2015 Flashback: Five Worst Moments in Philadelphia Sports

Aug 2, 2015; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Eagles head coach Chip Kelly talks at a press conference during training camp at NovaCare Complex. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

4.) Chip Kelly vs. LeSean McCoy (and others) in Racial Saga One can criticize the return (or lack thereof) that the Eagles received in exchange for all-time leading rusher LeSean McCoy during the 2015 offseason all they want. For all of the polarizing decisions made during Chip Kelly’s short tenure as personnel manager of the Eagles, trading McCoy was probably the most notable. What will likely be remembered when looking back on the ordeal was the vitriol that came after the fact when Shady looked back on his former head coach. Almost immediately after McCoy was traded, former Eagle offensive lineman and coaching intern Tra Thomas had some eye-opening remarks about Chip Kelly.

"“One of the things that you’re seeing right now, and these are the things that you have heard from the locker room from different players is that … they feel like there is a hint of racism,” Thomas said."

That quote came courtesy of an article by Eliot Shorr-Parks of NJ.com. ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith quickly piled on the notion that Kelly’s decisions were driven by racial motives.

"“Chip Kelly makes decisions over the last couple of years that, dare I say, leave a few brothers feeling uncomfortable,” Smith said. “I think that’s fair to say. I mean, we’re sitting here looking at some of the decisions that Chip Kelly makes and I’m like what is up? What’s up with that? I mean, it’s like you’ve got to be his kind of guy, you know? And I’m like, well, Riley Cooper’s your kind of guy?”"

That sound bite came from an episode of ESPN’s program First Take days after Thomas made his remarks. As far as McCoy’s reaction to the decision to trade him to Buffalo, there were a handful of instances where he insinuated similar motives when it came to the controversial decision. The most telling commentary came in an interview with ESPN that took place in June.

"The relationship was never really great. I feel like I always respected him as a coach. I think that’s the way he runs his team. He wants the full control. You see how fast he got rid of all the good players. Especially all the good black players. He got rid of them the fastest. That’s the truth. There’s a reason. … It’s hard to explain with him. But there’s a reason he got rid of all the black players — the good ones — like that."

The prior comments came courtesy of ESPN’s Mike Rodak’s June interview with the Buffalo Bills running back. When LeSean McCoy was on the field in Eagle green, one could argue he was the most entertaining player to play in Philadelphia during Chip Kelly’s tenure. While he would never be mistaken for a role model, he loved playing in the city and no one could ever question his drive to help the team win. The fallout that came as a result of him being traded forced Eagles fans to draw a line in the sand when it came to their allegiances between the two sides. McCoy’s return to Philadelphia, months after the trade, was not without an overarching sense of tension coming from McCoy.

"“Chip can’t shake (expletive),” McCoy said Wednesday after practice in Orchard Park, N.Y. “At all – nothing. He knows this. That’s why I said it. I know him. He’s very intelligent. I can read between the lines. “Like I said: I have nothing against him, no hatred. We’re not enemies. There’s nothing for us to talk about, at all. It’s as simple as that.”"

Those comments came just before the Eagles week 14 win over the Bills. Ironically enough, that was the last ‘high point’ of the Eagles season, as they would lose their next two games to fall out of playoff contention. McCoy was a relative non-factor in the game, and expressed his frustrations afterward accordingly. No matter how many times Chip Kelly says otherwise, there will now always be those that believe wholeheartedly that his decisions come with racial undertones. McCoy opened Pandora’s Box when he even entertained the possibility, and assured Kelly’s entire coaching career has that footnote to go along with it. It was a dark ending to a memorable Eagles career and a major black eye on the organization in 2015.

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