Kelce, Mathis defend asking fans to remove sign
The Philadelphia Inquirer Blog - Eagles
Kelce, Mathis defend asking fans to remove sign
Jonathan Tamari
Evan Mathis and Jason Kelce, caught up in a storm of radio and internet criticism today after asking fans to take down a sign calling for Andy Reid's head, defended their actions today.
Each said that fans are free to express their opinions, but that they did not want to see such sentiments "on our front yard" outside the NovaCare Complex.
Some background: on Monday the two came to the team facility to watch film and lift. On their way out in Kelce's truck they saw three or so fans holding a sign that read "Andy, the Time's .... to Go." The protesters were across the street from the NovaCare entrance, according to Mathis. That would place them at a public park, not on Eagles property.
After driving past, Kelce and Mathis returned to the fans and said they asked them to take down the sign. Both said they did not threaten the fans, but that the protesters complied. Each has been the subject of much criticism since then. Here's how they responded:
"I support our fans, I support everyone that roots for us, everyone that comes to the games. That's the wrong message that’s being displayed right now. I support freedom of speech," said Kelce. "If you want to go out to talk bad stuff about the coaches or things like that do it on a blog, do it wherever you want, but don’t bring it to our front door right now when we’re 1-4 trying to get better we don’t need that kind of division on the team right now."
But don't fans who support the team have the right to voice their anger at a 1-4 start?
"They have the right to do that just as much as I have the right to tell them – ask them – to take a sign down. I support their freedom of spech and I support their right to say anything they want to. But what I want them to do is do that on a blog, do it in the media, but keep it away from here," Kelce said. "Right now we’re tyring to come together as a team and get this thing fixed. We don’t need people calling for our coach's head right in front of us on our front door when we’re trying to get better."
Kelce said he did not regret doing it.
"I don’t regret it at all. There was nothing ever physical mentioned, there was no harm mentioned – we asked them to take the sign down," he said.
Mathis told a similar version of events.
"We’re trying to come together as a team and stay together as a team and create a positive environment around here and it’s different if you’re going to write about it or call into a radio show or blog about it or talk amongst your friends about it. To go in our front yard and put something so negative right here – I stand by telling them to take that down," he said.
"I didn't want anything negative out there that would start, that could have any kind of potential to create a divide in this team, so we asked them, take it down."
Mathis, who has played for the Dolphins, Bengals and Panthers in previous career stops, said, "You don't know how good you have it around here having Andy as a coach. Andy is a good coach."
Worth noting here is that Kelce and Mathis are new to Philadelphia. Neither is all that familiar yet with the fans here or the city's very divided - and long-standing - opinions on Reid.
-- As for on field news, there wasn't much. Kurt Coleman still seems likely to start at safety Sunday, though Juan Castillo said Jaiquawn Jarrett will get some first team reps in practice this week.
-- Marty Mornhinweg said the Eagles player have great "pride" and need to take care of the football. "Most of our offense is dynamite. .... There are certain things you can't do in a game and win," he said, referring to turnovers.
Pretty soon no one will want to play or coach here. AR respected among his peers and players universally. Given the Banner relationship with money and Jeff, what real coach will come here ? The beating taken by NA and DRC, soon they tell guys anywhere but Philly. Maybe we all need to take a deep breath. i get it, the world stinks, economy stinks along with many other real or perceived ills. Let's keep some perspective this is football.— oldBird- Old Bird,
NA and DRC have been underperforming, so all the criticism they have been receiving is warranted. Yes, AR is respected among his peers, but let's not let Andy off the hook. This offensive line is porous,the safties can't tackle, and you hired the stinkin offensive line coach as your defensive coordinator. Please...stop making excuses for a team that is falling woefully short of expectations.— PSU_Chuck - Criticism for underperforming and lame efforts are one thing, hanging a sign aroung the practice complex to fire the head coach after a 1-4 start is quite another. Some fans should act like they've at least seen adversity before...I'm no Reid fan, but in no way should a Head Coach of his stature get the boot this point of a season...What are you going to replace him with at this point?...The season has to play out at this point,everyone knows the mistakes that have been made. — bearsfriend
- Can we talk about the grammar on the sign?
Those two look like Delco's finest— azsixerfan - Hey Genius, its a play on Andy's famous line: "Times yours" and if you followed the team, you would know that. Take you red pen elsewhere.
- Kelce needs to understand that the FANS pay his salary by selling out every game. The fans can state there opinion always.
Like Kruker said if you did not succeed here in Philly its because you dont have the guts to succeed.— Bob65S - Actually fella, nobody makes you "pay their salaries" you choose to do so by being a goon Beagles fan. If you don't like it, don't buy tickets and merchandise, it's that simple. But just because you CHOOSE to buy tickets and merchandise doesn't give you a voice in the team transactions. You have to love idiot goon Beagles fans. You think it's a passion for your team but it's more like a sick obsession. If you only put this much energy into something useful for society, just think how much better the world would be. — taxmanndumbeth
- He didn't say he was "made to pay" or that he had a "voice in the teams transactions". As a fan and as an American we CAN voice our likes and dislikes about EVERYTHING. He was stating his opinion as freely as you were stating yours. You should learn to read before you call someone an idiot. Just think how much better you'd be if you didn't have a sick obsession with your inferiority complex.
— WBFO - what a patriot...; what an insightful response...; everyone is entitled to fifteen minutes of fame; everyone has a right to state an opinion; non-idiots know how and when to state an opinion. you must have a sick obsession with your misplaced superiority complex. — dave94062
- And what would Kelce and Mathis be if they just cruised on by while that sign was there?....They're sticking up for their coach,their team, their situation....How anybody could get upset with their reaction is idiotic and immature...I could actually see a couple of fat cat db's cruise by though...And that, like their hitting, is the problem currently. — bearsfriend
- Of course they're defending Reid...who else would have drafted and signed those two and put them in the lineup of a team expected before the season to challenge for the Super Bowl? Here's a thought for those two...if it's not Reid (his hires, signings, play calling, schemes, etc.), those two should try....PLAYING BETTER. My goodness...— THE-KID (WI)
- Amen. That's the key, PLAY BETTER. How? By doing intense study or review or your positions on technique and fundamentals. Doing intense film or video study. Watching film or video of other successful players on other teams who play your position to mimic their techniques and even styles.
Studying the playbooks and understand your responsibility in each and every play that's called and practice, practice, practice until your execution becomes second nature. Coaches are not always right. If they are telling you something wrong, call them on it. Study the rule book until you understand the potential violations that could occur in a given situation.
Wrap players up when you tackle and remember the importance of grabbing and holding on to the ball carrier any way they can, even if it is not a picture-perfect tackle, and wait for help to arrive from fellow ballplayers. Protect the ball at all times. Wrap the ball up with TWO hands when in traffic. Play like professionals. Like you deserve to be here. This is Philadelphia. We are the only team in the NFC East WITHOUT a Super Bowl. WE WILL NOT TOLERATE HALF-@$$ EFFORTS. We want it NOW.— essell 
Comment removed.- Wishbone,
I couldn't agree with you more. A bunch of tough guys off the field, but soft as tissue paper on the field. Please...are you kidding me? Kelce needs to 'trap-up' and play. Better yet...take out his frustration and angst against the fans in the weight room and film room.— PSU_Chuck - Yeah like you'd stand in the trenches and say that to his face. what is trap up anyway? — drenner
