The Philadelphia Eagles’ smearfest of former head coach Chip Kelly is still going strong, according to the latest bit of reporting from NJ.com’s Matt Lombardo.
In this fresh round of Kelly besmirching, an anonymous scout details the one-sided relationship between the former Eagles coach and the team’s scouting department. Kelly was apparently every bit the control freak his detractors would have you believe.
“Right before that draft, the scouts set the board,” the person said Tuesday. “Then Chip got a hold of it and totally turned it around. Scouts had no say at all in that draft. Anybody that Chip didn’t want, that player’s card got removed from the board and thrown in the trash. Those guys were never even in the discussion.
“Almost immediately, you had a lot of scouts looking around and wondering, ‘Why am I even working? Why the hell are we even here?’ We put all of this work in, put the information in and Chip changed everything and took whoever he wanted to take.”
A particular point of contention within the organization was the drafting of outside linebacker Marcus Smith in the first round of the 2014 draft. Smith was only graded out as a third-round caliber prospect, but Kelly’s contingent in the war room was so enamored with the Louisville product that they selected him at No. 26 overall anyway.
Howie Roseman, the Eagles vice president of football operations, took public responsibility for the pick, but the scouting staff was far from behind the move and felt Kelly had asserted his own will.
Smith, who played in limited action this past season, has largely failed to live up to his draft position. In 22 games, he has only recorded 1.5 sacks and seven tackles.
Lombardo’s report also went on to detail more of the office politics that led to a division in the Eagles organization.
Kelly’s handling of the draft board led to the deterioration of the front office. A semifunctional collaboration, with Kelly and VP of player personnel Tom Gamble essentially running the show, to an organization rife with discontent.
“The Eagles brought in some of Tom’s guys to make some changes in the scouting department, and Howie’s guys were kind of pushed aside a little bit,” the person said. “Howie really wasn’t listened to. Chip would listen to Gamble, but he wouldn’t listen to Howie. It just wasn’t a good relationship.
“Everything hit the fan after that (2014) season. Chip left town almost immediately. Howie fired [Gamble] and then Chip gets hold of it, comes right back to the building and put his foot down [to owner Jeffrey Lurie].
“I knew right there it was the beginning of the end for Chip. He did everything he wanted. He had to win and win big to hold onto his job after that season. Meanwhile, Howie was away from personnel decisions, preparing to be back in charge, if that chance ever came.”
Kelly’s time in Philadelphia was marred with controversy and discontent among players, coaches and team officials. Of course, a true Kelly exposé is not complete without a lecture from the wronged party about the overarching lesson that should come out of the whole ordeal.
“Chip had a rude awakening, thinking that his system was going to win more than players win,” the source said. “Systems are good. Coaches can get guys to play up to their optimal levels, but you still have to have good players to win.”
Only time will tell if Kelly has truly learned his lesson in time to save the San Francisco 49ers.
