Kelly: Mathis Was A Money Issue

For the second straight day, Chip Kelly met with the media before practice. Here is a quick rundown of some of the more important topics he covered.

• Kelly was asked about Evan Mathis’ quotes from yesterday, and he clarified his reasoning for cutting the Pro Bowl guard. “No not at all, that’s not true,” Kelly said when asked if Mathis was a culture issue. “It was a money issue, and we just didn’t come to terms on a money issue.”
• Kelly also raised some eyebrows when he said that Vinny Curry has been getting some reps at OLB during practice. “Vinny’s doing a hell of a job, he’s playing a little bit of outside, a little bit of inside, and he’s expanded his role in terms of where we can deploy him,” he said.
• Kelly also claimed that he doesn’t believe his new role in the front office will affect his ability to reach his players now that he is also in charge of their contracts. “I don’t see a problem with that,” he said.

We will have more updates at the conclusion of today’s practice.