Les Bowen, Daily News Staff Writer
There must be some sort of hot-tub time machine in the training room down at NovaCare.
A day after issuing a statement that didn't sound much like it was written by him, Michael Vick appeared on the "Mike and Mike in the Morning" ESPN radio show Tuesday to talk about how happy he is to get a reworked deal from the Eagles, one that makes him the likely 2013 starter.
Clearly, Vick thinks Kelly's offense will involve him running the ball a lot, even though every time he is asked about it, Kelly goes to great pains to explain that isn't at all what the read-option is about.
Les Bowen, Daily News Staff Writer
New Eagles coach Chip Kelly introduced his staff Monday and discussed the surprising agreement with quarterback Michael Vick to rework Vick's deal into a one-year pact for about $10 million.
The upshot: Kelly seems to envision Vick being here in 2013, though when Kelly was asked about a trade, he said he wasn't ruling anything out. Kelly touted a competition between Vick and Nick Foles and said the 2013 starter will be determined on the practice field.
Kelly also acknowledged the obvious -- that the decision to bring back Vick was influenced by "what's out there on the quarterbacking landscape." After listening to Kelly, offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur and QBs coach Bill Lazor, it seems to fair to say that yet another coaching staff has been seduced by the allure of a quarterback who has more turnovers (33) than touchdown passes (30) the past two seasons as the Eagles' starter. But it also seems that Kelly and co, are at least aware there are reasons to be wary of Vick, they just figured they'd be better off with him here for a year than with whatever else they could get to compete with or supplant Foles.
Les Bowen, Daily News Staff Writer
A couple hours before the first Chip Kelly press availability since the Senior Bowl, the Eagles made a surprise announcement: they've agreed with Michael Vick on a restructured contract, which reports indicate will be for about $10 million over one year.
What does this mean? Well, it means nothing good for Nick Foles, first of all. Vick has said he is not amenable to staying here as a backup. The Chipper, after reviewing 2012 film, must think a 33-year-old Vick is a better option for his offense than Foles, the bigger, slower-footed 2012 rookie. He must also think he isn't getting his longterm franchise QB out of the 2013 draft. So he's going to try to buy a year with Vick, see how it goes, and if disaster ensues, as it did for Andy Reid the past two seasons with Vick, then there's the 2014 draft and a more promising quarterback crop.
If you're a Vick fan, this validates your view that a terrible offensive line was the QB's main problem last season. If you're a Vick basher, it's easy to see how you might want to grind your teeth to dust, watching Kelly have to repeat Reid's mistakes instead of learning from them.
Les Bowen, Daily News Staff Writer
The Philadelphia Eagles hired former Browns LB coach Billy Davis to be their defensive coordinator. The Daily News' Les Bowen and CineSport's Noah Coslov discuss the hiring.
Les Bowen, Daily News Staff Writer
Turns out it wasn't the Eagles' new defensive coordinator who was waiting for national signing day to pass before announcing his was leaving college for the NFL. It was the new offensive line coach.
In what looks like the biggest coup new head coach Chip Kelly has managed, the Eagles are expected to name Alabama offensive line coach Jeff Stoutland to run their unit. A league source said the hiring, reported by Footballscoop.com, "is likely to happen."
Stoutland, 50, had the best offensive line in college football last season, for the national champion Crimson Tide. He coached there two seasons, coming from Miami, where he has been among those implicated in the scandal involving booster Nevin Shapiro. A recent Palm Beach Post story said Stoutland is cooperating with NCAA investigators.
Les Bowen, Daily News Staff Writer
So, it turns out Chip Kelly wasn't waiting for the Super Bowl, national signing day, or the vernal equinox. He was waiting ... well, we have no idea why he was waiting. The Eagles' new defensive coordinator, a league source confirms, is former Browns linebackers coach Bill Davis, who has been available to be hired for weeks now, and in fact interviewed for the job two weeks ago.
The hiring was first reported by CSNPhilly.com's Geoff Mosher.
Davis was an Eagles ball boy in the Dick Vermeil years, when he was known as "Billy," and his father, Bill Davis, was a Vermeil assistant. The elder Bill Davis later ran Eagles player personnel in the Buddy Ryan era.
Les Bowen, Daily News Staff Writer
The Georgia Bulldogs hosted a National Signing Day event in which their coordinators talked to fans and then later in the day to the media covering the team.
Georgia defensive coordinator Todd Grantham didn't exactly say, "no, I'm staying here" when asked about NFL rumors. The Saints have said they intend to interview Grantham for their d-coordinator opening. The Eagles, as seems to be their style under new coach Chip Kelly, haven't said anything, but various reports have indicated Grantham might be in their sights, as well.
A fan asked Grantham if he will be at Georgia two or three years from now.
Les Bowen, Daily News Staff Writer
NEW ORLEANS --- If ever a guy didn't match the car, it was Baltimore quarterback Joe Flacco standing next to the new red Corvette Stingray he was awarded Monday for being the Most Valuable Player of Super Bowl XLVII.
Flacco seemed as tall as the car was long. His eyes seemed to widen in something approaching discomfort when the guy representing Chevrolet told him the Corvette would go 0-to-60 in four seconds. It was pointed out that for a man with an infant son, who just found out he has another child on the way, a two-seater might not be ideal. Flacco said he pretty much has been driving cars loaned from dealerships in recent years; the only car he has ever actually owned is an old white Volvo that got passed down from other family members.
Frankly, Flacco is a bit of a white Volvo kind of guy.
Paul Domowitch, Daily News NFL Columnist
It’s one of the most famous plays in Eagles history.
"I Right Slot Split 46 Slant."
Wilbert Montgomery’s 42-yard touchdown run against the Cowboys in the 1980 NFC Championship Game.
Les Bowen, Daily News Staff Writer
NEW ORLEANS --- Ravens coach John Harbaugh was asked early in the week what he learned from going to the Super Bowl eight years ago with the Eagles.
Harbaugh answered that he learned the whole week is a circus, but at the end of it, there is a game. And when it starts, it's just a game, like other games, with four downs and injuries and mistakes and an oblong football.
That's a simple but profound point, especially if you are in the Super Bowl city, with blimps motoring past and a guy on stilts throwing passes to bystanders, dressed in a Colin Kaepernick jersey (his followthrough needed work). On the banks of the Mississippi, outlined against the sky are those giant roman numerals -- XLVII -- that have an almost Stonehengelike aspect.
