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Chip Kelly Addresses LeSean McCoy's Recent Comments Ahead of Bills vs. Eagles

Tyler Conway@jtylerconwayX.com LogoFeatured ColumnistDecember 10, 2015

Philadelphia Eagles head coach Chip Kelly speaks to the media after beating the New England Patriots 35-28 in an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 6, 2015, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
Steven Senne/Associated Press

Philadelphia Eagles head coach Chip Kelly is open to shaking LeSean McCoy's hand, but he acknowledged Thursday he understands why his former running back might not be so receptive.

"That's his choice and I understand it," Kelly said, per Albert Breer of NFL Network. "And how he was traded wasn't handled well."

Kelly expanded to give details on what may have led to the bad blood, saying he was unable to call McCoy before news of his trade to the Buffalo Bills leaked. The Eagles coach said he was under the impression the deal would not go through until the following morning.

"I felt bad that I didn't get a chance to talk to LeSean McCoy when he was traded," Kelly said. "I talk to every player before they leave.

"LeSean was pissed, and he has a right to be pissed," Kelly continued, per Matt Lombardo of NJ.com. "I understand where he's coming from. It was handled wrong."

McCoy, 27, drew headlines earlier this week when he said he'd refuse to shake Kelly's hand, per Mike Rodak and Phil Sheridan of ESPN.com:

Listen, man, Chip can't shake s--- at all. Nothing. He knows this. That's why [he] 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. I won't say anything wrong to him. But there's nothing for us to talk about, at all. Simple as that.

The Eagles sent McCoy to the Bills during the offseason in exchange for linebacker Kiko Alonso. The former Pitt star excelled in Kelly's system, compiling 2,926 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns over their two seasons together, along with 80 receptions for 694 yards and two touchdowns, and earning consecutive Pro Bowl berths. Alonso has made just 20 tackles all season since coming over from Buffalo, while McCoy is on his way to another 1,000-yard campaign, assuming health.

Despite taking the obvious loss in terms of production, Kelly defended the move from a financial standpoint, per Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk:

I think we did the right thing at the time. We traded an outstanding running back for a linebacker, but we also traded $700,000 for $11.9 million. With all those situations, there's money involved. ... So however you look at it, whether it gave us an opportunity to get somebody defensively with that extra money, or it gave us an opportunity because we had to free up money to get Sam [Bradford]. It was a tough decision, but with all those guys we let go this year who were integral to my first two years here, those decisions were made by money. Those decisions weren't made because we don't think they're good football players or we don't think they're good people. I think people kind of forget that. When you look at it, that's a lot of money. We have three running backs this year who their salary cap hit this year is $11.1 million. We had one guy making $11.9 million.

Now one could easily note that Kelly's moves may wind up creating more long-term harm than short-term gain. DeMarco Murray's base salary skyrockets from $1 million in 2015 to $7 million next season, per Spotrac. Ryan Mathews will have a base of $3 million. Meanwhile, the Bills signed McCoy to a new deal that will keep his cap hit under $10 million for each of the next four seasons.

Given Murray's struggles, it's pretty easy to look back and say perhaps Kelly should have looked to extend McCoy rather than cut bait.

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