Eagles Notebook: Back on field, Moffitt in shape, ready to perform

CHIP KELLY told reporters last month he wants players "that are passionate about playing the game . . . that love football."

In November 2013, John Moffitt quit a Super Bowl-bound Denver Broncos team, and said in an interview: "I don't care about the Super Bowl. I don't."

Yet there Moffitt stood yesterday when the Eagles opened training camp at NovaCare, wearing Todd Herremans' old No. 79 and angling for a job on an offensive line that is missing both its 2014 starting guards, Herremans and Evan Mathis.

Moffitt, who during the week of Super Bowl XLVIII told the Los Angeles Times he was "just sick of playing football," has changed his mind. He also acknowledges now there was more to it than that, a reality he was forced to confront after a March 16, 2014 arrest at a Chicago nightclub following an altercation.

"My personal issues started to outweigh my responsibilities," Moffitt said yesterday. "Anytime that happens, something is going to happen. I got into a place . . . needing to mature, needing to grow, and part of it, just burned out - I'd had enough."

The Chicago Tribune reported that court records showed Moffitt was "searched and found with 10 grams of cannabis, four ecstasy pills and one gram of cocaine."

"It's funny the way that sometimes some of the worst moments in your life, you have the power to transform those into being the catalyst that actually changes you for the better," Moffitt said.

Moffitt said he got clean on April 13, 2014, undergoing rehab in Malibu, Calif., but he didn't talk to any teams about getting back into the league until about 10 months later.

"I didn't say anything until I was in great shape," Moffitt said. "Really let myself transform as a person, just kind of laid it on the table" for interested teams.

"Fans, I'm sure there's some out there that have quit their job, come back to their job, needed, just, the time. I think that was my case. I needed the time."

Moffitt got back in shape with the help of FOX NFL TV personality Jay Glazer and his MMA-style gym. Also working at Glazer's West Hollywood training facility this offseason were a handful of Eagles, including offensive lineman Lane Johnson. Kelly said yesterday Johnson vouched for Moffitt, as did offensive line coach Jeff Stoutland; Stoutland recruited Moffitt for the University of Miami, though Moffitt ended up playing at Wisconsin.

"I'd love for you guys to sit down and talk with him," Kelly said of Moffitt. Kelly added that he checked out the gym himself on a trip to LA, liked the methods. "He made some mistakes in his life and I think he understands them and he owns them. He didn't deflect them. He didn't blame anybody else. He takes full responsibility for what's gone on, and I feel like after meeting with him, that he deserves a second chance.

"We spent a lot of time figuring out what he's all about. We felt comfortable, and we are hopeful that he has turned the corner . . . Really the ball is in his court."

The day after trading Brandon Boykin, Chip Kelly moved to cut off speculation that another popular Eagle who might not have ideal Kelly-prototype height could be next.

"Mychal Kendricks is not going anywhere," Kelly said. "I can tell you that right now. You can write that down in ink, not pencil. Mike's not going anywhere."

Later, Kelly put his arm around Kendricks on the field and told him to expect some questions from reporters after practice.

"He told me I'm here, man," Kendricks said. "I wasn't really worried about it at any point, but I'm glad to be here."

Kendricks, 6-feet, 240, said there have been no talks about extending his contract. Like Boykin, the 5-10 corner who was traded to Pittsburgh on Saturday night, Kendricks is a 2012 draftee who can become a free agent after this season. Boykin was dealt for a fifth-rounder in 2015 that can be a fourth-rounder if Boykin plays 60 percent of the Steelers' snaps.

"After the season is after the season - we'll worry about that then," Kendricks said. "Until then, I'm just going to ball out like I've been doing."

Speculation about Kendricks leaving was fueled by the Birds' acquisition of inside linebacker Kiko Alonso. With DeMeco Ryans apparently recovered from his Achilles' tear, the team has three standout ILBs for two starting spots. Ryans and Alonso seemed to get the base defense reps Sunday.

"We're just rotating," Kendricks said.

"I don't even know if there is a 'one' or a'two' or a 'three.'"

Ryans said he "never for a second thought [Kendricks] was going anywhere, so to me, what [Kelly said] doesn't change anything in my mindset. It's great to have Mychal and Kiko out there."

In a Pittsburgh interview yesterday Brandon Boykin said he had reported for Eagles camp Saturday and was getting into his jeep at NovaCare to head home when security "told me to come back into the building," where he met with Chip Kelly and learned of the trade to the Steelers. Boykin said he then went home, went to bed and arose at 4 a.m. to drive to Latrobe, Pa., for his first Steelers workout . . . No explanation was offered for DeMarco Murray sitting out many of the team periods yesterday. Kelly said before the workout that everyone was healthy.

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