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Chip Kelly

Eagles Announce New Roles For Kelly, Roseman

January 2nd, 2015 at 5:48pm CST by Luke Adams

5:48pm: Roseman’s extension runs through the end of the decade, according to Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com (Twitter link), who says Lurie was adamant about keeping him in Philadelphia.

5:32pm: Amidst whispers that “something big” could happen in Philadelphia, the Eagles have announced changes to the roles of their top two football executives, GM Howie Roseman and head coach Chip Kelly. According to a team release, Roseman has been elevated to the role of executive vice president of football operations, while Kelly will now officially oversee the player personnel department, and will lead efforts to hire a new personnel executive.

After the team parted ways with Tom Gamble earlier this week, there was speculation that there was a power struggle emerging between Kelly and Roseman, with the GM winning the latest round. In a second press release, team owner Jeffrey Lurie dismissed any notion of unrest in the front office, and reiterated his trust in the Eagles’ head coach.

“You have heard me say many times that I want strong leaders who feel free to express their opinions. And that is what happened here,” Lurie said. “Chip will now lead this process going forward with the continued full support of Howie, Don [Smolenski] and myself…. I have a very good relationship with Chip that continues to grow stronger and stronger. When we spoke, he was thoughtful, thorough and professional. There were no demands, no threats – quite the contrary – he was passionate, engaged and articulated a dynamic and clear vision on how this fully integrated approach will work. We look forward to seeing it come to life over time.

“Let me also stress that Howie will continue to play a vital role in our operation,” Lurie added. “He has been elevated to the role of Executive Vice President of Football Operations and received a contract extension.”

The tweaks to Kelly’s and Roseman’s positions should be enough to satisfy both parties, despite the fact that Roseman’s role in personnel decisions has been reduced. Kelly now has a position similar to the one Andy Reid held in Philadelphia before he left the team, with control over draft and roster decisions, and the opportunity to lead the search for Gamble’s replacement. As for Roseman, along with his extension, he’ll continue to direct “contract negotiations, salary cap management and NFL strategic matters,” according to the team’s statement.

It remains to be seen whether the Kelly/Roseman marriage will be a long-term one for the Eagles, or if this latest move will just serve as a band-aid solution. For now though, it appears Kelly, Roseman, and Lurie are happy with the team’s arrangement, and neither the head coach nor the new VP of football operations is going anywhere.

Coach Notes: Saints, Kelly, 49ers, Jets

January 2nd, 2015 at 3:35pm CST by Zachary Links

The Saints are making some changes to the coaching staff underneath head coach Sean Payton, as Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network tweets (via these links). New Orleans is parting ways with wide receivers coach Henry Ellard, tight end coach Terry Malone, and defensive backs coach Andre Curtis.

The question now is whether the team will retain defensive coordinator Rob Ryan, who is highly respected around the league and in the Saints’ locker room despite the team’s recent struggles. Rapoport personally wouldn’t be surprised to see the Saints keep him and build around his scheme.

Let’s check in on a few more coaching situations around the league….

  • Despite speculation that Eagles head coach Chip Kelly may be unhappy in Philadelphia following Tom Gamble’s dismissal, John Middlekauff of 95.7 The Game (Twitter link) hears that Kelly isn’t going anywhere. Tim McManus of PhillyMag.com tweets that a move is likely forthcoming, but it won’t involve the departure of Kelly or GM Howie Roseman.
  • The 49ers will interview Pats offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels tomorrow, a source tells Albert Breer of NFL.com (on Twitter).
  • The Jets‘ contingent of Woody Johnson and consultants Ron Wolf and Charley Casserly will meet with Tom Cable today, according to Rapoport (via Twitter). The former Raiders head coach currently serves as the Seahawks’ offensive line and assistant head coach.
  • A source familiar with the Bears’ coaching search told Adam Jahns of the Sun-Times the team remains steadfast in its desire to find a GM before their next coach, but the Bears couldn’t miss their permitted opportunities to meet with Adam Gase and Seahawks defensive coordinator Dan Quinn this week.

Luke Adams contributed to this post.

NFC East Notes: Eagles, Washington, Giants

January 2nd, 2015 at 2:07pm CST by Luke Adams

In the wake of Tom Gamble‘s departure from the Eagles, a plugged-in league source tells Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk (Twitter link) that “something big” could be going on in Philadelphia. Considering Gamble’s dismissal was viewed as a loss for head coach Chip Kelly in a possible power struggle with GM Howie Roseman, it’s fair to wonder if that supposed “big” development could involve Kelly.

In his latest piece for the Philadelphia Daily News, Sam Donnellon suggested that Roseman and owner Jeffrey Lurie need to tread carefully with Kelly, who would have plenty of options at both the NFL and college level if he were to leave Philadelphia. For now, speculation about Kelly following Gamble out the door may be premature, but there definitely seems to be a sense of unease surrounding the Eagles.

Here are a few more Friday items from out of the NFC East:

  • Washington is expected to offer an enhanced front office position to former Chargers GM A.J. Smith, according to John Clayton of ESPN.com. Clayton suggests that while Bruce Allen will remain Washington’s GM and president, Smith – who is currently a senior executive for the club – will likely become more involved in making football decisions.
  • Even if the Eagles decide they can win a Super Bowl with Nick Foles as their quarterback, the team will almost certainly provide insurance by bringing in a veteran signal-caller in free agency or drafting one early, writes Paul Domowitch of the Philadelphia Daily News. A 2012 draftee, Foles is now eligible for a contract extension as he enters the final year of his rookie deal, but the Eagles likely aren’t quite ready to commit to him for the long term.
  • The Giants don’t plan to be as aggressive in free agency this year as they were during their spending spree last offseason, and that’s because there’s still time for those signings – many of which were disappointing in year one – to pay off, says Ralph Vacchiano of the New York Daily News. Vacchiano points to Rashad Jennings, Geoff Schwartz, and Jon Beason, among others, as free agent signees who had injuries derail their first season with the Giants.

Coach Notes: Bills, Gase, 49ers, Tomsula

January 1st, 2015 at 7:55pm CST by Luke Adams

The Bears‘ coaching position is not among the most attractive open positions in the NFL this offseason, writes Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune. The Chicago job ranks well behind the 49ers and Falcons, and just barely ahead of the Jets and Raiders, according to a poll of 16 NFL executives and coaches, which was conducted before Doug Marrone opted out of his contract with the Bills. Speaking of those Bills, we have an update on their coaching search to kick off our latest round of coaching-related notes, so let’s dive in….

  • The Bills have become the latest team to request an interview with Broncos offensive coordinator Adam Gase, a source tells Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link). Gase, who already has interviews scheduled with the 49ers, Falcons, and Bears, becomes the first candidate solidly linked to Buffalo, though Frank Reich, Jim Schwartz, and Bill Cowher have been cited as potential targets as well.
  • Defensive line coach Jim Tomsula hasn’t yet officially met with the 49ers to discuss the team’s head coaching position, according to Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com, who tweets that the Niners brass is conducting a round of meetings on the road.
  • As the 49ers search for their next head coach, the team will likely prioritize candidates that fit in with GM Trent Baalke‘s vision for a power running game and a dominating defense, writes Tim Kawakami of the San Jose Mercury News. That means that defensive-minded coaches may have an advantage during the interview process.
  • The Eagles‘ dismissal of Tom Gamble shows that Chip Kelly doesn’t have complete authority in Philadelphia, writes Mike Sielski of the Philadelphia Inquirer, who wonders how the decision will affect the head coach’s future with the franchise.

Rob DiRe contributed to this post.

Latest On Eagles, Kelly, Roseman

January 1st, 2015 at 3:01pm CST by Dallas Robinson

In a seemingly innocuous move, the Eagles parted ways with vice president of player personnel Tom Gamble yesterday; though a “parting of ways” is often a soft way to cloak an outright firing, the decision still seemed fairly minor. However, Gamble’s ouster could be a sign of greater turmoil within the Eagles organization, and an indication of strife between head coach Chip Kelly, general manager Howie Roseman, and owner Jeffrey Lurie. As Phil Sheridan of ESPN.com writes, Gamble was a close friend of Kelly’s, so if there is a rift between Kelly and Roseman, Gamble’s firing shows that Lurie could side with the GM rather than the coach.

Even more pressing is the news that Roseman has had talks about becoming the Jets’ general manager, according to Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer. Kelly controls the roster in Philadelphia, so it’s plausible that the 39-year-old Roseman is simply interested in a promotion to a role that allows him final say over a 53-man roster. But as Reuben Frank of CSNPhilly.com writes, it’s also possible that Roseman went to Lurie with a “him-or-me” demand, using any overtures from the Jets as leverage, and had Gamble fired.

Dating back to the Andy Reid-era, the Eagles have run their organization as something of an oligarchy, presenting team decisions as calls made by a small group of people rather than a single executive, writes Sheridan. In prior years, it was a combination of Reid, Roseman, Joe Banner, and Tom Heckert who shared power in Philadelphia — Roseman, of course, is the last man standing among that group. And now that a second power struggle seems to be occurring, Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com wonders (via Twitter) if a Jim Harbaugh/Trent Baalke scenario could happen in Philadelphia. The San Francisco duo couldn’t overcome personal struggles despite a largely successful run together in the Bay Area, and it’s fair to wonder if a similar plot could play out with the Eagles.

Eagles Links: McCoy, Sanchez, Roseman

December 28th, 2014 at 10:13pm CST by Rob DiRe

After beating the Giants in Week 17, a number of writers for the Philadelphia Inquirer came out to eulogize a promising season that ended in disappointment.

One of the biggest questions the Eagles have heading into the offseason is the contract of Pro Bowl running back LeSean McCoy. Zach Berman caught some of what McCoy said about his future with that team in a series of tweets.

“I’m an Eagle, I love it here. My six years here have been excellent. I’ve been very, very, very productive here,” said McCoy. “We’ll see what happens. It’s a business. Anything can happen; I know that. But I’m sure we can work something out.” 

“It depends how they want to do it. …I love this team, and I’ll do whatever it takes. …We’ve got some time.”

While he has made it clear that he would be willing to restructure his deal, Jeff McClane writes that he would be surprised if McCoy took a pay cut to remain with the team (via Twitter).

  • McCoy may be the most talented player on the offense, but Chip Kelly’s offense needs a quarterback to make it go. Mark Sanchez has likely played his final game as the team’s starting quarterback, and his time as an Eagle in general may be up, writes Mike Sielski.
  • Owner Jeffrey Lurie was unwilling to commit to the team’s other quarterback, Nick Foles, according to McClane (via Twitter). He said the team would know more by March about the situation developing at the position.
  • The Eagles are coming off two good seasons, one that ended in a playoff appearance and one that fell just short of the mark. Bob Ford believes the team needs to make the next step, which won’t be easy. “The hardest part is to go from good to great,” Lurie said. “We’re at the good, but we don’t want that. We want to be great. I just look at what we could have accomplished this year. It’s exciting. We’re not sitting here 2-14 or 4-12 or whatever. . . . I think we’re pretty close. We know exactly what we need to upgrade. We’ve got a great group of young players, a lot of up-and-coming stars in this league. It’s all in front of us.”
  • One big decision for Lurie that could be the difference between taking the team from good to great is the choice to keep or move on from general manager Howie Roseman, writes McClane. As of now, Lurie says that Roseman will be back with the team. Roseman’s first-round pick in 2014 was unable to see much playing time, and reports have it that the hierarchy is unclear between himself and Kelly.
  • A weakness of the 2014 Eagles was the secondary, and that will be a priority this offseason, according to Marc Narducci. He writes about how they fared without Bradley Fletcher, and with inconsistent play even in the Week 17 win, there will surely be changes in time for 2015.

Extra Points: Barkley, Raiders, Wagner

December 24th, 2014 at 9:35pm CST by Ben Levine

Let’s take a look at some assorted notes from around the league as we wrap up this Christmas Eve…

  • As Todd Archer of ESPNDallas.com points out, the Cowboys owe the Ravens a sixth round pick to complete the Rolando McClain trade. Since the linebacker played more than 50 percent of his team’s defensive snaps, the Cowboys will send off their pick and receive a seventh-rounder in return.
  • Chip Kelly told reports that he believes quarterback Matt Barkley has a future with the Eagles, and Zach Berman of The Philadelphia Inquirer tweets that this would be a good weekend for the 24-year-old to prove his coach right.
  • Raiders quarterbacks coach John DeFilippo could be a “strong candidate” to become the next offensive coordinator for the University of Pittsburgh, according to Fox Sports (via ESPN.com’s Bill Williamson).
  • Cardinals coach Bruce Arians is among those questioning the 49ers for wanting to move on from Jim Harbaugh. “It’s very shocking to me,” Arians said (via Matt Maiocco CSNBayArea.com). “Jimmy’s done an unbelievable job. The fact that one bad season shouldn’t deter from what they’ve built there. And I think they have had pretty much everything you want culture-wise in place there. And the wins and losses speak for themselves.”
  • Seahawks linebacker Bobby Wagner drew interest from the Rams during the 2012 draft, and the third-year pro revealed that he was expecting to call St. Louis home. “I remember everything was great,” Wagner said (via ESPN.com’s Nick Wagoner). “I talked to them before I knew they were very interested and I felt like if I wasn’t going to be in Seattle or whoever had the pick before that I was going to end there. I didn’t know what was going to happen, but I could definitely tell through the conversations that we were having and just the vibe that they really wanted me to be there. I actually got a text right before I got drafted by the Seahawks from the (Rams) linebackers coach, but I’m happy where I’m at.”

Kelly: Eagles Not Looking To Trade

October 27th, 2014 at 9:46am CST by Zachary Links

The trade deadline is a little over 24 hours away and speculation has been swirling around the 5-2 Eagles. However, an interview on WIP, Eagles coach Chip Kelly made it known that the Eagles aren’t thinking about making a deal between now and tomorrow afternoon, tweets Les Bowen of the Philadelphia Daily News.

“The trade deadline is overblown,” Kelly said. “I don’t anticipate doing anything. I’m very happy with the team we have right now. I love the way they can compete.”

Yesterday, Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk reported that the Eagles are looking for help at strong safety with Nate Allen struggling so far this season. Florio was unsure of who the Eagles might target, but Ian Rapoport of NFL.com was quick to point out that the Buccaneers’ Dashon Goldson and the Titans‘ Michael Griffin could be had at the right price. Later that day, Allen didn’t do much to help his case as he let Cardinals wideout John Brown get behind him to catch the go-ahead 75-yard touchdown with less than two minutes to play. The Eagles are also reportedly calling on Buccaneers wide receiver Vincent Jackson, who would look pretty great lined up opposite of Jeremy Maclin, who is in the midst of a career year.

However, if Kelly is to be believed, the Eagles are more than content to roll with the team that they have in place for the second half of the year.

NFC Notes: Eagles, Bridgewater, Panthers

September 28th, 2014 at 9:13pm CST by Rob DiRe

Despite scoring 21 points in a loss to the 49ers, the Eagles offense was shut out during the game. They scored on a blocked punt, and interception return, and a punt return. When speaking after the game, head coach Chip Kelly was very critical of the team’s ability to run the football and block along the offensive line, writes Les Bowen of the Philadelphia Dailey News (via Twitter). “We got lumped up front,” said Kelly. “They created pressure with three and four rushers. [We] tried to put in quarterback’s hands.”

The Eagles could not run the ball, and Kelly attributes that to the troubles along the offensive line, writes Reuben Frank of CSNPhilly.com (via Twitter). “We’re not very good up front right now,” said Kelly.

The team is without starting offensive linemen Jason Kelce and Evan Mathis due to injury, and Lane Johnson is set to return to game action next weekend after serving a four-game suspension. They also lost left tackle Jason Peters for portions of the past two games, last week to an ejection and today due to injury.

Here are some other notes from around the NFC:

  • Vikings‘ quarterback Teddy Bridgewater was brilliant in his first NFL start, but he left the game late in the fourth quarter with an ankle injury. X-rays came out negative, and he will undergo an MRI tomorrow. The question is whether or not he will be ready to play this Thursday against Green Bay, and head coach Mike Zimmer is optimistic on his quarterback’s chances. “I assume he’s going to play,” said Zimmer. “Teddy’s pretty dang tough.”
  • After Bridgewater left with the injury, the Vikings turned to former first-round pick Christian Ponder once again. Ponder was prepared to be back in the starting lineup, but has come to terms with the team’s commitment to Bridgewater.“Football is a crazy game and injuries unfortunately always happen. I’ve got to be prepared, God forbid something happens to Teddy. It’s Teddy’s team,” Ponder said. “Teddy, he was the first-round pick this past year and that’s the direction they’re heading. For me, I’m going to prepare to play if something happens, but I’m here to support Teddy and help him any way I can.”
  • The Panthers‘ running game has struggled this season with injuries to Mike Tolbert and Jonathan Stewart, in addition to a limited Cam Newton. It only got worse today, and DeAngelo Williams left the game early and was not able to return, writes Jonathan Jones of the Charlotte Observer. The team had to play two undrafted free agents in the backfield, and will have trouble finding replacements if those injuries persist all season.

NFC East Notes: Thurmond, Eagles, Cowboys

August 9th, 2014 at 10:19am CST by Matt Feminis

When asked about the most impressive player he’s seen in Giants camp, ESPN’s Dan Graziano identified cornerback Walter Thurmond, saying the free-agent acquisition has been “making life miserable for slot receiver Victor Cruz in practice. Thurmond could be a difference-maker at that nickel corner position for the Giants this year.” Thurmond, 26, signed a one-year, $3MM deal in March, at which time ESPN analyst Louis Riddick, a former director of pro personnel for the Eagles, lauded the signing as a potential steal: “If he can stay healthy and out of trouble, it’s a tremendous value signing. . .He’s a dynamite press corner, who is as good with his technique as [Seattle’s] Byron Maxwell, as [Seattle’s] Richard Sherman. Walter is very good. He can play in the nickel because he’s big enough, because he can tackle, because he’s a good blitzer. And he can play on the outside. Not only can he press, he can play them all.”

The numbers back up Riddick’s assessment. Despite starting just three of 12 games played last season for the Super Bowl champion Seahawks, Thurmond tallied 24 tackles, six pass breakups, an interception (29-yard TD) and a forced fumble. Additionally, his 5.7 coverage rating was higher than teammate Brandon Browner, who signed for three years and $16.8MM in New England.

So why did the Giants land such a good player at such an affordable deal? He’s been plagued by injuries since entering the league, and was popped for a four-game suspension last season for violating the substance-abuse policy. Nevertheless, he brings supreme confidence to the Giants secondary. In April Thurmond proclaimed himself the best slot corner in the league. By July, he was drawing praise from teammates and coaches, including head man Tom Coughlin, who likes Thurmond’s attitude. Now, a week into August, he’s established himself as the ‘Quiet Assassin.”

Here’s a few more NFC East links:

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