Chip Kelly inflicts another 'Nick' on wounded Eagles' fans

There is only one thing I can confidently say about Chip Kelly this morning.

It is something I have been saying since he arrived.

Nick Foles was not his guy. And never was. Forget that infamous "27-2" from two years ago, when Foles rocketed to Pro Bowl status by throwing 27 touchdown passes and just two interceptions.

If anything Kelly can crow that Foles' success two years ago is proof of the genius of his "system" than of Foles' talent.

Kelly made that clear yesterday with a move that has sent shockwaves across the NFL, left Eagles fans in a fog similar to that enveloping the Delaware Valley today, and has experts wondering what - if anything - is next in Kelly's grand plan.

There is something else, right?

Kelly really did not swap Foles for the perenially injured Rams quarterback Sam Bradford, who did not play a single down last season after suffering a second devastating knee injury.

Just for kicks, I should point out here that the two key Kelly acquisitions this offseason - Bradford and Bills linebacker Kiko Alonso - played a grand total of zero downs last season.

Now think of what Kelly has done over the past two seasons.

DeSean Jackson.

LeSean McCoy.

Todd Herremanns.

Jeremy Maclin.

Nick Foles.

All gone.

When word of the Foles deal first started swirling across social media Tuesday afternoon, most expected the Eagles to also be getting the Rams' No. 10 draft pick. That would allow them to move up from No. 20, putting them in position to maneuver a trade that would bring Kelly the one guy in this sport he apparently deems essential. That would be Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota.

Unfortunately, that didn't happen.

Instead, the Eagles actually gave the Rams a 2nd round pick, while getting Bradford, a fifth-round pick this year and conditional pick later.

As you can imagine, the deal has not been especially warmly received by rabid Eagles fans.

And Kelly is not doing himself any favors by failing to address the situation and give some hint at what he's trying to accomplish. The one guy smiling in connection to this bizarre story just might be Howie Roseman. You remember him. He lost a power struggle with Kelly and was demoted by owner Jeff Lurie.

Kelly was handed total control over the roster and personnel.

He promptly dumped McCoy, the all-time leading rusher in Eagles history, failed to re-sign Maclin, was snubbed by veteran running back Frank Gore, who backed out of a deal and instead signed with the Colts, and jettisoned Foles.

As a general manager, Kelly so far has made a pretty good coach.

There has to be something more involved in all this, right?

Chip?

Jeff?

Anyone home?

Anyone listening on what could be one of the darkest days in recent team history.

Their arrogance - remember Lurie's branding of this franchise as the NFL's gold standard? - is breath taking.

Their silence tells you everything you need to know about the Eagles.

They are a franchise that has not won a title in more than half a century, a franchise that has never won a Super Bowl.

And today looks farther away than ever.

Comments

Unknown said…
You are so off beat from what the Eagles are trying to do. They do not have to tell us anything until this is all over. Have faith in them , they have a plan and their goal is to bring us a ring. Stop being a fan of the player and start being a fan of the team. In Chip we Trust!!