Chip Kelly: Evan Mathis' Agent 'Asked For Release On Multiple Occasions'
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- After a long contract dispute between the Eagles and Pro Bowl guard Evan Mathis, the 33-year-old veteran was released last week.
Eagles head coach Chip Kelly explained the decision for the first time on Tuesday morning, before the start of mandatory mini-camp.
"We were asked by his agent, for a release on multiple occasions," Kelly admitted. "So, we weren't going to come to a conclusion in terms of a contract extension. We weren't going to extend any contract or adjust any contract, so we granted what his agent asked for.
Mathis signed a five-year, $25.5 million extension in 2012 with the Eagles. He was slated to earn a base salary of $5.5 million and $6 million, respectively, over the next two seasons in Philadelphia.
Kelly says Mathis wasn't expected to honor his contract.
"That conversation had gone on for a long time," Kelly said, when asked if Mathis was going to honor his deal. "It wasn't addressed to us that that was going to happen, so that's what we did moving forward.
"They obviously wanted a new contract, we weren't going to give him a new contract, they asked for the release, so we released him."
Often times players get injured during Training Camp. Did Kelly ever think about waiting until August to try to trade Mathis?
"Maybe. We discussed everything. We just felt---he didn't want to be here," Kelly explained. "I want Evan to get whatever he can get and I hope it works out for him. He was great for us in the two years we had him and I like Evan a lot. If he wants to get a release to see if he can get what he can get better, then we released him."
As far as on the field goes, Kelly understand the Eagles have lost a very talented player.
"We obviously are down a good football player, but I mean we're confident in the guys we have and that's why we made the decision we made."