McCoy Grabs Foles’ Back
Photo Credit Kelley L. Cox – USA Today
Nick Foles received a vote of confidence from a key member of the offense Friday amid speculation that the Eagles might be moving in a different direction at quarterback.
LeSean McCoy, during an appearance on the NFL Network, was asked if Foles can be “the guy” for Chip Kelly‘s offense.
“I think so. I like Nick,” said McCoy. “The person and the player that everybody thought he was, he is. There were a lot of injuries this year — Nick obviously got injured. He gets all the blame and he shouldn’t. I think Nick is a good quarterback, he is the leader of this team, and things just didn’t work out for him this year due to injury. But we’ve got his back.”
McCoy isn’t the first playmaker to speak out on Foles’ behalf. The day after the season ended, Zach Ertz talked glowingly of No. 9.
“I think we know what we have in Nick, I think management knows what they have in Nick, and we think he’s a franchise quarterback,” said Ertz.
“I’ve played with one of the most special guys in the league in Andrew Luck, and I don’t think Nick is necessarily on that level yet but I think with his work ethic that he can be one day.”
Foles, who has thrown 46 touchdowns to 17 interceptions in 28 professional games, said that he expects to be the team’s quarterback next year. Kelly and Jeffrey Lurie, though, stopped short of giving their full endorsement to the 25-year-old QB.
“You just always have to make that position the most important and do whatever you can to be the best at that position you can,” said Lurie. “There is a scarcity of quarterbacks, let’s face it. There are a lot of teams that really struggle at that position. So we always have to try to win big and focus on that position at all times.”
The talk has been about whether the Eagles will try to “win big” by making a move to land Marcus Mariota.
“Obviously, with my relationship with coach Kelly that would be fun to be part of that offense again,” said Mariota, via the Register-Guard, “but for me, any team that wants me to be part of their club, I’m all for it. Whatever happens, happens and I look forward to the process.”