So this offseason suddenly seems to have massive tire fire potential. Didn't take long.

Jesus Christ, this has blown up pretty quickly.

um, dare I ask what happened?

Google "Chip Kelly". The Gamble firing seems to have sparked a circus of rumors in the media and on Twitter.

Looks like Chip is now in charge of all personnel.

http://www.philadelphiaeagles.com/ne...4-9c361f687675

I think I like this. Stakes are super high for Chip now though, but he obviously wants it that way.

hmmmmmm....interesting.

reminds me of when Chip took over for Bellotti as HC at Oregon. Bellotti 'stepped down' and became the AD (replacing one of the biggest boosters to the UO program - Pat Kilkenny), but it's unofficially understood it was a 'resign or be fired' situation. Bellotti 'stepped down' from the AD position in less than a year. Kilkenny took back the position. It all smacked of a scripted process. A few months later it was discovered that there was a handshake deal that resulted in Bellotti getting paid a $3 million severance package for stepping down.

http://blog.oregonlive.com/behindduc...own_as_du.html
http://blog.oregonlive.com/behindduc...nation_as.html
http://blog.oregonlive.com/behindduc...dly_sough.html

Strange, wonder what happened with gamble. Maybe that was part of the deal in order to get Howie to cede some personnel power.

Chip: lets take Taylor Hart. Its already the 3rd round!!
Howie: relax he'll be there in the 5th
Chip: ok fine

now??

Funny how off the initial reports were about Chip wanting to leave, Lurie seeing Howie as a messiah who can do no wrong, and the Gamble firing a power play by Howie.

Reports now saying Chip wasn't going to fight for Gamble's job but he was highly upset with the way it was handled.

Apparently Chip wanted Jordan Matthews in the first round but Howie told him he'd be there in the second. Not sure what % Howie/Chip/Gamble the Marcus Smith pick was. In hindsight it's easy to say they would have been better off with Matthews in the first and someone else in the second, but wanting Matthews a round early and Taylor Hart in the 3rd is concerning. Hopefully Chip can find a personnel director who can reason with him like Howie.

Yeah Chip handling the draft scares me. Love the guy, but he definitely seems like somebody who would be reaching for guys constantly if he had his way. Checks and balances are always good. Hopefully he doesn't just hire a guy who is thankful for his position and will cave in to his every demand.

Heh?

Glad to be able to relax and enjoy the playoffs now that the 'boys are out.

hahaha, right?

I was screaming at the TV during that game like it was an Eagles game

my blood pressure thanks the packers

Nick Foles and The Chip Kelly Mirage

one of the better big picture articles I've read about Chip,Foles, and the offense in general in awhile

author also posted this good point in the comments section

I've hopped off the Foles bandwagon myself, but it's a bit disingenous to claim that his regression was simply due to defensive adjustments. What it comes down to, for me, was that he was far less accurate when throwing the ball compared to 2013. His decision making wasn't nearly as crisp either. Does anybody remember him making those strange throws off his back leg when his TD ratio was 27-2? Me neither. Something changed and it's got more to do with Foles than the defensive strategies teams employed against him IMO.

nate allen arrested

thereby providing plenty of jokes on twitter

nevermind.

http://www.news-press.com/story/news...yers/23534139/

http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/d...il-ordeal.html

In other "news" - there is so much smoke around the team trading up for Mariota that at this point I'd be fairly surprised if he wasn't the starting QB next year.

Is there actual smoke?

I thought it was all just mental masturbation on the part of fans who want it to be so.

I'd be shocked if this team actually paid the price to move up and get him.

as fun as it would be to see #2 Chip and MM together again, I don't think the picks+players that are given up to make that trade are worth it. the core of teams are built through good drafting and the associated low cost salaries of good (but young) players and not through free agency. giving up picks gives up the opportunity to build a team at a much lower cap hit. I can't see MM making a big enough difference to the W/L to overcome what is surrendered to get him.

this is coming from an oregon fan that has seen every game MM has played and thinks he's a very very good player. he's not worth the reach to get him in the top 5, but if he somehow falls to 10 or after it might be worth it.

do it do it do it do it do it do it do it

Agree with redeyes

I could see them giving up the farm for MM. Also seems pretty clear that in order to guarantee getting MM, you have to get the #1 spot and TB probably doesn't part with that spot lightly.

The way to sustained success in the NFL is through an elite QB. If Chip thinks there is a good chance of him being elite in his offense then whatever picks and players (especially Foles) it takes to get him are inconsequential.