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Philadelphia Eagles: Shady Shows Why He Had To Go

ByAndrew Goldwasser|

It has yet to be seen whether former Philadelphia Eagles back, LeSean McCoy will make the Eagles miss him on the field in 2015.

But I think it’s fair to say that Chip Kelly and the gang don’t much miss LeSean McCoy: The person.

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McCoy has done little, since news of his being traded to the Buffalo Bills first broke, to show that he’s the kind of team-first, football-first, program-first player that Chip Kelly very clearly wants on his squad.

Shady’s recent comments, made in an interview with Inquirer staff writer Jeff McClane, offer some LeSean McCoy-style insights into coach Kelly while, at the same time, making it clearer and clearer why McCoy had to go:

“I don’t think he likes or respects the stars. I’m being honest. I think he likes the fact that it’s ‘Chip Kelly and the Eagles’.”

The very notion of a player referring to himself as ‘a star’ is likely to rub Chip Kelly the wrong way. This is a man, Kelly, that, not long after arriving in the NFL, gave us a very clear topic sentence as to what he wants in a football player:

“Guys who love football. Not what football gets you.”

For what it’s worth, I think McCoy is right on this one.

I think he has correctly identified Chip Kelly as a guy who doesn’t like ‘stars’ in the traditional sense.

Where McCoy is off-base is about the reason why.

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“It was ‘DeSean Jackson – a high-flying, take-off-the-top-of-the-defense receiver.’ Or ‘the quick, elusive LeSean McCoy,’ ” McCoy said. “I don’t think likes that.”

Absurd.

Absurd to think that Chip Kelly cares if players on his team are labeled by their outstanding ability.

Or that he doesn’t want people who are tremendous ball players.

One could look at the clear evidence to the contrary: The fact that Kelly replaced McCoy with, in part, DeMarco Murray who is, in his own right, an outstanding football player coming off of a far better (and more celebrated) season that McCoy’s.

This has never (not with DeSean and not with LeSean) been about a player playing too well.

But credit to LeSean McCoy for actually having the near delusional level of self-confidence that it would take to actually believe that argument: ‘I got traded because I am just too gosh darn good at football.’

And this all seems to be more about McCoy than it about Chip Kelly. McCoy could easily do what any other marquee name that’s been traded in the last month has done: Quietly move on.

Are we reading inflammatory quotes from Sam Bradford?

Nick Foles?

Jimmy Graham?

McCoy is mad; Angry and immature is a volatile combination.

Since the trade we’ve read reports the McCoy didn’t want to play for the in Buffalo: A report he confirmed in his interview with McClane:

“I’m not going there. I don’t give a freak what they give me, I’m not going.”

Understandable? I mean… it’s cold. And they don’t win a lot. And their line is nothing special. And they don’t have a quarterback… that’s how a ‘star’ looks at things.

Mar 10, 2015; Orchard Park, NY, USA; Buffalo Bills running back LeSean McCoy holds up his new jersey after a press conference at Ralph Wilson Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Hoffman-USA TODAY Sports

A Chip Kelly player? Would appreciate the opportunity to play a game they love for gobs and gobs of money and an opportunity to compete in a new environment.

That isn’t LeSean McCoy.

Then, McCoy posted a thank-you message to the Eagles and to Eagles’ fans on instagram in which he very loudly neglected to mention Kelly’s name.

Nevermind that Kelly’s system was nearly entirely responsible for the two best years of McCoy’s career and his current status as an NFL superstar.

Oh… and he signs off: “… from the Franchise Philadelphia Eagles All Time Rushing Leader…”

What a sweetheart.

McCoy next made headlines when asked his opinions on the moves the Eagles made in free agency after his departure.

“I saw that they originally were trying to get Frank Gore, and he backed out, so then when they got DeMarco and they got Ryan Mathews, I thought it was like a panic move.”

A panic move.

Far cry from the mature response. Which (take note of this, LeSean) goes a little something like: ‘I’m a Buffalo Bill now. And I’m focused on what we’re doing to win a Super Bowl in Buffalo. Helping this team win a title will take all of my time and my energy and, while I wish everyone in Philadelphia well, I can’t worry about the moves they’re making now.’

Now there’s a ballplayer Philadelphia fans would miss. And Buffalo fans would be proud to welcome into the fold.

And McCoy wasn’t finished. Which is why we’re here right now. Because, even weeks after the move, he is still focused on the hit his ego took by being traded.

He needs the world to know that it wasn’t any shortcoming of his. It wasn’t that his style didn’t fit (it didn’t.) It wasn’t that his personality was abrasive (it was.) It wasn’t that his immaturity and selfishness strained his relationship with a coach that demands maturity and selflessness (they did.) It wasn’t that a young-stud linebacker on a rookie contract is simply worth more in the NFL than a running back coming off a ton of use and making $12 million (he is.)

McCoy seems to believe his stardom scared Chip Kelly off. That his shifty, elusive style cause the coach to sour on his star back.

But the truth is that nothing McCoy did on the field (although he’s not a perfect fit for Kelly’s offense) convinced the Eagles to move on without him.

It’s true, LeSean, that Chip Kelly wants nothing to do with ‘stars.’ But you’re using the term incorrectly… Chip has no problem with people who play like stars. His trouble is with people who act like stars.

Why did they move on, LeSean?

You’re making it clearer and clearer every time you open your mouth.

Next: Eagles Seven-Round Mock Draft

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