Kelly, Eagles Again Dealing With Coaching Rumors
By Ed Benkin
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- The Philadelphia Eagles have enough on their minds these days. Now, they'll also have to put up with the annual rumors about their head coach.
Ever since Chip Kelly became the head coach of the Eagles, rumors have surfaced about Kelly leaving Philadelphia and returning to college coaching. The rumors appeared to have intensified this season thanks to the recent struggles of his team. The Eagles are 4-7 after a pair of embarrassing losses, and Kelly's coaching methods have come into question. However the coach has a simple message to everyone.
Don't believe everything you hear.
"I'm not involved in any college jobs," said Kelly. "I said it before. The same thing happened a year ago with Florida. I have great respect for all of those schools. I think USC just hired a coach who is a heck of a coach, but I haven't been involved with any jobs and I haven't discussed anything with any colleges."
USC was specifically addressed by Kelly on Monday. A report surfaced that Kelly had met with USC officials in Philadelphia on Friday about their head coaching vacancy. The school has removed the interim tag from Clay Helton and made him the permanent head coach. Kelly denied talking to anyone from the Southern California school and said he wasn't even in Philadelphia on Friday.
"I've never spoken to anybody from USC," Kelly said. "I've never emailed anybody from USC. I never got a phone call from anybody from USC. I never had any contact with Southern California."
Even if Kelly's statements are true, it still means the coach and his players will have to deal with the seemingly never-ending rumors about Kelly's future. The Eagles don't need any more distractions with their season spiraling out of control. However, Kelly insists the rumors are never a distraction in the locker room.
"There are so many things that are written and said nowadays," said Kelly. "It's ridiculous. A lot of times, we just chuckle and laugh, to be honest with you. It's crazy."
Some wonder if it will be in Kelly's hands as far as if he will be back after the season. The Eagles have five games remaining, and more blowouts could cause Jeffrey Lurie to take a long, hard look at the direction his football team is heading. Meanwhile, Kelly continues to insist he has no plans to leave on his own, but understands the rumors will continue to fly as the season comes to an end.
"It's kind of sad that everybody can just write whatever they want or say whatever they want," Kelly said. "Then everybody takes it as the truth. It's the world we live in, but if you have to sit there every single day and combat everything that comes out, I think you're wasting time."