PHL Anon
This morning, on 97.5 The Fanatic, Brian Westbrook joined Anthony Gargano, and they were discussing the Chip Kelly era, key signs that Chip was running on borrowed time, and their insights to the entire situation.
Gargano started off by saying he had people telling him that on Saturday Eagles owner, Jeff Lurie, actually left his box at the beginning of the 4th quarter, which is unheard of for him. He discussed how the disconnect to the players, and the city led to Lurie making an uncharacteristically quick move on firing Chip. All interesting stuff, but what was most interesting was what Westbrook and Gargano discussed after that. Chip Kelly’s biggest focus… Culture.
They discussed how there were so many levels of “buffers” to get to Chip. How he was not accessible to people, how he was not easy to communicate with him, and how that led to one of the most telling (now) signs that something was off.
Chip Kelly had virtually no allies at the NovaCare and then lost Jeffrey Lurie. Was tolerated when he won. Endeared himself to no one.
— Jeff McLane (@Jeff_McLane) December 30, 2015
When the Eagles were in New England, Lurie’s hometown, to play the Patriots, the Eagles owner did something so out of sorts, for him. He headed down to the locker room to deliver a pre game pump up speech. Why is this weird? Well, because Lurie is never down in the locker room right before games. So why was he this time? He didn’t want to be “embarrassed in front of his boys that he grew up with” Gargano said.
Westbrook took the statement by Gargano, and added one more telling piece. Westbrook went on to say this was extremely telling of the culture, or lack there of, in the locker room because, “When I played no coaches needed to give us a speech. Jeff certainly didn’t need to. We had the leaders to run the locker room and to get ourselves prepared and fired up to win.”
So, what at the time seemed like a fun side story, really had more behind it, and was an indicator of just how bad things were in the locker room. God, I need guys like Westbrook, Dawkins, and Trotter back!
Also, Don’t Forget to get your t-shirt that is Philly’s first to hit the market and is a big “Eff You” to Chip on his way out. Use promo code “Later2015” to get 15% your purchase here.
I gave up on Chip Kelly in his first season when he played the Saints and only went to DJax once in the first half, in the playoffs. The former NFL wide out, Chris Collinsworth, who was broadcasting the game, mentioned that fact at the end of the first half. The score was 7/6. I refer to NFL history of teams that have triplets as Dallas had, St Louis, San Fran, Indiannapolis, Denver, New England. They kept and molded their talent. It resulted in SuperBowl Rings. Chip Kelly got rid of Pro Bowl Players. I can see why Mr. Lurie got rid of him.
Hey Chip in the next year grow a full faced beard, make sure it’s white. Come back to the Linc, say about Christmas time. Dress like Santa Claus, so we can all throw snowballs at you.