Eagles head coach Chip Kelly refuses to bring in any players who will violate the culture of team first. He wants his players to exhibit character both on and off the field, that’s why I can’t help but wonder if he’s violating his own standards by signing troubled offensive guard John Moffitt to a one-year deal. Kelly must have gotten a thumbs up from someone whom he trusts in order to sign Moffitt.
The young guard is coming out of retirement after a year after walking away from the game. He’s trying to rebuild both his career and his life after having a bought with substance abuse.
In November of 2013, he sent out this retirement tweet on Twitter. “Football was fun but my head hurts-haha kidding roger goodell. I’m on to new things, thanks to everyone along the way!!!”
His retirement decision was made in 2013 after playing two games with the Denver Broncos. He walked out on the Broncos in what turned out to be a Super Bowl season for them.
In 2014, Moffitt was away from football but he wasn’t away from the headlines. In March of last year in California, he was arrested for urinating in public, and the possession of marijuana, cocaine and ecstasy. The young offensive guard pleaded the case down and had to take some substance abuse classes.
Moffitt was a 3rd round draft pick of the Seattle in 2011. He started 15 games during his two years with the Seahawks, but he was suspended for four games in his rookie season for using performance enhancing drugs.
Muffitt has been working out with Fox Sports NFL guy Jay Glazer, who was also working out Eagles right tackle, Lane Johnson. Glazer tweeted his support of Moffitt on June 17th.
“I have never been so proud of a guy I’ve trained than I am of John Moffitt. Retired two years ago (because) he knew he had drug issues, took time to go to rehab, clean up his life, beat his demons and he has taken his life back!”
Who knows maybe both Johnson and Glazer put good words in for Moffitt.
Check out this 2013 ESPN.com article about Moffitt and his retirement. One thing’s for sure, he’s had a serious change of mind.
“I just really thought about it and decided I’m not happy. I’m not happy at all,” Moffitt told The Associated Press in a phone interview from Seattle. “And I think it’s really madness to risk your body, risk your well-being and risk your happiness for money.
“Everybody, they just don’t get it and they think it’s crazy. But I think what I was doing is crazy.”
He said he didn’t want to see things through this season for the shot at a Super Bowl.
“I don’t care about the Super Bowl. I don’t,” Moffitt insisted. “I used to. I mean, anytime I played this game, I gave my heart to it, and I’m a person that does think with his heart. … I don’t need the Super Bowl experience. I played in great stadiums, and I played against great players. And I had that experience, and it’s enough.”
The Broncos acquired Moffitt on Aug. 20 from the Seahawks after he’d lost out on one of two starting guard spots in Seattle during training camp. He played in two games for the Broncos (7-1).
Moffitt, 27, made about $1.8 million before taxes in his two and a half seasons in the NFL.
“I’ve saved enough. It’s not like I’m sitting here and I’m a millionaire,” he said. “That’s what I kind of realized. I’m sitting here and I got to this point and I was like, what is the number that you need? How much do you really need? What do you want in life? And I decided that I don’t really need to be a millionaire.
“I just want to be happy. And I find that people that have the least in life are sometimes the happiest. And I don’t have the least in life. I have enough in life. And I won’t sacrifice my health for that.”
Moffitt stressed that he’s not passing judgment on his former colleagues, saying, “This is all my personal stuff, and I respect this game and I respect the men in this game.”
Although Moffitt never had a history of concussions, he acknowledged all the blows he sustained in practices and games concerned him.
“I’m not trying to be the poster boy for, ‘Oh, I thought I should leave because of concussions.’ I’m just saying, it’s a valid point,” Moffitt said. “I love the game and I respect the game, and everybody who plays it knows what they risk, and I knew what I risked when I played, and I’m no longer willing to risk it.”
Hopefully, Moffitt will be able to put his life and career back together. He needs the Eagles and the Eagles need him.
This is a nice low risk high reward pickup this late in the offseason. Provides depth and an alternative to Tobin and Babre.
The Eagles would not have Pursued Moffitt if they didn’t have major concerns
about their Current Guard Situation in terms of Depth
John Moffitt “Quit” the Broncos (Retirement) for he had a serious Drug Addiction and Legal Issues to Resolve first and foremost before worrying about Playing Football… Word is that he has worked hard over the last 2 Years in becoming Sober, Taking care of his Body and Mind while paying the consequences of his Legal situations ..
Physically, he was a Strong Rush Blocker who excelled in the Zone-Blocking Run Schemes that he played while at the University of Wisconsin in College and even a similar style in both Seattle & Denver
Pass Blocking was not his strength and an area where he needed improvement… How is his Body, Strength and Flexibility after not playing for 2 Years is anyones guess… Moffitt has been working out for the past 5-6 Months with NFL Insider Jay Glazer and his Group down in Florida and Glazer has marveled on how Moffitt has turned his life around both mentally and physically during these last 5-6 months.. How quickly can Moffitt get back to the basics of Football and then learn the Eagles System will be key if he has any chance of returning to the NFL.. He has been given this Opportunity which may be his final chance.. If he’s head is on straight and he’s Physically up to the task, John Moffitt will compete for a Starters Spot at RG with Matt Tobin or at least a Quality Back-up.. Remember the Eagles did Sign Guard Wheeler off the streets a couple weeks ago and now Moffitt which just doesn’t give me a whole lot of Confidence in Tobin, Gardner, Dennis Kelly or Kevin Graf, or the other Players they brought to OTA’s..
Wait? aren’t you the guy who whined that they didn’t draft a guard in the third? well they just drafted one who actually has 20 nfl games of experience and they got a LB in the third as well…. i thought you considered yourself a genius at constructing a roster?
are they concerned about depth at guard? YES– are they AND EVERY TEAM IN FOOTBALL concerned about depth at every position YES!
This as someone said is low risk/high reward possibility- Chip (and every coach) is always looking to add guys– its the way the NFL is- watch the waiver wires on a daily basis- moves like this are nothing…
I would much rather take a chance on a 3rd Round Draft Pick who is coming off 2-3 Years of continuous Play and recent Tape who is Coachable and Reliable over a Player who hasn’t suited up in 2 Seasons and has Drug Addiction & Multiple Legal Problems in the Past if that’s what your asking me… Even a 5th Grader knows this HAC….
For the Record I was very High on Guard John Moffitt out of College a few Years Back per my old Draft Notes, but that doesn’t mean squat in 2015
He’ll come out and compete like this Wheeler guy that failed for 3 Teams who all were dying for OL Help which again goes back to my larger point that the Eagles could not feel very comfortable about their Guard Situation…
sports is chock full of guys who have seen the light and become players– chris carter comes to mind-
paul in the real world you have to make choices– you don’t get 15 draft picks a year– maybe if you didn’t always see things from the negative you might say, the eagles were keeping tabs on Moffit out at Jay Glazer’s gym- saw him as a viable option and not draft a guy that THEY DON’T LIKE– guy has 20 games of NFL game tape- seen the error of his ways and could be the feel good story of the league– adopt the culture, see the light etc..
I still don’t get why you think an NFL team should draft a guy THEY DON’T LIKE!
But Djax is a bad guy a nobody. Dude put the bong down.
Who cares about Jackson? Dude is a loser…
This Moffitt guy is like the 90th man on the roster.
Cigar are you serious?
Like IzzellJenkins said, low risk, high reward. Give the guy credit for turning his life around. We definitely need all the help at G, so let’s hope Moffitt makes the team and contributes in a big way this year.
Any rumblings on the airwaves in Philly about the kid Isiah Battle from Clemson who has entered the supplemental draft for next week? Supposed to be a solid kid preferably for a zone blocking scheme.
Any Relation to John Battle who starred for the University of Illinois back in the 80’s If my memory serves me well..
High character guy. Fits the culture lol. Only when convienient
He is a quitting alcoholic drug addict. no matter how you slice it. High character my ass.
Funny how on this site only certain people deserve a second chance.
If this guy slips or isn’t any good it’s a no cost cut… Not sure why this is news
Was there not an article on this very site titled If Kelly has success it’s bad news for problem players?
That was stupid. I believe that all the crap people make up about culture is open to interpretation and Kelly has his own unique view of it. He doesn’t need 53 church going choir boys, to him culture means on the same page, but in etc