Jeffrey Lurie: 'My Call' On GM Change, We Did Not Have Players To Maximize Chip Kelly
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) --- Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie spoke publicly for the first time on Tuesday at the NFL owners meetings, since the franchise's front-office overhaul.
Lurie was candid discussing the power changes and the recent moves made by Chip Kelly in what Sports Illustrated's Peter King called a "pit-bullish" session.
"It was my call about the change of GM," Lurie said. "I changed my mind about Howie [Roseman] being GM of the team. Chip had a vision of how we could get from good to great.
"We've gotta be not risk-averse," he continued. "Our whole thing is not to be satisfied with 10-6, 10-6."
As for all of the personnel changes, Lurie supports Kelly while admitting it was tough to see some guys go.
"When you're going from good to great, you have to take some gambles," Lurie said. "It's very difficult to trade players you are very fond of."
Kelly said he would not mortgage the future for Marcus Mariota, but Lurie didn't necessarily agree with that sentiment. He said it depends on the player, admitting he isn't sure how good Mariota will be.
"It's great to mortgage future for Peyton Manning, not for Ryan Leaf," he said. "It's great to mortgage the future for Donovan McNabb, but not for Tim Couch or Cade McNown...It's about the people."
Finally, Lurie said that Kelly has always admired "one-cut runners" in regards to trading LeSean McCoy. Lurie said McCoy was not Kelly's style of runner.
As for acquiring Sam Bradford, Lurie said, "We thought when Bradford came out he was the best QB prospect since Peyton Manning."
Lurie was essentially grilled for 40-minutes by the media, but afterwards he was a good sport.
"Oh, that doesn't faze me," Lurie said. "Not at all. I could do that for two hours. That's just the way it is in Philadelphia."
94WIP's Howard Eskin gave his thoughts about Lurie's comments on 94WIP's Innes And Bruno Show.
"There is no question in my mind that Chip Kelly was involved in the firing of Howie Roseman," Eskin said. "So that's what I took away. Obviously, he believes in Chip Kelly so he's going to allow him to do what he wants to do with his people.
"You want to go from good to great and you take chances," Eskin continued. "Somewhere along the way, I get the sense, that Howie [Roseman] wasn't a football guy. That's my impression of what Chip [Kelly] thought."
