Looking Forward

Clearly, Lurie didn't see a bounce back next year with Chip at the helm. Cites Andy Reid's ability to return to "double digit wins" after down years (except for the end). 

Kelly didn't get the luxury of a bounce back opportunity after first two double digit win seasons.

Final Straw

Watching Lurie press conference.

Why now?

1 - get a jump on coaching hire

2 - give Chip an opportunity to look for jobs

3 - an opportunity to speak with players before the end of the season.

Chip was not asked to give up GM responsibilities. Chip did not offer.

It looks like a players' revolt that did Chip in.

Kelly's Tenure

A friend notes:

It's hard to really understand this demise. 
On thanksgiving day 2014, just 13 months ago, we destroyed the Cowboys with Mark Frickin' Sanchez as QB! We moved to 9-3 and had complete control over the division and really were just trying to fight to get a bye with the 1 or 2 seed. 
We've gone 7-12 since. 
Chip's fall has been unlike any I can recall. 
It is the shortest coaching stint in franchise history since Marion Campbell, who I think had just 2-3 years. Even Kotite and Ray Rhodes had for 4 seasons!

Chipper fired?!

Here's full statement in case you've not read:

http://www.philadelphiaeagles.com/news/article-1/Letter-From-Chairman-And-CEO-Jeffrey-Lurie/80d1ca75-0fcb-48e9-bc62-936e0ab02065

WR the Key?

A friend asserts:

The new NFL is all about wide receivers. Carson Palmer was left for dead 3-4 years ago. Just like Kurt Warner was after his disastrous stint. 
Then they got to throw to Fitzgerald and Boldin/Michael Floyd and others. That makes any QB an All Pro. And it makes defending against the run impossible because you're always going to respect the deep threat. (See Jeff's earlier email about how often the Cards throw deep.)
Go look at Eli's numbers. He's already set a career high in TD passes. Why? Beckham. 
Nick Foles made a Pro Bowl and was a Top 5 MVP candidate in 2013. Why? DeSean Jackson. Where's Foles without DeSean? Benched. 
It's entirely about receivers now. Plain. Simple. 

Eagles Out

Another friend writes:

every single offseason move by Chip so far stinks. 
This guy took Andy Reid's offense and instantly made it the best in the NFL in 2013. He is a genius. 
He is quite simply a horrible evaluator of talent and doesn't understand how the rest of the NFL evaluates talent. 
If he wanted Bradford so badly, he could've gotten him for a couple of late round draft picks. Instead chip mortgaged the future for it. If he wanted Alonzo as his inside LB, he could've gotten him for practically nothing because he has no knees left. 
We turned over football operations to a guy who not long ago was the coach for University of New Hampshire. 
His knowledge base is of organizations where every team turns over their rosters year in and year out - college football. 
He now has the offensive personnel that he personally recruited and wanted. 
He will be back in the PAC 10/12/whatever it's called next season. 
And before you ask, I had 1 beer watching that game. 
The rest of the NFL is laughing now at us. 
We've given away our future for players who can't perform in the present. 

Redskins Eagles

A friend writes:

Receivers need upgrading, line needs upgrading and D needs a new coordinator.
I think what gets lost in chip gm getting blasted is e's the coach who did not fix the mistakes.   Last night we continued to make bad penalties, mistakes at the wrong time, etc.   the coach at some point has to have the players improve in the mental part.  Just too many mistakes.  Did we set a record for most illegal shifts/procedures in a season???
Now the question is what do you pay Bradford.  Despite pk's 9/14 email it is clear he is an nfl QB (and that Sanchez is clearly not) and is going to make big bucks this offseason.
And is Kirk cousins good?   Did he grow as a QB and is now good?   I am confused because he looks really good but I still don't believe.
I still believe chip is an offensive genius.   So he should be able out how to make Murray work.   I think Murray's 400-500 touches last year played a part (history in the league said it does).  So does our shitty line (which is chippers fault).

Clueless Coughlin

I love how awkward Collinsworth and Michaels are each week having to talk about a non-football related football story. First it was Greg Hardy a couple weeks ago. Tonight it's Beckham (with several oblique references to Peterson's lengthy nearly season long suspension last year - but they don't ever mention why he was disciplined). Their ramblings made no sense - do they think Beckham's behavior was inappropriate? The suspension too harsh?

The shocker for me was them explaining that Tom Coughlin did not understand what the uproar was about and the Giants PR director having to put together a video montage of Beckam's plays vs. Norman the next day.

Coughlin is the NFL version of Matt "I didn't see my closer choking my MVP rightfielder at the other end of the dugout" Williams. Coughlin didn't know his WR was out of control after the 1st, 2nd or 3rd personal fouls of the game? I'm pretty sure Coughlin has never had another player get more than 2 personal fouls in one game. Does Coughlin not care how many 15 yard penalties any of his players gets?

Home Field Disadvantage

Per Tom Boswell:

Since the Eagles got their new stadium, they are the only team in the NFL has MORE wins on the road than at home. (It's only ONE more win on the road, but that goes against a major NFL trend.) So, I wouldn't count on the Philly home crowd being a huge plus. (Gee, I don't know why.)

the ski cap debate

Really? It's come to this? Scrutiny of Demarco Murray wearing a knit cap on the sidelines and whether he was ready and able to be put in the game? Please.

is this what passes for "journalism" now in Philadelphia?

yes, Murray didn't play. yes, he clearly is 3rd on the RB depth chart. Yes, he probably should have been in the game on the Eagles fourth down play at the end of the first half. Yes, he hasn't lived up to expectations. Yes, he's got a big contract. No, the size of the contract shouldn't determine your playing time. Yes, he touched the ball 400+ times last year and that has usually meant a decline in production the following year. No, no one ever brings this up, preferring to ignore the physical toll it takes on RBs and preferring instead to suggest Murray isn't a "good fit" for the Eagles. 

Will Murray return to form next year after having a less taxing 2015 season? We don't know. But maybe somebody could at least start asking the question.

Beckham, the NFL and Concussions

Odell Beckham Jr.'s helmet to helmet hit on Josh Norman is one of the most vicious hits of the year.

Beckham dove at Norman. Helmet to helmet. Intent to injure. Incredibly, Beckham was not ejected from the game. In fact, the end result of that play was offsetting personal fouls on Beckham and Norman. It is utterly inexplicable that there was essentially no consequence for what Beckham did.

If the roles were reversed, and it was the defensive player who did what Beckham did to a WR, the DB would have been ejected. An interesting NFL double standard. They're so concerned about protecting the WRs they're gutless when it's the offensive player who is delivering the blow.

I also find it really interesting that having taken a huge helmet to helmet shot to the side of the head - that staggers him (take a look at the replay) - that the NFL's vaunted "concussion spotter" didn't buzz down and require an examination of Norman.

Once again, we see so clearly how unseriously the NFL takes head trauma. The response today will be telling. Will Beckham merely be fined or will he be suspended? Given the NFL track record on this, most likely fined.