Sports

Chip Kelly fired after Eagles moves lead to missed playoffs

PHILADELPHIA (AP) Chip Kelly went three-and-out - much like his 
inconsistent offense. 
 
Kelly was fired by the Philadelphia Eagles on Tuesday night with 
one game left in his third season, completing a dramatic drop for a 
coach who was heavily recruited and lauded as an offensive genius 
only a couple years ago. 
 
Kelly was dumped after missing the playoffs for the second straight 
season and failing miserably in his first year in charge of 
personnel. 
 
The Eagles entered the season with Super Bowl expectations, but are 
6-9. They've lost several games by a lopsided margin and players 
had lost confidence in Kelly. 
 
Two current Eagles players, speaking on condition of anonymity 
because the team was not publicly discussing the firing, told The 
Associated Press late Tuesday night that several players had met in 
groups in recent weeks to discuss their frustration with Kelly. 
They said they expressed relief in text exchanges with teammates 
after the team announced it had fired Kelly, after most players had 
left the team's practice facility for the day. 
 
Eagles CEO Jeffrey Lurie issued a one-sentence statement to 
reporters saying he appreciates Kelly's contributions and wishes 
him success going forward. 
 
Lurie told fans in an email that he decided to make a change after 
''evaluating the many factors involved in our performance as a 
team.'' 
 
The Eagles also fired Ed Marynowitz, who was vice president of 
player personnel. Longtime NFL executive Tom Donahoe will assume 
the role of senior director of player personnel. 
 
Kelly gained full control of personnel decisions last offseason, 
winning a power struggle with then-general manager Howie Roseman. 
But Kelly tore apart a winning team and several of his bold moves 
backfired. 
 
Since March 2014, Kelly released three-time Pro Bowl wide receiver 
DeSean Jackson, traded two-time All-Pro running back LeSean McCoy, 
didn't re-sign 2014 Pro Bowl wideout Jeremy Maclin, cut two-time 
Pro Bowl guard Evan Mathis and traded quarterback Nick Foles and a 
2016 second-round draft pick for Sam Bradford. 
 
He also gave big money in free agency to running back DeMarco 
Murray and cornerback Byron Maxwell. Murray has been a bust and 
Maxwell has underperformed. Kelly even signed Tim Tebow, but 
released him after he won the competition for the No. 3 quarterback 
job. 
 
A person familiar with the decision to fire Kelly told the AP on 
Tuesday night that the team didn't consider only stripping him of 
personnel control, opting to part with him entirely. The person 
spoke on condition of anonymity because Lurie will address Kelly's 
dismissal on Wednesday. 
 
Kelly didn't want players perceived as ''me-first'' guys. He 
alienated some of his players, though the only ones who spoke out 
against him did it after they were gone. 
 
McCoy, the franchise's all-time leading rusher and a fan favorite, 
made headlines when he said there's a reason Kelly got rid of ''all 
the good black players.'' Cornerback Brandon Boykin, who was traded 
to Pittsburgh, said Kelly was ''uncomfortable'' around black 
players. 
 
Other players supported Kelly and moves such as signing Murray and 
Maxwell contradicted McCoy's claim. But Kelly's reputation took a 
hit anyway. 
 
Shortly after Kelly was fired, former Eagles linebacker Emmanuel 
Acho tweeted: ''Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts 
absolutely.'' 
 
Suspended Cleveland Browns receiver Josh Gordon tweeted: ''Shady, 
Maclin, Foles, Djax.. Smh.'' 
 
Kelly replaced Andy Reid and led the Eagles to an NFC East title in 
2013 after they were 4-12 a year earlier. The Eagles lost at home 
to New Orleans in the playoffs and missed the postseason in 2014 
following a 9-3 start. 
 
They were 7-12 in Kelly's last 19 games. 
 
Kelly was considered one of the most innovative coaches in college 
when the Eagles lured him away from Oregon in 2013. He brought his 
up-tempo offense and a unique approach that included monitoring 
players' sleep habits, changing the menu in the cafeteria and 
playing loud music during practices. Players had protein shakes 
waiting for them after practice and the team took the field on 
Tuesdays, which is a day off for the rest of the NFL. 
 
Kelly's offense was dynamic his first season and set several 
franchise records. It steadily declined the next two years. The 
defense has been the worst in the NFL for three seasons. 
 
Offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur will coach the team in the season 
finale at the New York Giants on Sunday. 
 
Lurie told fans President Don Smolenski and Roseman, the executive 
vice president of football operations, will assist him in the 
search for a new coach. 
 
Roseman helped convince Kelly to take the job after he initially 
decided to stay at Oregon. Kelly ended up taking Roseman's job 
without the title - the Eagles technically didn't have a GM this 
season. But Roseman is the last one standing in Philadelphia. 

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