By Jack Ryan
To a handful of low-foreheads who are paid to have opinions, the elevation of Eagles coach Chip Kelly to Supreme Leader is anathema.
The Daily News’ chipmunk Sam Donnellon keeps writing that Kelly is out the door back to college — maybe Sam wants to go back to college!
And the Fanatic’s Dumb and Dumber — John and Sean — are shocked, shocked that a football man would be put in charge of this football organization!
But, thanks to CSNPhilly.com’s Reuben Frank, we find out what the most important group — Eagles players — think of Kelly’s elevation:
“We do things a different way than most NFL teams do them,” Jason Kelce said. “He has a clear, direct vision. A clear, direct idea of what he wants to get done.
“That’s not saying anything with anybody else in the organization, that’s the way he’s done it. He did it at Oregon and he wants to do it here.”
Kelce and linebacker Connor Barwin spoke with John Clark of Comcast SportsNet after Pro Bowl practice Thursday at Luke Air Force Base in Glendale, Arizona.
“Obviously, we all have a tremendous amount of trust in what Chip is doing and the way this organization is headed,” Kelce said. “Anytime he’s given more control, then that’s just the organization showing faith in him and reaffirms it with us.”
It’s been three weeks since Kelly was granted full control of personnel matters following a power struggle with general manager Howie Roseman, who was given a pay raise and a fancy title but stripped of all personnel and scouting duties.
Along with those changes, the Eagles created a new personnel position which doesn’t yet have an announced title and hasn’t been filled.
Neither Lurie, Kelly or Roseman have commented in public on this dramatic shift in the front office, and the comments at the Pro Bowl are among the first from anybody in the organization about the front-office restructure.
“Well, I always kind of thought he ran the show, and I guess that was just a confirmation of what’s going on,” said Connor Barwin, another first-time Pro Bowler.
“I think there’s something to be said for that. … I don’t know, to me, it makes sense when the coach is picking his players, because he’s the coach, you know what I mean? So I’m happy about it. I think it’s going to work out. Work out good.
“But the players don’t pay much attention to what goes on outside of what we can control, and that stuff … we can’t control that stuff.”
