Eagletarian

Chip's on the table, Birds interview McCoy

The Philadelphia Daily News - Eagletarian

35 comments

Chip's on the table, Birds interview McCoy

POSTED: Sunday, January 6, 2013, 1:48 PM

Les Bowen, Daily News Staff Writer

Who will have a better team in 2013?

Various reports said Oregon coach Chip Kelly was deciding Sunday between going to the Eagles and staying at Oregon, as the Birds' braintrust flew to Denver to interview Broncos offensive coordinator Mike McCoy.

Those reports said the Cleveland Browns' brass has flown home from the Kelly courtship in Arizona, ready to renew its search without the Oregon coach. Of course, those reports might be no more accurate than the late Friday-early Saturday reports that had Kelly wrapping up the details of a deal with the Browns.

The Eagles jumped into the Kelly sweepstakes big time Saturday with a luncheon meeting in Arizona that lasted until after midnight, but just like the marathon session with the Browns on Friday, it ended without an agreement.

Before Thursday night's Fiesta Bowl victory over Kansas State, Oregon seemed to anticipate Kelly's departure, to the extent that it was reported offensive coordinator Mark Helfrich would succeed him. But given the deep pockets of Oregon's top alum, Nike's Phil Knight, it could be that Kelly decides to stay with the Ducks for a big pay raise. He has never spoken of any sort of hunger for the NFL, where he has never worked. last year, Kelly reportedly agreed to coach the Tampa Bay Bucs, then changed his mind hours later.

The only bit of clarity to emerge on the Eagles' search was that one of their interviewees, Syracuse coach Doug Marrone, has signed on to coach the Buffalo Bills. Colts interim coach/offensive coordinator Bruce Arians and Seattle defensive coordinator Gus Bradley remain to be interviewed fiollowing their teams' Sunday playoff games. Arians is in the hospital in Baltimore Sunday, battling an inner ear infection.

The Eagles also have asked permission to talk to Bengals offensive coordinator Jay Gruden, but that premission has not yet been granted.

35 comments

Comments (35)

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 2:35 PM, 01/06/2013

doesn't lesean already work for them?

— rysagr

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 2:59 PM, 01/06/2013

Why is Shaw of Stanford not getting any attention? Seems a much better fit from the college ranks than Kelly.

— muttnut

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 6:01 PM, 01/06/2013

Agree, but he signed an extension with Stanford last week.

— jabpsufan

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 3:03 PM, 01/06/2013

Mike McCoy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

— mario1239

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 3:04 PM, 01/06/2013

I prefer McCoy over everyone else that we've all heard about. I love what he's done the last two years. Key is his ability to adapt to his roster. Hope they get this right... I don't want to have to wait for three years for the birds to be contenders again.

— Simma_Down_Now

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 7:21 PM, 01/06/2013

You're going to have to wait irregardless of who the Eagles sign. Reid left this team in taters. The Eagles need to fix several moving parts before they are competitive again. The CBs, safety is a question mark. Backup OL is horrendous. Even with expected return of Herremans and Peters the backups have proven unreliable. We can only hope that Foles shows marked improvement in 2013. It will be tough enough competing with likes of Manning, RGIII, and Romo. The Eagles, notably Roseman, would have to create some serious magic through the draft and free-agency if the Eagles hope to escape the cellar. I don't think that will happen for at least 2-3 years.

— essell

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 3:05 PM, 01/06/2013

Shaw just signed a big contract extension. Meanwhile I wonder how these other coaches feel about playing 2nd fiddle to Kelly if he decides to stay at Oregon. Do they turn the Eagles down? I mean it happens, Kelly turned down Tampa last year.

— watsonmr

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 3:25 PM, 01/06/2013

I think that if Kelly does not go to the NFL this year, he shouldn't expect more chances in the future. Last year, he left Tampa Bay holding the bag after saying he accepted their offer. If he decides to walk away again after leading Cleveland and the Eagles on this year, personally, I wouldn't touch him in the future.

— MJSI

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 3:28 PM, 01/06/2013

They're not getting left at the altar. It's a job offer. And a prime one at that. They'll be thankful that the stars were aligned to get them the gig, and they'll run with it. I agree, McCoy's the one.

— 1Dukie