Sorry Thornton Mellon (Rodney Dangerfield), but Chip Kelly is not interested in going “Back to School.” He’s apparently graduated beyond a return to the “amateur” ranks and wants to stay at the pro level. To do that, he’ll no doubt have to adopt a more decentralized power structure within his next regime.
Kelly was about as right-wing as a pharaoh in Philly, and he’ll have to be more democratic in his next gig.
FOX’s Jay Glazer says Chip Kelly wants to stay in the NFL:
“I talked to Chip Kelly this morning and he really reiterated that he absolutely wants to coach in the NFL and not go to college, although he already has received some offers. He also said that he doesn’t want to be the GM or the personnel director; he just wants to work well with the person in that position. Obviously, they were some issues with him and some front office people in Philly.”
Chip Kelly is being linked to the Tennessee Titans and the Cleveland Browns. And if Sean Payton is out in New Orleans, he will be linked to the Indianapolis Colts and the San Francisco 49ers.”
Obviously, the Titans seem like an intriguing option. A Chip Kelly reunion with Marcus Mariota could make for entertaining football. This idea has been tossed about for awhile.
Jimmy Johnson thinks Chip Kelly needs to adjust in order to be successful in the league:
“I think Chip Kelly can and will be successful in his next job, if he makes adjustments. I like a lot of things that he does. He has got to get a personnel man and he’s got to understand that with star players, it’s his responsibility to adjust to those players, motivate them and make it work. He can’t just get rid of star players like he did the last couple years.
The other thing he’s got to understand is that these are professional, grown men. X’s and O’s are fine, but players win games. Stop worrying about all those schemes.”
Chip Kelly needs to develop better relationships with his players, treat them less like tradesmen and more like human beings. That’s a sentiment which is widely held in NFL circles. And because Kelly adopted a leadership style in which he did the cooking, shopping and presentation of the cuisine, his dismissal has had already had some ripple effects regarding personnel.
NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport on Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Sam Bradford:
“He is expected to test the free agent market assuming that the Eagles don’t hire someone who forces him to stay. He had just gotten comfortable with Chip Kelly.”
Love him or hate him, Chip Kelly has become one of the focal points of this NFL offseason. He is a central hub on the network, with many routes going through….never mind, I’ve annoyingly mixed metaphors way too much here already.
Paul M. Banks owns, operates and sometimes writes The Sports Bank.net, which is partnered with FOX Sports Engage Network. The website is also featured on News Now.
Banks, a former writer for the Washington Times, currently contributes to the Chicago Tribune RedEye. He also appears regularly on numerous television and radio talk shows all across the country. Catch him Tuesdays on KOZN 1620 The Zone.
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