By Peter Gleason
Did fired Eagles coach Chip Kelly learn anything in his nearly three years in Philly?
The 49ers and quarterback Colin Kaepernick looked like they might part ways amid persistent talk about a trade that would send Kaepernick to the Broncos, but the trigger was never pulled and Kaepernick remains on the 49ers roster.
Part of the talk about the possibility of a trade was Kaepernick’s reported desire to be moved to another team, but new coach Kelly said during a radio interview that there’s been no negative impact on the quarterback’s relationship with the coaching staff as a result of the way things played out.
“I understand there’s a business-side to this deal, and that’s why everybody has agents and that’s why we have a front office,” Kelly said.
“On a football level and on a day-to-day basis and how we get along, it’s been fantastic. We set that kind of parameter to begin with: When you’re here, we’re going to coach the heck out of you. He understands that, and he’s been great with that. We haven’t had any ‘elephants in the room’ or anything to speak of from that standpoint. … I’ve had great interaction with Kap, and so has our quarterbacks coach, offensive coordinator and everybody in the building.”
Kelly also fielded a question about the state of the quarterback competition and indicated that it won’t really begin until training camp because Kaepernick hasn’t been fully cleared from three offseason surgeries. He said Blaine Gabbert’s athleticism has jumped out at him, but added “we’re not playing a game until September” so it remains to be seen which of the athletic quarterbacks will be running Kelly’s offense.
