Weekend Reading: ‘Chip Knows What He’s Doing’
Photo by: Jeff Fusco.
Here are some Eagles-related links to check out this weekend.
Gil Brandt of NFL.com looks at the 13 franchises that have never won a Super Bowl. He lists the Eagles as one of three that could finally change that in 2015:
Chip Kelly is a sharp guy who could make the auspicious start to his NFL head-coaching career truly special by capturing a title in Year 3. Yes, Philly traded away a 1,300-yard rusher in LeSean McCoy and let a solid receiver in Jeremy Maclin walk in free agency, but I think 1,800-yard back DeMarco Murray and promising rookie Nelson Agholor will keep the offense rolling. The Eagles’ defense, meanwhile, should be much improved with the additions of Byron Maxwell, Walter Thurmond and Kiko Alonso. Furthermore, if new quarterback Sam Bradford can stay healthy, which has always been the biggest question with him, he can have a huge impact. The bottom line is, Kelly knows what he’s doing.
Greg Hardy’s suspension has been reduced from 10 games to four games, meaning he’ll be available for the second Cowboys game against the Eagles, but not the first one. From ESPN.com:
The NFL initially suspended Hardy in April for what it deemed to be multiple violations of the league’s personal conduct policy during an incident with a former girlfriend in spring 2014. The charges against Hardy, who was with the Carolina Panthers at the time, were eventually dismissed after the ex-girlfriend, Nicole Holder, refused to cooperate with the Mecklenburg (North Carolina) County district attorney’s office.
“After consideration of all the record evidence and arguments, I conclude that the Commissioner acted within his authority and properly exercised his discretion in finding that Hardy violated the NFL Personal Conduct Policy,” Henderson said in a statement. ” . . . I find that the conduct of Hardy clearly violated the letter and spirit of any version of the PCP since its inception, and of the NFL Constitution and Bylaws long before then. The egregious conduct exhibited here is indefensible in the NFL.
Chase Stuart of Football Perspective on the overall likelihood of coaches in a given year winning a playoff game before they are fired:
I was having lunch with the fine folks at Sports-Reference yesterday, and the conversation turned to Kelly. I asked them whether they thought Kelly would wind up being a bust in Philly, and they wisely asked for a more precise question. So I asked: did they think Kelly would win a playoff game with Philadelphia before his tenure ended?
We all thought that was a pretty interesting question — I’m not quite sure how Vegas would set the line on it, although I imagine it would be very close to even money. But it made me wonder: at any given point in time, how likely is coach X of Team Y to win a playoff game before his tenure ends? For example, let’s flip back the clock four years ago, to the start of the 2011 season. Let’s say we asked that question of each of the 32 head coaches: what would the results be?
Interesting note here from Jimmy Kempski on an offensive lineman the Eagles might have been targeting in the third round:
Heard Eagles liked Louisville OG John Miller. Went 3 picks before PHI took Jordan Hicks. No idea if Miller would’ve been their pick instead.
— Jimmy Kempski (@JimmyKempski) July 10, 2015
Yesterday, T-Mac brought you the story of how Mark Sanchez and a bunch of Eagles trained, lived and traveled together for the week in San Diego. Here’s Zach Ertz with a look at the full squad:
Great week training with these guys in San Diego. Definitely got better. Looking forward to August 1! #FlyEaglesFly pic.twitter.com/qP674qGXQ0 — Zach Ertz (@ZERTZ_86) July 10, 2015