The next distraction for Kelly and the Eagles (and the Titans) will be the inevitable speculation — which already has begun in some league circles — that Kelly is destined to eventually become the coach of the Titans.
By Lewis Gould
I have great respect for Mike Florio, the founding father of ProFootballTalk.com
In a world of rumors, gossip and fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants media speculation, Florio is often the voice of reason.
He has great sources, though he often has to couch his info with:
Per a source with knowledge of the situation.
In other words, these are people who do not want their names revealed because what they are pedaling may just be a wild-ass rumor, and wrong.
Here is what Florio yesterday morning:
As the Eagles try to process the fallout from a failed effort to move up for Marcus Mariota, some additional facts are trickling in regarding the specific pieces coach Chip Kelly dangled to make the move up from No. 20.
Per a source with knowledge of the situation, the Eagles offered the following to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for the first pick in the draft: the 20th pick in this year’s draft; Philly’s first-round pick in 2016; quarterback Sam Bradford; and another player on the roster.
It’s unclear who the other player would have been. Possibly linebacker Mychal Kendricks. Possibly Lane Johnson or Fletcher Cox, but the Eagles were expressing reluctance to include either of those pieces.
It’s unknown whether that same offer was made to the Titans, who held the No. 2 pick and ultimately used it on Mariota. It’s reasonable to assume something similar to that was placed on the table.
This information comes at a time when the Eagles are in full-blown backpedal mode, for a couple of obvious reasons. First, they need to find a way to mend fences with Bradford, who undoubtedly realizes that he was nearly re-traded.
Second, the next distraction for Kelly and the Eagles (and the Titans) will be the inevitable speculation — which already has begun in some league circles — that Kelly is destined to eventually become the coach of the Titans.
