WhitewalkerInPhilly

Someone on Philly radio made a point that the GM's on all of the other teams saw something similar last year: an excellent player coming off a great system who wasn't exactly thrilled with the new situation and wasn't buying all in. Desean Jackson was cut for nothing but dead cap space. Chip had a precedent so there was little reason to take the contract as is and offer a draft pick.

I'm sorry, has he done anything at all in the last week to provoke your ire, or has this just been simmering? Seriously, everything he's done on the field so far I like. I don't necessarily agree with how he feels on how he was treated, but he decided to not put up with some obvious bull **** from some people looking for some quick clickbait. If anything, the way he handled the media last time makes me want to like him more.

Personally, I do think this backfires on Chip. Mathis might want more money, but there is absolutely nothing that can force Mathis back if he doesn't want to play for the man.

Kinda? I think McCoy was wrong about the race thing, for the record. But Chip certainly seems to dislike players who are A) outspoken and/or B) do not fully, 100% buy into the system. It so happens that the three skill player superstars when Chip took over were McCoy, DeSean and Maclin. All three incredibly talented players were traded, cut for nothing, and allowed to walk. Cole and Harremans were also locker room leaders who were productive and got released. All together, it does suggest a certain mold Chip is looking for, and he is incredibly rigid on that.

I think it's crazy to say the we can't afford him for a year. $7M should be more than enough for a guard in the later stages of his career. If someone wants to completely outbid us, fine, but we should at least kick the tires. Remember, the trade window has been open for a long time now. 5 million and a late draft pick was too rich for 31 teams. On another note, as people have mentioned before: Chip the GM seems to be killing Chip the coach. He held all the leverage here. Mathis was opting out of voluntary practices, like Bruce Smith used to do. All he had to do to keep Pro Bowl talent was to suck it up, and wait until mandatory practices began.

I'm not sure about that. He was making $5M a year, and from what I hear from Philly radio they expect him to get less than that.

My one worry would be that Mathis is coming from a zone system, but Roman does like to play with guards pulling. I'd say chase him full speed ahead. Overhauled line for the ground and pound!

I guess we'll just have to win so much that no one has time to interview anywhere during the playoffs.

Indeed. Even Joe B said he was the best out of all three.

Strange, I thought Rex was supposed to play a lot of press coverage

I really don't want that to happen. Mostly because Cassel's biggest selling point is that we know what we're paying for. His last couple of years have been pretty dreadful stats wise.

I know I'm cherry picking, but I'm interested to note that EJ hit Hogan while throwing on the run. Again, we are likely reading too much into it, but that has been a weakness.

Rodak will also be asking if McCoy has any followup comments, on his attempt to get followup comments on Rodak's own interview.

Well, I'm of two minds. If he wins a playoff game, all will be forgiven. But he's done a lot, and stepped on a lot of toes and let go of a lot of fan favorites. If after all his wheeling and dealing, he goes 10-6 and doesn't win a playoff people will be pissed. If he does worse, pitchforks will come out. Now that he's in charge he doesn't have a GM to hide behind

Good point. Seriously, for this year, is anyone really going to clamor that Garrett Grayson is going to be immediately better than TT?

Correct here. Cary is indeed in Seattle. For the record, he is not the only player to disagree with the Chip Kelly way regarding practices. But TBH I don't know if he could be any more tired with Chip's high tempo offense doing a lot of quick 3 and outs. For the most part, Kelly is a good coach. But really, the necessary drawback to running a high speed offense is that you *have* to go fast. It's for that reason I actually think we match up rather well against the Eagles this year.

Yeah...this article isn't really great analysis. His premise is that because Tyrod hasn't done anything behind Joe Flacco, and that no one has expected to do anything, he couldn't do anything. I'm not saying he's wrong in his conclusion, but how he gets there makes no sense.

I'd argue that we should just do it anyway. But seriously folks, he would deserve it if Cyrus wins the starting job back. I know that it does fall on the player (see Manziel) but coaching is all about getting players to buy in and developing talent. Cy had an excellent resume, and the consensus was that he was ready to play. That he wasn't able to see the field could have been on the GM, but all three drafted OL players looking like busts? Some of that has to be on coaching.

The deflated ball was a nice touch.

Yeah. I know Gleason does mostly hockey, but I never feel like he knows anything about football. While Sully is negative, I walk away with a dark voice whispering "He may have a point" Never with Gleason. I can see being instantly turned off the BN sports journalists by encountering him.

To be fair, Gleason is a troll that makes Sully look like a Pollyanna ray of sunshine.

Apparently Rex has chosen to be as restrictive to the media as the rules allow.

Coaching matters. They also had Levitre with Chan, and most of the same players in 2013 and they weren't bad and Glenn had a great year. Last year you saw Glenn and Wood regress. The Chris Williams debacle began. Pears, easily the 2ND weakest point on the line, got shoved inside to guard in place of the serviceable Urbik. Three rookies with excellent reviews for physical talents (Cyrus was considered a late first, Henderson was called first round talent with a 10 cent head) failed to develop. And some point, coaching had an effect rather than talent evaluation.

Also what Marrone did. From what I've read, Roman does a combination of Gap and Zone blocking. I'm curious to see what he does.

I'll take a closer look when I get home, but I am thrilled to see more analysis and film breakdown.