to Chip
If hes the pick at 20 then im cool with it.. But with the glass players Eagles have signed i say best thing for business n these players is go OL as your no.1 priority.. Protect the assets
A guy I could see Eagles targeting is Gerod Holliman of Louisville. Ballhawk that gets tons of picks. Can’t tackle worth a damn but that’s something these position coaches(I know new DBs coaches) have been pretty good at fixing
It’s not just the bad tackling, I could live with that, its the complete avoidance of contact that bothers me.
Im liking Jarquski Tartt.. Holliman doesnt look athletic at all.. Ballhawk yes.. Kinda like the Asante Samuel of the safeties he reminds me of
My order is probably: Derron Smith, Anthony Harris, Drummond & Geathers. Not a super talented draft for safety but a relatively deep one.
Chip doesn’t seem to like small-school guys
Would prefer drummond or demetrious randle on later rounds, seems like a guy that would fit our scheme
Really hoping for G/WR in draft. Don’t want another reach. Waiting another 7 weeks for this “plan” to unfold is going to be torture lol
Colts picked up Cole, Herremans, Dre, and Gore now that is a nice haul.
Lot of cap space spent on old guys. T.Y. Hilton needs an extension and it would probably be better long-term to get an extension done with Luck now.
True, but thats a nice playoff team now
They are clearly in “win now” mode.
They’ll still lose to Bellichick and Brady
Last year before luck gets paid and they were in the AFC championship last season. obviously. Even with a mediocre D and no RB they win playoff games.
Not sure which is worse. “They win playoff games” and are clearly completely outclassed by the Patriots or us with the “good enough to get there, but haven’t won in ages.” I remember the 4 straight NFC championship losses and actually feel bad for the Colts.
ya and that usually never works, ask the Broncos. Luck goes down with knee injury, oops
I must be the only fan looking at that list and thinking
1 – No longer a difference maker.
2 – Average player who can’t stay healthy
3 – Clearly declining player who probably only has one avg season left
4 – Mr. Consistency, but going to a team that hasn’t been able to generate a running game since James retired. Having flashes of Stephen Jackson to the Falcons.
Herremans is not averagely awesome tho!
At this point, when he’s healthy, that’s pretty much what he is. Tough s.o.b. and I’ll miss him. I’ll miss Cole too. Cut bait time for both of them though.
Yea it was time, Ill be rooting for them.
Yeah, I don’t mind losing either of those guys. Good players, past their prime. Would rather see a new starter at Guard and give Graham the opportunity at LB.
DRE is going to have a monster year opposite TY hilton
Given how much better the QB situation is, it’s possible.
Since when can’t Herremans stay healthy? Prior to last year, dude was a rock.
2012
Me
3 – Who? Oh, Andre Johnson. He used to be good. Maybe he’ll have one or two seasons like Plaxico’s last year with Jets.
is it? trent is old herrimans is no good and old and injured gore and dre are both super old, but decent
not really… if they dont win a SB this year its a worthless Haul, that they will have to replace soon anyway… i dont know that those signings will get them to the superbowl, and if they dont make the superbowl they were better off signing guys that could grow with the organization
NFL on ESPN
@ESPNNFL
1m1 minute ago
DeMarco Murray personally reached out to Chip Kelly today re: spread offense & his close relationship w/ Sam Bradford (via @mortreport)
Who needs WRs? Chip will just run the full house backfield. Murray, Matthews, and Sproles in a diamond with Sam. Ertz and Matthews also on field.
Please please please make it happen! I dont want Matthews as the feature back lol
yes, this exactly. Way rather have Demarco. Any news on Sanchez bailing, man I hope he does. Ive been out for a bit
Washington needs a veteran QB to pair with Mariota
LOL
sanchez bailing? try the opposite, this is the only team he wanted to sign with… a much as people say We are starting to not be a desired location, sanchez rather came back here to most likely be a backup rather then take a starting job from the bad teams out there…i heard Sanchez really didnt want to be anywhere but here
Pistol-bone offense?
Only needs 2 receivers.
How is signing Matthews and Murray both saving money at the running back position?? I like both players and I’d rather have Murray, but sure. Whatever you say, Chip.
Comes down to style over money I guess
I guess. Main reason I support the Kiko for Shady trade was $$$. Makes me feel dirty to then turn around and say SIGN BOTH!.
yea crazy. seems like an insurance policy because at least one of Mathews or Murray will likely get hurt
I honestly think this is how Chip thinks: Well, I want to re-sign Maclin but I also want a good CB and Alonso. I’ll shed McCoy’s salary to get the CB and Alonso. I’m not paying Maclin that much. Okay, I have money to spend. Who’s the best guy I can get? Crabtree? Naw. Go get Murray. Get talented players and then figure out how to make it work later.
If we make Matthews look good and he stays healthy we can flip him. People put up gaudy numbers in our system. So why not use that to get $$.
Substitution mass confusion…
I’ve been thinking the same thing for the past few days (since Gore was “signed”).
Kelly might be going to a strong ground game. It’s so crazy it might just work.
and limited turnovers with Bradford, ya thats the ticket. This is hard
Mathews: 15 career fumbles in 948 carries.
McCoy: 14 career fumbles in 1461 carries.
why bother getting Sam B! might as well put a soda machine as QB!
Bradford presser now
Charles Robinson
@CharlesRobinson
21s22 seconds ago
DeMarco Murray top choice is #Eagles. The #Raiders & #Jaguars trail. NFL source doesn’t believe Jacksonville has or will offer a big deal.
Holy Moley, this is BIG news
Who is Charles Robinson?
Yahoo Sports. Used to be their head college football writer. Not sure when he got shifted to the NFL.
thanks
Murray please. I rather take my chance on Murray than Ryan Mathews
take both.
For under $9m? Sure. Anything above that? Nope.
yeah i don’t go too crazy
Albert Breer
@AlbertBreer
10s10 seconds ago
Sam Bradford says he’s been calling and texting DeMarco Murray trying to get him to come to Philly with him.
Only for us to go and trade Bradford in a month.
Gee, thx. Can he trade himself and Ryan Mathews, too?
one comforting thing is that James Andrews did the surgery
both?
Yes. Both.
http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/11/20/sam-bradford-has-surgery-to-repair-torn-acl/
Bradford still is 10x more likely to blow out his left ACL than anyone else on the Eagles (who hasn’t also blown out that ACL)
Fun!
c’mon man – don’t burst my bubble. I’m trying to find something to keep from jumping off the ledge
Jump! A true Eagle soars and preys on the weak.
OD:
So give us your take on the off-season, as of Day 2 of FA.
And don’t spare our feelings.
Cold and hard. Like Chetty.
Well, Chip does have a little Frank Underwood (FU) in him. He saw the disproportionate allocation of dollars to offense and the resulting poor performance of the D – especially the secondary.
So, as we saw he reallocated resources where they were needed in a way, some would call, ruthless and calculating, in order to build a better team.
I think with Foles, and from what I hear, there were fatal flaws regarding mechanics and Defense reads that were killer.
While I know I am in the minority, it would not surprise me if we deal Bradford for MM and then trade Murry, if he signs with us to the Raiders or someone for higher picks. All this resulting in better draft position for the Birds.
Right…
Do your sources still think a MM deal happens?
You said the data suggests that after one ACL tear it is 10x more likely in the other leg to tear, but does the data support the same conclusion after 2 on the same leg?
The data is, 10x more likely to re-tear same ACL.
Regrets if that wasn’t clear.
There’s no data I’m aware of on trifectas for the same ACL
Is that same 10x likelihood for a tear happen on a 3rd or do the chances decrease after 2?
Haven’t a clue.
I’m no doctor, but I have to believe that a person who’s torn the same ACL twice is more likely to tear that ACL again than is a person who’s never torn it at all.
As I wrote, I’m aware of no data on 3x ACL tears – same knee.
But if 1x tear increases your likelihood of a second tear of the same ACL 10x . . . then I’m guessing a 2x-repaired ACL’s not as strong as a healthy one.
Makes sense. Just seems absurd to tear a 3rd
Normally the repaired knee is stronger than the none injured knee. Its more normal to do what Maclin or Alonso did and tear the other ACL a few years later.
If you tear the same twice in a row, the first one was not done well for some reason.
With these kinds of repairs, time is hugely important for regaining strength and stability. Ligaments heal and build very slowly, much slower than muscle tissue. I would presume that the increased risk of a re-injury is far bigger in the first year back from the original injury and becomes smaller with time.
Apparently, medical evidence on ACL re-tears differs.
10x more likely.
dont know about the first. I’m hoping not
Of course he did. The Eagles drafted him, didn’t they?
I dont know of any athlete in any sport who doesnt go to that guy. He must have 50 doctors in that outfit.
who did the first one?
since he was on STL for both you gotta assume andrews (or really his underlings) did both.
Sorry for asking something that I could just google, but how old is Murray?
27 i think
If your stupid obvious question takes the place of that GEAGLE character asking 100 stupid obvious questions, it’s all cool!
Hahaha – Eskin just asked him if understands what he’s in for in this city
He won’t even be safe in Oregon if this doesn’t work out.
Charles Robinson
@CharlesRobinson
1m1 minute ago
Imagine if after all of Chip Kelly’s roster swapping with #Eagles, DeMarco Murray comes over from #Cowboys & pulls it all together. Yikes.
“pulls it all together”?
What does that mean?
Is DeM playing WR or S?
puzzling to me also
And QB?
Ian Rapoport
@RapSheet
22s23 seconds ago
Come and get it—> RT @NFLprguy: The list of invited players attending Inaugural #NFL Veteran Combine via @nfl345 http://tinyurl.com/nejdya6
If we sign Murray, that will eat away at Dallas fans so hard.
You know he’s going to stomp them twice a year for disrespecting him
If we sign Murray they sign AP…Still take Murray over Mathews.
No way they have space for APs deal.
Re-do Romo again?
Dallas has no fans to speak of. Just wagon-jumpers.
The person upset most? Jerrel Wayne Jones.
Would be worth it even if he got hurt
then we must do that, otherwise we have nothing to fire back with when they make fun to the Bradford trade.
Oh yes
Murray trucking Sean Lee? That’ll be a sight to see.
If you didn’t need more reason to be depressed, Bill Barnwell does an entirely convincing job of dismantling the “Sam Bradford struggled in St. Louis because of his supporting cast” and “Sam Bradford is a great fit for Chip Kelly’s offense” arguments.
http://grantland.com/the-triangle/the-nfl-trade-wheel-making-sense-of-who-went-where/
X:
Kelly’s way smarter than Barnwell.
Right?
Bill’s analysis is what lead me to call the Walter Thurmond signing…even if the analysis came about while making fun of our Maxwell signing.
About anything football related? 100%
I think a lot of people are assuming that because Kelly is smart and a good game day coach, his personnel moves can’t possibly be as illogical as they seem.
Unfortunately, history (in all walks of life, not just football) suggests that being smart doesn’t immunize people against dumb decision making. It can do exactly the opposite, actually. It’s quite possible (I’d say at this point likely, even) that Chip is lacking the skills and personal qualities it takes to be a good GM, which are quite different from those it takes to be a good coach.
No, but the odds of Kelly not knowing what he wants in a QB and can identify it on film is pretty stacked against us, because none of us know what Kelly wants and then add that Kelly is one of the best offensive minds in football and its clear that guys like you and me or Bill Barnwell can do all the film work and still have no clue.
Kelly doesn’t know what Kelly wants
Then Houston, we got a problem
X —
I’m on board with you on this deal. 100 percent.
right, I probably wouldnt hate the moves so much if they all werent coming off injury. Cmon already, you cant expect to get all these guys on the cheap because of that and expect it to work. Comes off as cheap/ego driven, blow up in your face type of deals
darn why didn’t we hire barndoor when we needed a coach?
All these film breakdown gurus also claimed that Foles’ 2013 season was a mirage and just due to Kelly’s system.
I’m not making a brief in favor of Foles, or against trading him. I’m making a brief against trading him in this trade.
Exactly.
Not criticizing your argument, I’m criticizing the ability of these media guys who think they know what they’re talking about
Fair enough. We’re all just people with opinions in the end. I happen to think Barnwell’s are pretty smart and logical, but like everyone else’s they could be wrong.
If Bradford turns into Tom Brady 2.0 and the Eagles go 13-3 next year, I will very happily eat crow. In the meantime though, all we can do is speculate about what’s most likely to happen, and I don’t think that’s it.
Exactly, again.
X:
If not clear . . . I join every one of your comments in this thread about the trade.
That 2nd next year rankles.
Otherwise, no problem bringing in Bradford for Foles.
If Bradford doesn’t get back-peddle-itis from 2 ACLs . . . he will, without question, post better numbers than Sanchez with fewer INTs.
The big question is how will Bradford do against good defenses?
Sanchez folded.
im not a sanchez fan at all… tho i do recognize him as the best we can reasonably hope for in a backup… while i dont think much of him,. im not ready to say what he CANTdo after one year playing in a scheme drastically different then any he had ever played in.. i dont believe its likely that we saw the best a player has to offer the first year in a new scheme, playing with new team mates….
…
hopefully he can be a little better then he was last year, and hopefully in 2016 he will be a little better then he will be this year…
…
but IDEALLY, sanchez is here two more years and we dont see him play a single regular season or playoff game as an Eagle, because that would mean our more talented #1 has stayed healthy
Barnwell is a Giants fan. If there’s a good word about the Eagles on Grantland, it usually comes from Robert Mays.
I’ve come to terms with the fact that Chip has watched 100X as much tape on Bradford as I have and he knows what he’s doing. And I assume he’s not just throwing around 2nd round picks so it had to be spent to get Bradford. Lets see where this thing goes.
Not excited about Matthews. I could get behind Demarco but would not want to give him a long contract.
I hope this kid can stay healthy, because if so I think we will be pleasantly surprised with what Chip can get out of him…and I sure as hell love that he is already actively recruiting Demarco Murray… Im always a foles guy thru and thru…. but in terms of the skillset i want in a replacement for Nick, Id rather have this kid over mariota all day, every day….. now that obviously changes is this kid cant stay on the field and Mariota does, then things change
…
people are devaluing Bradford, but this is a kid the Rams stuck with, this wasnt some kid that the Rams ever stopped believing in…. they passed on QBs for this kid, they kept him for years rather then dump him…
…
i look at it this way, im a big believer in Foles, but had foles played with the Rams OL, and with the rams offensive weapons, doubt Nick would have looked half as good as he did here with Chip…. Sam is a very talented kid, color me intruiged to see him play in a QB friendly system, with a quality OL… hopefully we put some weapons around him
…
we cant be pissed that we didnt make a significant investment in Maclin and his 2 ACL injuries and then look at this kid as if he is untouchable because of the same injuries…if he cant stay healthy, we have problems… If we can keep him up right in games, it could end up making some national people ripping Chip look foolish…. i liked Foles enough to not take this risk, but its done and atleast im not left with some garbage running QB like that Hack Hundley or Kapernick… Happy Chip really doesnt care about QB mobility, soon the media might want to give up that flawed narrative
Yeah he said he cares about the Qbs throwing ability first and foremost.
Agree — we’ll see how Foles looks in STL who is missing 3 O-lineman and still trying to get more DL
lots of back peddling? I like Nick so Im rooting for him to do well
I’m not gonna get in a pissing match with you, but it is obvious to me that you can convince yourself of anything.
good post. i’m trying to talk myself into SB. what’s the alternative? spent 35 yrs at this, 1 bad trade isnt going to send me running.
part of me has rationalized the move but in my opinion it will help if they still draft a QB. Chip said as much in his presser that all players are essentially on a year to year prove it deal, which makes me think they may still draft a QB to groom. Also, that Bradford may be viewed in that same mode like he indicated but we’ll see if they restructure his deal. I dont see much difference in Foles playing with a rookie learning on the bench and Bradford in same scenario. Doesnt change the fact that it still seems like a bad trade per value, I can be okay with Bradfords ceiling. The deal itself not great but they still have so many holes to fill and lost so many skill players. Bit too much ego for my taste per his system and scheme reliance. Dont like Matthews, would prefer Demarco by far. Run it down throats with a better D. So long as the O can still have some production and the D is better is all around better balance. That WR group is awful as it stands and Bradford isnt ideal in my opinion in the quest to find a franchise QB. They have to keep rolling the dice on that regardless.
i dont have any reason to believe that chip is ready to stop trying to develop Barkley. i know we live in the instant gratification era, but if it were up to me, i would still draft QBs and keep them on the bench for 3 years developing them away from the public eye… so the fact that we havent played Barkley his first two years, to me doesnt say that chip is done developing Barkley… maybe the look at an UDFA QB, but id be surprised if they spend a pick on a QB in this draft… if they want to draft a QB what are they waiting for to waive Barkley? the only way they draft one is if they are convinced its not worth continuing to develop barkley, and if thats the case why hasnt he been cut yet? what ar we waiting for? to make it impossible for him to get his next job?
One thing that is refreshing is for Kelly to be giving praise to an Eagle QB, not named Vick. Just was so awkward even when Foles was doing great, to have Kelly be so “meh” about Foles, or snarky with the 1,000 year statement. So as it settles in that Bradford has the coaches support and that Bradford acts like he likes it here, promotes the team to other free agents, it will even seem better. His ceiling is high enough to at least be interested to see what he can do in a Chip system. Never had that kind of interest in Sanchez. And never saw the Eagle offense run like it did with Vick’s first half against Redskins, when Foles played. So who knows, maybe Bradford can play quick enough to get the offense humming.
you know most of his contract was guaranteed right? during the period you are claiming the Rams stuck with him?
ya he was the last of the big money QBs to sign huge rookie deals before they changed the CBA. They did like him though up to a certain point, I think that was about 2 years ago or so though
Ian Rapoport
@RapSheet
48s48 seconds ago
To ask a question and then answer it myself: Are the #Eagles in it for DeMarco Murray? Yes. it is very real.
ian is far behind
Why do we want him and Mathews?
you want to see Bradford throw? neither does Chip
Answer is we don’t want or need both
Murray is coming off historically great year. guess if anything, split carries early in season so Murray can ease into new year. i hate dallas so much, think i watched 15 games of their’s last year. if eags can get that guy, good grief, pay matthews 3.5m to take some lumps, sure.
cutting Murray’s numbers by 150 carries at least is a must.
mostly want Murray not in Dallas. their offense was night and day different when he was one field. they brought a backup in for a series, was almost guaranteed 3 and out. know dallas has a very good oline, but i really believe Murray had alot, lot more than any cowboy fan wants to admit, to do with it. he was a master at getting extra 2 or 3 on every single carry. it was maddening
If we sign both Matthews and Murray in addition to Sproles and Polk, that would give us the ultimate backfield. We’ll have a runner of every type, that’s Chip’s endgame.
If we signed Murray, I think Polk signs an offer sheet with another team and we don’t match. Or we just remove his RFA tender.
Polk’s agent should already be looking to do that.
Handwriting on the wall.
Bradford & Sanchez have two of the weakest arms in the game beyond 15 yards.
Going to be an awful lot of 8 guys in the box next year. Opposing DC coordinators are going to give Bradford/Sanchez plenty of chances to throw to a bunch of receivers besides Sproles who had real issues producing YAC this year.
Cooper, Ertz, and & Celek were pedestrian. Matthews was so-so and slightly below average among WRs with at least 10 catches.
Have to disagree on Bradfords arm strength, while not Vick strength it is most certainly better than Sanchez and by a decent margin.
2013 passing dispersion. Part of it was scheme but Bradford threw almost nothing beyond 10 yards.
http://espngrantland.files.wordpress.com/2014/08/sambradford_1152.jpg?w=694
That just shows he do not attempt them, not that he cant make em.
Exactly and what season is this for because I know one year it he OFFENSE was a major dink and dunk one.
It is a year’s worth of throws and it also shows another knock on Bradford – limited field vision and an inability to progress throw his reads.
About the only thing that stands out for Bradford and really might help this team is that he doesn’t force balls & throw INTs like Sanchez did. Also takes slightly lower rate of sacks.
Foles didn’t take nearly as many sacks but the INTs & turnovers between Sanchez/Foles killed the Eagles last year.
Especially when injured…
That’s what that years OFFENSE was was built for, dunk and dunk.
Watch some of his games or even that video that shows all of his passes over 15 yards. Its just for one season and is over 30 minutes long. Watch that and tell me he doesn’t have a much better arm than both Foles and Sanchez. Its not his fault his receivers had hands that make stone look soft. His accuracy downfield is about the same as Foles which isn’t great though.
Both Sanchez and Bradford played under Shottenheimer, both were top round picks and both failed to thrive under him.
Jason La Canfora
@JasonLaCanfora
11s12 seconds ago
Bills announce release of TE Scott Chandler as they prepare offer for Miami TE Charles Clay who is on the transition tag
0 replies
0 retweets
1 favorite
wow. wanted him that bad huh.
A mockdraft to make us all feel better!!
1. someone from Oregon, maybe Jake Fisher
2. someone from Oregon, maybe that short CB
3. RB from Oregon
4. some WR that just has decent YAC skills
4. WOULD STILL BE HERE IF CHIP WASN’T GM
5. future OLB starter from Oregon
5. starting RG in 2019 from Oregon
6. flip this pick for some Oregon benchwarmer
7. is there anymore Oregon guys left?
Why can’t the draft be here sooner? I need something else to cry about.
Don’t forget Hronnis Grasu, the center!
Bruce Carter(ex-DAL) signing with TB
Thats good news for us.
Amazing how guys who have been busts their entire careers all of a sudden start excelling the year before their free agents
has dallas signed anyone? saw Durant went to WTF’s
Pro Day Note:
Oklahoma
Quarterback turned tight end Blake Bell improved his bench press from
the Combine, completing 18 reps (14 Combine), but sat on the rest of his
numbers. The past two days, he’s had dinner with the Miami Dolphins
and Philadelphia Eagles. Thus far, he has workouts scheduled with the
Arizona Cardinals and Atlanta Falcons.
OMG I just had a brainstorm!! We have gotten rid of Nate Allen to clear the use of the number 29 jersey for DeMarco!! All in the master plan…
We signed Ryan Mathews
Charles Robinson
@CharlesRobinson
22s22 seconds ago
Notable that #Cowboys haven’t pursued any other running backs. Have to believe they still think they can get DeMarco Murray to lower price.
I read they were interested in C.J. Spiller as a fallback option.
what move do fans hate the most?
…
FOR ME its easily Ryan Mathews. i know his talent but i cant help but yo feel like he is soft… i wanted to get tougher as a team, he isnt what I had in mind… he is the one guy i really dont know how iwill be able to root for him…
…
leave it up to Ryan Mathews to make me actually want to sign a dirty stinkin cowboy…. but at this point im pretty desperate for Demarco Muuray. Hopefully his desire to stick it to dallas and play with his boy Bradford instead of going to the Jags or Raiders gets him to sign with us…
matthews is a waste of 3.5m.
Hate the most? given up a 2nd for Bradford. I have loved all the other signings and trades so far.
Im not happy losing Maclin, but he got top 5 money and he isnt worth that (I pay him top 10 money tho).
I will get sad if we do not get a safety.
we didnt give up a 2nd for Bradford yet, but hopefully we do because that would mean he actually stayed healthy for us… Certainly dont like losing Mac at all, but im waiting to see what the WR contingency plan is… Cecil short? Danerious Moore? Dwayne Bowe? Mike Wallace if culture doesnt matter?
…
if we cant get a safety I wont even know what to say. I dont have the fortitude for to talk about a need at safety for what seems like the 37th year in a row…
…
I really hate Ryan Mathews, but i know my hate is more personal then an actually reflection of his ability.. hopefully Demarco Signs, it would really help this fanbase get over some of these last few moves….. i really dont know how I will be able to sit and root for Ryan Mathews as our #1 RB
We already gave up the 2nd, we just get the Rams 3rd if he isnt healthy.
oh ok..i get it…. but its a 2016 2nd rounder right?
yea
cool. my only beef with this offseasonb were they were creating too many new holes I worried they wouldnt be able to fill if we went thru with the MM nonsense that everyone spent every day talking about…… if we have our draft picks to replenish the offensive holes we created, I can live with the decisions… its no secret we needed to transition to the next era of eagles, personally I would have gone about the transition different. I thought we had the money to keep the veterans as long as it takes the young bench players to prove that they can no longer be kept on the bench… whats done is done
I don’t really get your problem with Matthews. He fumbled too much earlier in his career but has seemed to correct that for the most part. 10 fumbles the first 2 years, 5 the last 3. I don’t correlate being injury-prone with being “soft”.
.I cant stand him, is that ok?
I think we all that type of player, mine was Worilds, but mostly because he was so over-hyped by a ton of fans
He’s often unable to play.
I’d give Murray 6.5m yer pear
Whatever it takes to get him in green
and away from D
i dont give a crap about the money… id let them take 5% more out of my paychecks to help pay for him…
…
next week is when we need to decide on renewing Season Tickets or not…. as if i actually have the balls to give up my Tix…
Move I hate most is that we lost assets in trading Nick Foles away. I don’t mind that we traded him, just that the net result is an even more injury prone QB with a much larger salary and we’ll call it essentially and 3rd round picks worth for this year of picks. (I know the actual picks, just rounding).
Signing Matthews I don’t love, but don’t hate either. Need a RB after trading away Shady.
Shady for Kiko makes sense on a money, style, and need for more defense level. Of course, my appreciation for this deal is lessened by turning around and spending more money on Bradford, Matthews, and potentially Murray.
Letting Maclin sign with K.C. hurts, but I think they overpaid for him, so I can’t complain too much.
Signing the two CB was mandatory given how awful our secondary was. Happy with that and hope we find a decent safety and don’t bring Nate back, again.
paying Maclin an extra $1 or 2million . . . okay, fine. too much.
but paying an extra couple million to get Murray — and, not only help your offense, all but kill Dallas’s offense and defense?
How do you not do that if you’re the Eagles?
see the effect of djax on skins, gotta hurt divisional teams
bingo.
two games I’d pay extra to see every year . . . Murray in green v. Dallas.
yup… thats were im at with it too…. truth be told, i didnt care as much about RB when we had Polk and Sproles… but since they decided to make Ryan our #1 RB, im now highly motivated and hopeful for Murray…….. we dealt with enough heartbreak, lets make a move that leave Dallas sick to their stomach!!
…
Malcom Jenkins spoke up about wanting us to sign Murray
Most Dallas fans probably didn’t think Murray would be back after Jerry franchised Dez, and said it would be tough to re-sign both.
that may be true, but some of it is because they expect AP which is a Pipe dream, the cardinals will make a better trade offer I would assume/… Dallas fans may be prepared to lose him, lets see how prepared they are to see him in midnight green motivated to run them over twice a year
Agree 100% and not because he is ‘soft’ but because he can’t avoid nagging iinjuries & has been pretty mediocre even when he was on it the last 2 years.
Clear downgrade from Gore who I do think Kelly really wanted as his stop-gap solution at RB.
its mental thing with me i guess… i dont watch every chargers game, but i feel like every time I saw him, he looks like a soft rookie coughing it up… you can go look at the gameday thread the last time we played the chargers… over and over I wrote this RB is soft, he will cough the ball up…. he went on to fumble… on top of all the injuries…. i thought he was over rated in college and i still do..
..
hopefully things open up for him in this offense, avoid some big hits getting to the 2nd level…. i just dont like him, especially when he plays one of the few positions that we can draft and realistically expect to play a role as a rookie. if he played a hard position for a rookie to play maybe id be more ok with it… but just putting on an Eagle jersey isnt enough to make me a fan… he has alot to do before I can become a fan…. i dont trust him with 5minutes left in a dog fight against a good defense.,.. id love to be proven wrong tho
RE: Kelly’s Outside Reading
During his press conference, it was written that Kelly referenced a Bleacher Report story to support the QB trade. (Think that’s it)
Impressive that Kelly has nothing better to do than read the NFL stories on the internet.
That would seem to mean Kelly’s probably aware of the “90-10 against” reaction of the fans and media for the QB trade (or thereabouts).
So I’m think Kelly’s laughing himself silly, telling his staff the fans are morons and the media are idiots . . . and who the hell cares what they think?
Buddy Ryan? He’d have said the part about the media to their faces.
I think the PR department probably prepares him a daily packet of articles he might be interested in reading.
President Kelly . . .
Hope you’re right.
I don’t think you’re morons AC.
OD:
I love ya, man. You’re the best.
I’m still laughing!
You are a ninja, confirm or deny.
I loved the last part where he trolled the media about their schedule
You mentioned the Barnwell Article. Hope Chip read it, this sums it up.
“It looks like big bets will come to define the era of Chip Kelly as Philadelphia’s top personnel executive. Coaches tend to do this when they get control. They fall in love with players and struggle to contextualize the market around them. It’s fine to want Byron Maxwell, but giving him $25 million guaranteed is paying for the player they want him to be, not the player he is. Bradford’s trade value should have basically been nil given his contract and recent injury history, and the Eagles gave up a pick and a far cheaper asset to get him. Kelly is a brilliant coach. The jury is definitely still out on whether he’s a brilliant personnel man.”
I haven’t given up on Kelly the talent evaluater, but Kelly has a serious blind spot on league norms that set a player’s value. Heck I think he has a contemptuous attitude towards it. Can we rebrand it as personnel economics, a soft-sport-science?
“a contemptuous attitude towards it”
Sure seems that way.
why isnt someone with experience in his ear, that marynowitz guy? He seems logical enough to listen to some around him, or at least i have assumedh e is
I actually just began adding an edit to my post wondering the same thing.
The people around him had to have spoken up. It’s supposed to be that kind of attitude right? The biggest fear is the dreaded “smartest man in the room”. A form of arrogance that measure intelligence as the singular attribute tat determines a superiority on a broad spectrum of things. Even out stripping things like experience, natural talent for something, and the many types of intelligence that no one excels in them all. But perhaps it’s as simple as Chip is very intelligent, charismatic, and extremely persuasive. He’s very good at making people see things his way.
I guess, more likely the Rams just played a bit of hard ball and Chip n co, gave in. Said they had been discussing for weeks.
IF Kelly is telling the truth about another team offering us a 1st round pick for Bradford then maybe Bradford’s trade value is just greater than fans think it should be and it’s what Kelly had to give up to make the deal.
THEN I am pissed we aren’t cashing in on that first round pick right now, how’s that?
they wouldnt trade that right now, they have to wait til draft day
Well Kelly said at his PC that Howie still does the contracts, so that kind of proves that he is listening and that Howie, a super smart cap guy was okay with it.
Still, we have some very major holes, dwindling cap space (gone in a flash), and a coach who doesn’t look to rookies to play major roles. We haven’t put ourselves in a position to round out the off season as a contender, and it’s only march- let me clarify, it’s only march and we don’t have the capital to round out our roster strongly. We’re almost guaranteed to fill those holes with mediocrity or question marks, and be powerless to do anything about that for just under 6 months. Our only hope is that some of the young guys rise up from the depths of our roster and become major factors.
We still have around 15 mill in cap space, how many holes do we really have?
As I have said, I bet that Kelly do not believe we have one at RG or WR like many fans, we do not have one at RB currently.
With Thumond and Boykin battling for CB2, only hole right now is second safety.
we have a ton invested in our OL and chip aggessively tried to sign one of the top 2 most expensive Guards, and we didnt want to lose Maclin… you dont try to invest THAT much money in positions if you are happy with what we have on the bench
…
no way do i actually believe that the starting Guard is currently on our roster
Yes Chip, no Chip, Chip if you please, Chip…
I think you have to take those items in context. (a) Maxwell is obviously going to get overpaid but that’s what happens when you want the best on the market, (b) notice how he didn’t mention the mccoy trade, (c) bradford trade again is the market if he wanted him.
I like that Chip doesn’t want to “settle” for players.
Mentioned the McCoy trade a few days ago and basically though the Eagles got the better part of the deal.
Barnwell is pretty diplomatic but he trashed Kelly basically for the Bradford trade (did a nice job of distilling it down as a possible 39th pick in the ’16 draft and Foles for Bradford) and the opportunity cost of spending all that additional money on Bradford.
right but in the context saying how he was getting bamboozled, didn’t mention good trades.
Are you kidding? He just settled for Bradford… Wasn’t even on his radar until the guy reached out to him.
I think Barnwell is way overreacting to the Maxwell contract. Sure its sounds big on paper, but we can most likely get out of in 2 years if it has gone horrible
Barnwell contextualizes the NFL market from the outside with help from “sources” that have access to inside information at varying levels in organizations.
Chip is on the inside and has inside information on organizations at the highest levels.
I generally like Barnwell – let’s see his takes on Suh, McCoy, Maclin, and other overpay transactions in his market context…
“In evaluating people, I prize ego. It often translates into a fierce desire to do their best and an inner confidence that stands them in good stead when things really get rough. Psychologists suggest that there is a strong link between ego and competitiveness. All the great performers I’ve ever coached had ego to spare.” (So do the coaches)
“The culture precedes positive results. It doesn’t get tacked on as an afterthought on your way to the victory stand.”
Bill Walsh.
I am available.
Which is why he made up the story about being offered a #1 for Bradford
Next year our Philaduckia oreagles are gonna be 4-12
As long as 4-12 wins the division…
we were 10-6 with the worst defense.
now we have a better defense.
offense scores no matta what, even with Sancho, so we all good.
12-4 book it
Love your enthusiasm. Chip will be fired we willb in rebuilding mode again
yeah fire one of the best coaches to come along after 3 years.
brilliant.
maybe we can get the guy from cleveland
I mean I’m not for it but if this plan and vision he has doesn’t work gtfo. I mean if his sports science can revive the careers of all the oft injured free agents we got Ill be happy.
Sancho was busy giving games away. Someone tall me he refuses to sign and leaves, that will be best news of last week
Ian Rapoport
@RapSheet
12s12 seconds ago
With some newfound cap space, I’m told the #Saints are now in the mix for former #Bills RB CJ Spiller. Meanwhile, the #Cowboys lurk as well
Rand Getlin
@Rand_Getlin
35s35 seconds ago
#Greatness RT @picsmixed: @smartfootball You asked for it…House of Ducks starring Chip Kelly #Eagles #InChipWeTrust
Go to the link, it didn’t attach the picture for some reason.
I think we use our first pick on someone on the pup list
“As for that power shift, Kelly, in his first comments since the day after the season ended, said he didn’t ask for more control. He said owner Jeffrey Lurie made the decision.
“I didn’t think I needed control of personnel,” Kelly said. “It was a decision our owner made. So I just had a meeting with him like I do at the end of every year in terms of the direction of what we were doing and how we go from being a 10-6 team to a team that can win the Super Bowl. And it was a decision Jeffrey made.”
Does anyone actually believe that Kelly didn’t directly ask and/or demand from Lurie for control in all player personnel decisions this offseason?
Matter of semantics. I think he probably asked for Roseman to be removed from personnel control without necessarily asking that it be given to him. I also think that Lurie simply decided himself that Kelly and Roseman’s working relationship wasn’t functioning smoothly and decided on a structure that would allow both to stay and co-exist.
Whatever happened to Gamble (i do think it was Roseman who prompted his removal in a power play) set of a chain of events.
I don’t think this front office was calm or orderly this offseason with a lot of dysfunction due to the power struggle between Kelly and Roseman.
Kelly doesn’t just strike me as a mealy-mouthed kind of executive.
He knows what he wants and makes a point of getting it or least trying very overtly. Lurie also has a strong track record of hanging over the reigns to his coach. It did it to Rhodes after his first 2 years. Ditto Reid eventually too.
You know that comments here are not supposed to be logical! ;~)
To above, the second part should be that I think Lurie could have simply decided for himself….
He literally thinks we’re all a bunch of fools
Depends on Lurie’s management style…is he a read between the lines, I want plausible deniability at all times kind of leader or a cut to the chase tell me what you want kind of boss? I’ve worked for both and how you presented yourself was important to the outcome.
Chip claims he merely presented his case for how to move the organization forward – I’m sure the revamped structure now in place was included – did Chip really demand, or was his reasoning unassailable? And if Lurie really wants to win a championship, why wouldn’t he commit to Chip’s vision?
In the end, I think it comes down to semantics. I’m sure there were enough indications both verbal and body language-wise for Lurie to see the need to make the changes, if Chip didn’t just come right out and ask/demand it – same with moving Howie to another building…
half of what every coach tells fans and media is a lie..and as a matter of fact, it should be a LIE..it doesnt pay for a front office to be truthful… it might not hurt to tell the truth in certain cases, but it certainly wont help… and ALL WE should be concerned about is our coach doing whats best for the team… we can debate if moves achieved that, but i dont see how being honest helps…
If Kelly gave Lurie a sense of what he was planning, i.e., cutting some overpaid veterans (Trent and Cary) and getting guys he wants, unloading Shady and keeping player contracts “reasonable” to facilitate team-building, and oh, BTW, “Howie’s idea of desirable players is not my idea.” Lurie may have concluded it makes no sense for Howie to be following his agenda if it isn’t giving Kelly what he wants/needs. Lurie is impressed with people who have specific, detailed plans. That was a big reason he hired Reid in 1999. Im not saying I buy this account, but I wouldn’t think it’s impossible. If Kelly was not being truthful about that, my guess he is following a rehearsed script authored by Lurie.
We might not use any of our picks and sign people at the local physical therapy centers
I’m starting to think Chip thinks players coming back from injuries are undervalued and there is an inefficient market. Call me crazy.
He pretty much said that at his PC.
If he honestly believes that, I worry that he’s trapping himself. I find it amazing that a guy who firmly believes “availability is the best asset” has signed so many high risk injury concerns.
yeah you are surprised? if teams took every player who has been injured off their big board we would have to get rid of like 10 franchises because there wouldnt be enough talent… you can sign the healthiest player ever and he can blow his knee out in the first mini camp…
…
believe it or not, there are plenty of free agents and draft prospects we remove from our consideration because we dont trust the medical/… for us to sign injured players, all types of research, talking to doctors, goes into clearing an injured player for us to sign or draft.
..
we are consulting doctors before we decide to add any of these kids… if a doctor cleared them who the hell are we to question it? i never seen his MRI or X-ray..have you?..
..
so while its fun to make fun of all the injuured players we add, i dont just assume that non will pan out
He’s been hanging around Hinkie
remember when Andy and co kept trying that also. Yeah, didnt go so well. Even drafted that kid from Wisconsin
THats what I’ve been growing to believe as well.
Need lots of camp bodies.
Chip had to be lying/embellishing when he said it was Lurie’s idea to make him GM. If he’s willing to lie about one thing, who’s to say he didn’t lie about Mariota?
I was on the fence about Mariota when Foles was around, but I am fiercely on Team #WhateverItTakes now that Bradford is our QB for the time being. I honestly think Bradford will be the guy but I’m trying to build up some hope until Chip crushes it.
he lies about everything, but you have to
he does but it’s so much more entertaining and witty than Belicheat.
unfortunately I think we will have to wait until draft day now. How many days in a row can we post 1,000 comments before exhaustion kicks in.
Why do you assume that Chip must bare his soul for approval from the media and fans, before his every move? Do you expect that from every team?
Honestly feel it’s better not to hope at the moment. If it happens, I’ll be ecstatic. Heck, if we draft Hundley, who I don’t love, I will be happy. If I start hoping, I just expect I’ll be crushed in two months when my hopes are dashed.
Re: Chip Lying. I’m not surprised and all coaches need at least some ability to lie. I just hope he’s not lying to himself.
if Hundley didnt run fast most of you wouldnt even care,… our coach doesnt give a crap about a QB running fast, maybe fans should give up that nonsense too
At this point I have no idea what Kelly will do. Maybe we’ll be able to look back and identify the “tell” type comments he has on a player when he wants to move on from him, but right now… no clue.
My issues with Hundley revolve around his non-existent pocket sense and that he’s far from understanding pro passing concepts. He’s a tools guy who I’d be fine with as a developmental prospect. Unfortunately, it’s likely you’ll need to spend a first for him which is just way too expensive imho.
Bryan Bennett round 7.
Works for me. Right now he’s only good enough to replace G.J. Kinney.
ej manuel
I’m guessing it’s a situation that if, on draft day, Mariota falls to some team which would prefer Bradford, they could do the swap then if the additional compensation isn’t too crazy. But I’m guessing Kelly is fully prepared to go with Bradford if things don’t shake out that way.
ProFootballTalk
@ProFootballTalk
11m
11 minutes ago
DeMarco Murray situation heating up; look for things to come to a head most likely later today.
then do we cut the other guy we signed from SD?
Full house backfield. Quite honestly I think this is his agent just using us for leverage and us allowing ourselves to be used to jack up Murray’s cost for Dallas.
run the naval academy or Georgia Tech offense. Polk qb’s, Matthew FB, Sproles and Murray HBack or whatever they call them
I have zero problems with this. If Murray comes to the Eagles, we have Sproles and Matthews to keep his carries down and keep him healthy. If he goes back to DAL, they will pay more than they want and ware him out as their primary back.
This is win-win.
When Bradford inevitably gets hurt, they should just run the wishbone.
I say no – use him to spell demarco since we b running a warp now that we have Bradford
i dont think you have to worry… you ever see anyone sign an 11mil deal and get cut 2 days later? ever?
guaranteed $. what makes you think they’d cut him yet?
stupidity, what else?
Kiss Polk goodbye if this somehow happens. smh
I thought you were moving with Foles to the rams blog. That is why chip had to add a 2nd to the deal.
smh
I can’t wait!!
F that, I never thought I would say that but I WANT Murray!!!
HAHA – just thinking the same thing. Bring him on.
scary part is, he’ll be eagles healthiest signing
don’t get excited till he signs
Then get really excited!!
Eddie or Bill?
Gil Brandt is sitting behind me at the DFW A-Terminal Admiral’s Club. No mention of Eagles/Kelly/Foles/Bradford. Those subjects don’t seem to be distracting him from his draft work. He’s been on the phone for quite awhile asking “Is he in?” On hold and leaving messages trying pretty hard to reach “Is he in?” who he says, “Is harder to get a hold of than Obama.” And, “Did they run indoors or outdoors? Belichick was there. Marvin Lewis was there.” Parker, Gaines, Mauldin, Holliman? Apparently they ran indoors on field turf. Any Eagles coaches there?
Wtf are you talking about?
sounds like Gil Brandt was talking about the Louisville pro day
DeVante Parker? Who’s gonna throw it to him?
Thought Eagles fans might like to be distracted by what a
Super Bowl-wining NFL exec and prominent NFL media guy was talking about the day after the Foles/Bradford trade.
So Kelly was in Phila today . . .
X-off Louisville players from the Eagles’ draft board.
NFL Network
@nflnetwork
8m
8 minutes ago
From @LT_21: My sources tell me there’s a very strong chance of DeMarco Murray joining the @Eagles.
Don’t Jynx!! Haha
here comes some 2nd and 2’s all year
Run Murray on first down for 6 yards. Run Matthews for 3. Run Murray for 1 yard again!!
You’re forgetting Sproles’ 15 yard gains in there somewhere.
Sproles will be our #2 WR. All part of the plan.
Gotcha!!!
LMAO. Actually was just listening to Buffalo sportstalk radio (closest american sports channel to my city) and one of the hosts was talking about how cyclical the NFL is, and that how now that everybody is loading their teams up with smaller faster players on defense to counter the spread offenses… forward thinking coaches are gonna go back to a power run game with bigger backs and linemen and just kill teams that way. It won’t necessarily be the 85 bears or icebowl era packers but there will be less focus on passing and more on running the ball. they also stated how Rex Ryan says he want’s to accomplish that but the players on the roster don’t reflect that…shady’s more of a space player as well as Harvin (who they’re bringing in today). They also stated that they like shady but are nervous about making a deal with chip..equated it to playing cards with a dude who’s smarter than you..feeling good about it for a while until he reveals what’s up his sleeve
Ive been saying this for the last year that its slowly shifting back to run heavy game.
The same source just reported that we are getting the Rams first round pick when we sign Murray!
we wont even need Sammy to throw the ball, with one leg he can still hand it off to one of 18 guys
this has to be driving JJ batshiz crazy. one thing for him to lose Murray, but could his ego stand losing to the Eags? hope if he cracks, it’s costs them enough to restructure Romo.
Idk if I’m on board with Murray. Seems redundant and unnecessary. Who’s blocking at RG for these backs? And why wouldn’t there be 8 guys in the box with our current receiving threats? We need to fill some other holes. Bradford and Murray are eating up money and not filling any holes.
murray was historically great last year.
.
can always find a guard. where was Mathis before he was dug up?
Exception more than the rule. Look at the other guys we tried to dig up at G last year. Disaster.
Even so, WR? S? CB?
There’s always the draft man. We’re only 2 days into free agency. Have some patience dude.
I’m good. I’m talking more money than time. We need money to pay guys at these positions.
Ryans cuttable if they need to open up room. They should be negotiating a pay cut with him and Celek anyway.
Shocked that Ryans is still on the team. I honestly put him in the Cole/Herremens category. Surprised the Eagles haven’t yet.
They could renegotiate later as well. Some players have March roster bonuses which force decisions now, but Demeco does not.
not really…. Guard, WR, RBs the easiest positions for rookes to transition to the NFL… for example, i would NEVER consider starting a rookie Corner… but not uncommon for rookie OL, especially the guard position to be able to play right away
Your point about RBs is part of my thinking, too. It sucked to lose Shady, but overall I was happy that we were de-emphasizing the RB spot. Tons of guys can run behind a good line. If we sign Murray, we’re going to have a bunch of money tied up at RB. AND likely passing on an opportunity to get a good back in a deep draft.
you arent wrong… but personally I want us to prioritize trading up to secure Zeke Elliot next year as our future RB,.. so while I would also have preffered to dratf a 4th rd RB and pay him 400k for the next 4 years instead of Ryan Mathews… if they dont draft a RB this year I think it increases my odds of seeing them draft a RB next year….. we dont have Superbowlsd, but we have a rich tradition of quality RBs, and I want Zeke to be that next stud franchise back
Man. Look at this Mariotta nonsense. I wouldn’t get hooked on a draft prospect two years out.
why not? BEST rb to come out in years,.,.
,,,
MM is different….RB and Guard are two positions so devalued that no matter how good they are, it will probably become more and more rare to go top 10…
…
if you want the top RB or G, they are devalued positions so its like the two positions you can target the top guy at the position and still not have to trade in the top 10 to secure…
…
even if you have to trade up to #13 to get the top guard or RB, not THAT expensive especially since we wont be finishing with one of the best records next year….. i would never even consider this with other positions with the exception of the Center position, but those positions arent valued enough to make it very hard to target the top guy at the position and prioritizing moving up to secure him…
…
of course in order for us to go this route we cant go into the draft with abunch of holes to fill, and this does become harder to do now that we may not have a 2nd rounder next year…
…
but generally speaking, its not too hard to go up and trade for the #1 RB, Center or Guard in a draft….. the other positions you cant even consider this with, but its doable with those 3, unless they end up going top 10 which i doubt
so basically there is nothing this coach can say, there are no amounts of moves he can make to prove and make people believe he really doesnt give a shit about a QB running fast or not? LOL people still wont give up the MM nonsense? once MM and Hundley are on different teams, i wonder if fqans will continue this stupid fascination with QB mobility next offseason..smh…. worry about finding a kid with a good arm, accuracy, quick at processing football ingtelligence and footwork in the pocket…. how fast he runs isnt half as important as those other aspects of the position…. enough, the media made us stupid enough thinking how fast a QB runs matters in QB evaluations… enough letting the media make us stupid… worry about how fast your corners, Wr’s and punt returners run…. worry about finding a smart QB brain and accuracy
Best thing Chip said was not to mortgage the future for Mariota.. Too say he wouldnt prefer him is being naive.. Just coz Chip got Bradford doesnt mean he didnt want Mariota
Yes, but I think in his mind the athleticism is a bonus. I think he’d still love Mariota if he was a lot slower.
Yeah labeling Mariota as just being a mobile QB is silly.. Just coz the guy can run fast shouldnt take away he can pass n think as a pocket passing QB.. Chips words he thinks Mariota has the mind of Manning.. Well something along those lines
I don’t think it’s the primary qualifier or even the secondary, but I’m sure Kelly would rather have it than not. But yes, Bradford isn’t the most mobile of guys, and Kelly seems fine with him. It is true that every QB he has signed / drafted is not too mobile.
Might be that he realizes he needs a pocket QB to win in this league. Outside of Wilson, there aren’t that many mobile QBs winning the superbowl.
And Rodgers…
He is in a class by himself. Wilson who is mobile is no where near as accurate from the pocket as Rodgers. He’s deadly in or out of the pocket. That is a once in a generation QB.
Wilson, Rodgers, Luck, Romo all excellent QBs with good mobility. Being able to run a little really isn’t a bad thing.
I think the guys over at Chip Wagon have clearly shown how a mobile (not run first necessarily) QB benefits the running scheme. I also think that Chip is trying to prove to everyone else that he can win without a running QB and is at least partially sabotaging himself in the process. You claim that ‘stupid fans’ have been convinced by the media that we need a running QB. Let’s look at his choices so far.
1 – Vick. Inherited and was made the starter after a bogus training camp battle that he would have had to been awful to lose. Actually fits the running QB mold but was a disaster.
2 – Foles. Inherited and run out of town. Is pretty much the mold for a pocket QB who doesn’t run. Kelly’s getting sick of him weakens your argument.
3 – Barkley. Drafted and chosen but has been relegated to the deep bench and clearly isn’t in Kelly’s plans. Another immobile guy who fits your apparent preference but hasn’t done a thing.
4 – Sanchez. Decent athlete, but his lack of understanding of the r/o left tons of yards on the field. Usually on those rare occasions where he kept, he shouldn’t have. Turnover machine his entire career and that didn’t change with Philadelphia, yet Kelly keeps bringing him back.
5 – Bradford. The glass man. Not going to go into details, because we’ve beaten that horse past death.
I really don’t have a particular preference whether we have a mobile QB or a statue as long as he’s effective. Unfortunately, Kelly’s choices in the pros do not lend any confidence that he can find that person.
No chip doesn’t want that how many times does beagle have to tell us.
I think Kelly’s choices are about winning now.
Not next month. Not next week. Not tomorrow. Now.
That desire ties his hands pretty securely insofar as getting “his” quarterback is concerned.
___________
By the way, I’ll be missing the Emperor next year. The beating he took during Weeks 2-5 soured Kelly.
Would have loved to see Sanchez behind that motley crew.
And Bradford as an Eagle dealing with that kind of adversity.
Where will Kelly turn next year . . . when it’s a new “win now” season?
Patriots sign DE Jabaal Sheard to 2-year deal. Pretty inexpensive too.
Aaron Wilson
@RavensInsider
1m1 minute ago
Jabaal Sheard Patriots two-year deal, $11 million, $4 million bonus, salaries
$1 million, $4 million; roster bonuses $1 million, $1 million
0 replies
25 retweets
5 favorites
Their ability to get guys on the cheap is incredible.
Successful team/organization n multiple SB champs has that effect
Can’t drop into passing lanes nearly as well as Graham — who couldn’t beat out Cole, who can’t drop either.
JS not an Eagles-type, I guess.
Albert Breer
@AlbertBreer
10s10 seconds ago
DeMarco Murray knows where the Cowboys and Jaguars stand. He’s looking for more ($8M-plus per year). Market hasn’t gone there.
oh we aint paying that
Hopefully. Hopefully just using us to drive up price, which is fine by me. We should be willing participants to wear out Cowboys cap.
year ago, yeah. now w/ kelly in control, nothing would shock me
Doubt Eagles will approach that number
Eagles are gonna save the money for next off season . . .
When Kelly gets rid of Cox, Kendricks, and Mathis . . .
After all — as Kelly said — every year in the NFL, from a personnel standpoint, is a season independent of the one before and the one after.
So we’ll need a whole slew of new FAs
Not sure he’s just BS’ing, or if he actually believes that.
If he does, he’s a minority of 1 among 32 in the NFL.
The word “build” would therefore not be in his vocab.
we would only pay that amount if he had an acl injury maybe. 2? well hell yes, come on down.
WOW BLOCKBUSTER TRADE!!! ITS OFFICIAL…..WOW….
Are you just trolling us? Or is it in some worthless sport like baseball?
Yes he is…
you might wanna sit down for this one….
Philadelphia Eagles have Traded Mascot Swoop for The Oregon Duck… its a done deal,. we are already in extension talks with the Ducks mascot…
Not even mildly original, try harder
Or better yet just stop trying at all.
Your family doesn’t like you much do they?
gotta be..i’d believe it if you didn’t just post that Murray’s looking for $8M plus per year
It wasn’t enough of a lesson to get banned from Birds 24/7, was it?
GEAGLE has been traded back to 1985 (and the office of a top psychiatrist therein) for Al Gore’s invention of the internet!
Rainmaker traded? No way we have a source here that says that’s unpossible
Based on this:
http://www.phillymag.com/birds247/2015/03/11/demeco-ryans-coming-back-says-kelly/
Think we should brace ourselves for Kendricks being traded this season. I don’t love that, but I’m more concerned that Kelly probably won’t get a bag of moldy chips back.
no way he is a young stud, not an gaining declining player.
this would be by far worse then anything else so far!
It seems that way but starting the season with Kiko and Ryans both coming back from major injury might be too risky for even Chip’s liking.
that’s what i think it is.
Not sure how you can support that opinion based on Kelly’s moves so far. I agree that it’s too risky, but Kendricks has always been an ‘exception’ player. He’s shorter than Kelly’s preference and has shorter arms. I like him, but I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s on Kelly’s ‘list’ with Boykin.
Kendricks is a stud, i think they’ll rotate and have some depth at ILB for once.
Backups need to play teams. That’s why our safety depth last year was abysmal. Ryans isn’t going to play teams. I doubt Alonso is. Kendricks might be willing to, but in terms of ability, he’s a starter.
I mean, I think I just explained why this is a possibility. But if you need more, Chip also talked today about wanting to improve depth at ILB. If all you do is swap Kiko for Kendricks and Brad Jones for Casey, you haven’t really accomplished that.
Kendricks is expendable… but only for the right price.
Everyone is expendable for the right price. Question is whether Kelly knows what that price is. Right now, I’d say no, he doesn’t.
just b/c of sam bradford? If he flipped him right now for a first and then took Hundley at 20 would you be mad?
Yeah. I still would be. That would be a good trade mind you, but it doesn’t change that we overpaid for Bradford to begin with. You may have a point that I’m overreacting, but I can’t help but think back to all the stories about Kelly wanting x guy a round or two before he was actually selected. Not convinced at all right now that Kelly has a good grip on value. He can coach. He’s an exceptional x’s and o’s guy. Just upset with him as a GM.
You have no clue if we overpaid. To have a clue you would have to know what else the Rams were being offered. Your perceived value could be completely different then his true value
It’s Bradford’s value that I question in the trade more than Nick’s. Anyone who’s openly being discussed as a potential cut for salary reasons isn’t a good value. That’s the primary reason we couldn’t get even a 6th for Desean.
Nope.
What? Mora just said Hundley not ready to start. For a HC to proclaim that prior to draft is a slap in Hundley’s face. A healthy Bradford will be the best QB Chip could hope to have at QB.
I find it hard to listen to anything Mora says. Dude has no fucking clue.
That guy is a clown. Didn’t give Hundley a decent line or enough skill players.
Hundley reaching his potential >>> trading for MM >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Bradford/Foles
Yes. Hubdley sucks
Expendable? care to explain how young star lb is expendable?
One year contracts all around.
Yeah for sure, it could happen but if you don’t build your franchise around young stud that you have drafted then I don’t know how you build a franchise.
Bradford is our QB so no Mariota trade, so why trade him
Only trade I could accept would be for a young stud OL like Long or young stud Wr like Evans
Long is no stud anymore. last 4 seasons on IR. Also gave up the sack That tore Bradfords ACL
KYLE LONG!!!!
Still could use upgrades at S, G (RT of the future), or perhaps a high 2nd round pick… maybe even WR or RB? Who knows at this point?
So you want to fill holes by creating other holes? Do you rember what mecos first year back fr his last Achilles surgery looked like? And he was 26yrs old at the time, now he is 31. Chip is not thinking about going into this season with Meco as the starter
He won’t he traded. We wanted to build depth, Meco has like a year left. Kendrick goes no where without trading for MM which won’t happen
No he isnt
Kendricks should pull a hammy or something, that way Kelly would be sure to keep him around.
Seems Kelly only does that for more extreme injuries. Torn muscles or ligaments only.
I don’t think it’s a given. Normally paying a backup that much would never fly, but since Kendricks and Alonso are cheap this season, they could get by this year with the hit, and have three viable starters if one goes down. Next year, when we have to pay Kendricks, it will be a different story. They could also ask Ryans to renegotiate at some point… they have all summer for that.
Except for the safety position, I really like the look of our D on paper, like really.
yeah people getting all aggy but it’s no that bad on defense.
I’m not sold on the CB2 position. Thurmond who has been hurt, Carroll who frankly hasn’t shown anything and Boykin who I can’t seem to get a good read on. I would still prefer bringing in a veteran with starter experience, just to make sure that if Carroll or Boykin starts, its not because one of them sucked less than the other or because Thurmond got hurt.
that’s why they have camp battles
A camp battle between bad and bad doesn’t mean that we’ll have a good starter, it just means the best guy won.
Obviously it could also become clear that we should have replaced Fletcher with Carroll or Boykin much sooner last year, but counting on them to start, i think thats a risk from a team still claiming to be a contender.
We’re drafting Byron Jones to make a Byron duo.
did you watch any of Nolan Carrols outside CB ability at Miami?
…
we signed him because of his outside CB ability, he never played slot corner before this past season… if he did a pretty darn good job playing a position he never played before, how do you automatically rule out him being able to play the position he played that is what we saw that made us want to sign him?
I agree as negative as I have been but……I need to be negative again for a bit. Byron Maxwell could very well be just as bad as Cary and fletcher. I am not gonna let them pull the wool over my eyes. But our front 7 is looking pretty nice.
ok, so the only good CBs are who? Revis?
Pretty much who we could have got for 3 mill more a year.
oh you’re just trolling me. You would have given a 30year old $40m guaranteed dollars and know that you’re going to have to renegotiate that?
We are giving often injured players money might as well spread the love.
Revis, who is 2 years older, gets on average 4 mill more pr. year and got more than 50% of his 70 million dollar contract guaranteed.
Not to mention he probably gave the Jets a discount compared to what he would have asked from us, if he even had interest in joining us.
Maxwell got overpaid. We might change that statement when more CBs get contracts with the new cap, but right now he got overpaid. But Revis sure as shit did as well, and the only reason people aren’t laughing is because its Revis, and btw, Revis might still be the 2nd best corner in the league, but he never found the insane level he had before his knee injury.
You expect him to be better than Cary, but honestly if he covers like Cary and tackles even better (say what you will Cary tackles well for a corner) then it could be lots worse. Ability wise Cary was obviously good enough to win a title with. Fletcher on the other hand was a waste.
Cary was the reason we even made the playoffs, he was lights out in that week 17 DAL game.
No one will ever admit he was probably better then they give him credit for. But the dumb penalties for being undisciplined after the wistle were horrible
Improvement at ILB should help secondary a lot. I agree that if we are forced to play single high a lot, leaving corners on islands, we could see a repeat of last season, but our alignment calls should favor better pas D. I hope.
All depends on how fast the secondary comes together. I agree that I like them on paper. Front seven is at least as good as last year and I’d say better. Secondary is more talented. Hopefully the coaches can put it together.
If MSII is ready to contribute, I would still like us to have another edge rusher. Smith can probably back up Barwin and maybe Graham too, but another pass rusher would be really cool.
Depth is a luxury. I’ll be happy if all our starters are guys I’m not begging the coach to bench. Cary and Brad took turns being awful early last year til Brad decided he wanted that all to himself. Glad they’re both gone, but I admit that for Cary it’s as much about attitude as play.
Exactly how I feel about both of them. I only hated Fletch because he was asked to do something he couldn’t.
Hated the coach for not realizing that Brad couldn’t do it sooner. The third and long thing was a complete joke last year.
LMAO that fans are excited that Boykin’s going to compete for a starting position. Kelly’s been claiming that since day one.
You listen to and read different stuff than I do. All I have ever heard before from Chip and Billy is that Boykin is suited to nickle and they consider that a starting role.
Billy has said that. I believe Chip’s quote has always been that ‘everyone competes for playing time.’ Given that Billy started the completely raw Jalen Watkins rather than move Boykin outside, do you really think it will be a level playing field?
Believe it or not, Boykin consistently gets snaps at outside CB and inside during mini camps and training camp..
..
Nickel CB is an extremely important position. Now that we have plenty of quality options to play slot CB, think boykin will be given a real shot to compete onthe outside given a real shot to compete outside, but my money is on Carroll winning the outside spot opposite of Maxwell
We actually may be spoiled for guys who can play the slot next year. Maxwell has done it in the past. So has Thurmon. Boykin’s been one of the best there and Carroll got a baptism of fire last year and by the end of it had finally figured it out. If you don’t believe that Billy’s size measurements weigh heavily against Boykin getting a starting position outside, I have some beachfront property in Arizona for you.
Yup. Think our corners and LBs ability in coverage has drastically improved. Deep with cover guys… Just a safety away for a nice secondary
I posted his pic earlier today. He’s in shape and ready for this season.
I think an equally viable caption for this could be: “An unemployable coach and GM explain how Chip is screwing up.”
Bucs cut S Dashon Goldson. I wonder if we were waiting for that to happen and that explains why we haven’t pursued other safeties since McCourty signed with NE.
No Way!
That is a name I like.
That is a name you know. How many times have you seen him play since he joined the bucs two years ago?
A lot of guys that have had and can have success in the future elsewhere aren’t good fits or successful in Lovie’s Cover 2.
I thought he was over rated in San fran, the fact that he had to hire a tackling coach probably confirms that and his tackling numbers still weren’t great…
..
Does he look like a safety that can line up against a slot WR?..no? Then why would we sign him?
tackling coach was because of all the fines he was getting knocking people out.
As many as I had before really. Of course I wasn’t watching his games intently, especially for him. I remember more plays than gaffes, but everything around him was pretty bad. He really stood out in a game vs Washington I remember. Don’t remember if it was 14 or 13.
I think he was miscast in the Tampa 2. I would think he would be a scheme fit in Philly, because they went after him in Chip and Billy’s first offseason but the price tag was too high and we got Chunged.
Really doesn’t fit the mold of a mirrored defense. Not sure Billy’d want him. Honestly though, he couldn’t be worse than Nate, could he?
Admittedly I haven’t watched as much of him the past 2 years as I did with SF
I really don’t hate Nate’s ability to cover. He just offers nothing after the catch or in the run game. Goldson certainly does. I still wouldn’t hate having Nate honestly.
Why because he has a big name? Hope not
In this league, that is a safety I would gladly have on my team.
Especially over Nate.
Haha yes over Nate. Though I don’t hate him. Other than a few big plays his coverage was decent last year.
4 years ago I would agree. I’d rather have ancient antrrl role now , or step the hell up and stop playing games and sign Rahim or trade for Gipson
Or try to trade a pick to the Bengals for Safety George Iloka or Browns Tashuan Gipson
Dude is a fuckin beast, calm down
Like 4 years ago, maybe you should calm down kid, I don’t give a fuck enough to not be calm..
You’ve really gone off the deep end this week.
Anyone else hear about Foles being “overjoyed” to be out of philly. Whats that about?
Pretty sure he would say that wherever he went, no?
report isnt hes glad to be in st louis but its hes glad to be out of here. Seems little surprising to me he felt that way
philly is hard place to qb
Especially when you’re coach is lukewarm about you.
Must have been tough for Foles to be hurt for half the season and get the distinct feeling that he had much more in common with Matt Barkley than Mark Sanchez.
That report was from Sal Palantanio who is a freaking joke
well he was sick of getting booed and talked about like he wasn’t even a qb.
So happy he is gone. That kid deserves so much better then us
If you got jerked around since the coach came to town, wouldn’t you feel pretty good to be wanted?
yeah, can’t blame him
Sal Pal making stuff up, AGAIN. His father told Les Bowen he loved Philly
Sal Paolantonio = Anal Piano Stool
number 9 will always love you
Apparently he felt guilty for causing animosity between Shah8 and Anders. He is just glad that he can remove himself as the source of friction.
Awesome
Piece of crap fanbase that never supported him. Won 14 times and treated him like dog shit the 4 times he lost. Heck half his wins weren’t even sexy enough for this fanbase smh
Ian Rapoport
@RapSheet
1m1 minute ago
I wondered if #WaitingforDeMarco is coming to a conclusion. Response? “Anyone’s ballgame.”
I think he will remain with the Cowboys and just used the Eagles to drive his price up.
No-lose situation.