Chip Kelly has spoken.
And if you believe him, all the talk about the Eagles' interest in Marcus Mariota has been a figment of the media's imagination.
Kelly made a surprise appearance yesterday after a tumultuous few days that saw the Birds jettison the team's all-time leading rusher LeSean McCoy and quarterback Nick Foles.
Foles was dealt to the Rams for QB Sam Bradford. Some draft picks were involved.
It sure sounded like Bradford is Kelly's guy, even if he did couch it a bit with the usual pap about 'we'll see and possible competition between Bradford and the newly re-signed Mark Sanchez.
Of course, Bradford has to get on the field first. A couple of hours after Kelly's appearance, the former No. 1 pick in the 2010 draft was in front of the microphones at the NovaCare Center, talking about how he became an Eagle. He said two interesting things: One, that he's not yet completely healthy but hopes to be ready for training camp, and two that he has known about the Eagles interest for several weeks.
So do you believe Kelly when he says he wants to 'dispel' all the talk about Mariota and that the Eagles are 'not going to mortgage the future' to move up to get the guy he coached at Oregon because they have too many other holes to fill?
I'm still wondering if there isn't more going on here.
Like DeMarco Murray. The Cowboys' star, who just happened to be Bradford's roommate at Oklahoma, apparently is going to be in town today for an interview with the Eagles.
That means a face-to-face with Kelly, since the other thing the coach made clear yesterday was that he now has complete control over personnel and the draft. In other words, 'don't blame me for that Marcus Smith pick with our No. 1 pick last year because I didn't have control.'
For better or worse, this is now Kelly's team. It's his fingerprints that are all over this implosion and moves to rebuild the roster.
Yesterday was classic bravura Kelly, arrogant, brash, belittling questions at every turn.
I've said it before, and I'll stick with it.
He'd better be right.
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