The Eagles got some bad news today. Sam Bradford, who suffered a concussion and separated shoulder last week, has been ruled out for this week and next week at least, per NJ.com. No one should be surprised by yet another injury to Bradford, who missed more than half of 2013 and all of 2014 with torn ACLs.
The injury, as well as Philadelphia’s 4-5 record, serve to prove that Chip Kelly doesn’t know what he’s doing. Kelly was handed the reins as a general manager in addition to his coaching duties, and it hasn’t gone well. Here are just three examples of Kelly’s questionable qualifications.
Tim Tebow Must Replace Sam Bradford
He Made The Most Boring Trade Ever
Before the season started Kelly made a whirlwind of moves. Some were smart, some dumb, and most just bewildering. One of them was to trade Nick Foles plus a second-round pick for Bradford, a former No. 1 overall pick. The move seemed like a lateral one at best in terms of talent. For all Bradford’s pedigree, Foles had a more impressive resume.
As it turned out, the trade sucked for all involved. Foles, who once threw 27 touchdowns against two picks in a season, has already been benched. Rams fans will now be subjected to Case Keenum…cool. Bradford has continued to suffer from an allergy to deep passes, and led the Eagles to a sub-.500 record. He’s also hurt again, which means that Eagles fans have to see Mark Sanchez. Enjoy the mostly competent performances punctuated by crippling interceptions.
Darren McFadden Is Proving DeMarco Murray Was Expendable
He Signed DeMarco Murray To Big Money
This is NOT meant to bash Kelly for trading LeSean McCoy for LB Kiko Alonso, whom Kelly was familiar with at Oregon and is a good player. Running back is a fungible position, and star power is nice, but not necessary.
This would’ve been an average move at worst if he just stuck with Ryan Mathews as the lead back, while mixing in Darren Sproles. Instead, he went out and signed Murray for more money than McCoy would have made, the year after he set a career-high in carries, in a system he isn’t suited for. This season Mathews has outperformed Murray consistently, except Kelly won’t admit defeat and reverse the percentages of their backfield.
He Didn’t Keep Jeremy Maclin
Maclin’s stat line for the Chiefs is as follows: 45 catches, 583 yards, two touchdowns. It’s nothing spectacular, but it’s pretty solid in the Chiefs offense, perhaps the only one with a quarterback (Alex Smith) who throws it deep less than Bradford.
Kelly planned to turn to Jordan Matthews as the lead receiver, with rookie Nelson Agholor assuming Maclin’s role down the field. Matthews has been inconsistent though, and Agholor invisible. Riley Cooper and Josh Huff are playing bigger roles than Agholor, and that’s one reason why Philly’s offense is completely disjointed.
These are all personnel problems, and that’s before the strange decision to just let guard Evan Mathis walk despite the importance of continuity in such a fast-paced offense. If the Eagles miss the postseason, Kelly can only look in the mirror.
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