Nick Piccone
Just last week, Malcolm Jenkins kind of called Chip Kelly and the other Eagles’ coaches to the carpet. He didn’t sound too happy after a monumental loss to the Lions on Thanksgiving. He was critical of how the team never holds anyone accountable for what they do wrong on the field.
Kelly took exception to the comments publicly, and that was that. After Sunday’s win in New England, Jenkins was singing a different tune, saying Chip was the one who held the team together, contrary to what was reported. [CBS Philly]
It was rewarding to beat (New England on Sunday), considering the amount of doubt and negativity that was surrounding our building the last three weeks and something we had to fight to ignore,” Eagles’ veteran safety Malcolm Jenkins told CBSPhilly.com. “I think the message Chip gave us all week was that we are a good team. Chip reminded us who we are.
“He was showing us plays and showing us situations where we executed and made plays. He assured us we are a good football team—and he showed us why. We saw every guy on the team making huge plays, and if we could do this, nobody could beat us. It further sold the team on what Chip is teaching. Chip kept us together.”
Oh, come on. Jenkins was the one who didn’t exactly put out the fire when there was smoke everywhere surrounding the team. He contributed to the negativity surrounding the team with his interview on WIP last Monday night. It was almost like he wanted to manufacture some bulletin board material for his own team.
Exactly,” Jenkins said. “When I made the comments I made last week, people thought, ‘That was it, Chip lost the team.’ That wasn’t it at all. I spoke to Chip every single day last week and not once did the whole media stuff come up. He relies on me to be a leader. We both know how we feel, and how we’re both dedicated to this game. We know what is going on in (the NovaCare Complex). There is a lot of noise, distraction and calamity outside this building. Inside, we just keep grinding. Everyone believes in each other. We know what is said outside this building doesn’t have much truth to it and none of it really matters.”
Nah, none of it matters, maybe to you. But, to the fans, all of it matters. Imagine having the expectations of the season so much higher than what they are now, and the players and coaches basically blaming the fans for the team’s woes. That definitely matters. But, Chip has Jenkins’ faith, and I guess that’s good enough?
I’ve been one of Chip’s biggest supporters since I’ve been here and I still am,” Jenkins said. “I’m honest in what I say. Personally, I like to be coached hard. If I’m doing something that’s hurting the team that needs to be addressed, nothing will make me respond more than letting the team know where I’m hurting the team. I want that feedback. From everyone. That’s all.
“That has nothing to do with the coaches. The players were messing this up. We looked at what we’re doing and we were beating ourselves over the last three weeks. We know it. We’re the ones that have to get it corrected. We all have to fix it together.”
And how does Jenkins suggest the team try to turn around a season that now sees them in a three-way tie for first place in the NFC East? Well, he wants to play wide receiver, of course.
Jenkins wants to win so badly that he’s approached Kelly numerous times about playing wide receiver. He said he doesn’t need to know the whole receiver tree, just dabble here and there.
Jenkins, a three-time state champion at Piscataway High School, was a dual threat as a wide receiver and defensive back before going to Ohio State, where he played cornerback.
“I want that chance,” said Jenkins, laughing. “I would love to play receiver. I’m always asking Chip. He just laughs. Maybe I helped myself with that (99-yard pick six). Just one or two plays. That’s all I want. Hey, Tom Brady caught a pass. I’m faster than him.”
A new team controversy: Jenkins says Eagles wide receivers suck. I mean, that’s pretty much what he was saying, right? Yup. Pretty much.