Kelly, Mariota 'Must Reunite' Article By Oregon Writer Gives Hope
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) --- Hope is a dangerous thing. It is Red's advice to Andy Dufresne in The Shawshank Redemption.
Well, John Canzano of The Oregonian just gave Philadelphia hope for Marcus Mariota.
In his new must-read column titled, 'Chip Kelly must find a way to reunite his act with Marcus Mariota in the NFL', Canzano explains why both parties---Kelly and Mariota---need each other. And why it's not out of the realm of possibility, like many believe.
"Give up picks," Canzano writes. "Give up players. Even give up [LeSean] McCoy and [Nick] Foles if you have to do it. Kelly can win with a backfield that includes Chris Polk and whoever else he can find. But what Kelly can't do is let the quarterback who is ideal for what he wants to accomplish fall into the hands of someone who doesn't know what to do with him.
"Mariota needs it.
"Kelly needs it.
"The rest of us wouldn't take our eyes off it."
The Eagles have the 20th pick in the 2015 NFL Draft. Mariota, unfortunately for the Eagles, is projected to be a top-three pick and his combine numbers should only help him. So how can this match even happen?
"There's a fair chance Tampa Bay will try to sell season tickets by passing on Mariota at No. 1 and selecting Jameis Winston," Canzano wrote. "What we'll find out is whether Tennessee, picking at No. 2, really does like Zach Mettenberger as much as it says. If so, given their glaring overall needs, they're a potential trade partner for the Eagles."
No one has been a louder advocate for Mariota in Philly than 94WIP Morning Show host Angelo Cataldi. Cataldi ate up Canzano's take, so much so, he gave his listeners a reading assignment.
"I'm not alone!" Cataldi exclaimed during his show on Thursday morning. "I'm gonna do something a little weird here, Rhea [Hughes], because I don't know many people that listen to our show have time to go to and read an article. But if you do, I'm telling you [caller] Rick, by the end of that column you will want Mariota. Nothing else will be as important to you as Mariota. Remember, this guy [Canzano] covered Chip when he was the coach there [at Oregon], covered Mariota the whole time Mariota was there, and he writes why it has to happen and he thinks it will happen."
"You can't read this column without thinking they're going to get him and be thrilled about it!"
Even Cataldi's co-host Rhea Hughes, who has the opposing view point that the Eagles don't necessarily need the Heisman Trophy winning quarterback, admits Canzano's article got her thinking.
"I'm not completely sold," Hughes said,"But he makes a compelling article."
Read John Canzano's article here.
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