Who knew Frank Gore might have been the best thing that ever happened to Chip Kelly and the Eagles?
Especially after the longtime 49ers workhorse running back first agreed to a deal with the Birds, then snubbed them by backing out and signing with the Colts.
Suddenly, Kelly's house was on fire. He had dealt away one of the league's premier running backs, LeSean McCoy. He was in the process of sending Nick Foles packing.
Eagles Nation was in an uproar.
Today things are much calmer. Sort of.
DeMarco Murray is an Eagle.
The Eagles' newest star is a guy who used to wear that hated star on his helmet.
Yes, not only did Kelly move quickly to ease the hurt of dealing away the guy fans called 'Shady,' he managed to do the one thing that stirs the hearts - and passion - of every Eagles fan.
He managed to stick it to Jerry Jones and the Dallas Cowboys in the process.
It's clear Kelly put his hunt for a new running back into overdrive after Gore turned him down. Not only that, but there were whispers that maybe players were reluctant to come to Philly because of Kelly's insistence on his 'culture,' as well as his offbeat training methods, and decidedly upbeat, intense practice regimen.
No one is complaining now.
Are the Eagles better than the team two years ago that featured DeSean Jackson, LeSean McCoy, Nick Foles, or the one last year that had a healthy Jeremy Maclin.
That remains to be seen.
What is clear is that Kelly is a different animal. He decided to remake this roster in a way that he wanted.
He assures us all of this is not simply a prelude to another stunner, a move up to snag the coveted Oregon QB Marcus Mariota in the draft.
But he certainly has eased the anguish that had engulfed the city as we watched one star after another be dispatched by Kelly with a cold, steely resolve.
Now all he has to do is win.
Because, in the end, that's all that matters.
At this level, it's the only thing that matters.
Vince Lombardi was right.
So was Al Davis.
Just win, baby.
Comments