ADVANCE FOR WEEKEND EDITIONS OF DEC. 14-15 – FILE – In an Aug. 24, 2013, file photo Philadelphia Eagles offensive tackle Lane Johnson (65) sets up to block at the line of scrimmage during the first half of an NFL preseason football game against the Jacksonville Jaguars in Jacksonville, Fla. Jason Peters, Evan Mathis, Jason Kelce, Todd Herremans and Lane Johnson don’t get much recognition, but coaches and teammates credit the big guys upfront for helping the offense lead the NFL in rushing. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack, file)
It’s not a surprise that most of the Eagles players are frustrated with the way their season has progressed. They were totally dominated at Lincoln Financial Field in front of their fans by a Tampa Bay team that they were favored to beat.
Most of the Eagles players haven’t had much to say to the media after the Tampa Bay game and before their battle with the Detroit Lions on Thanksgiving. The Birds starting right tackle Lane Johnson criticized the Eagles fans today. Here’s what he had to say according to Eagles24/7, which is a blog on PhillyMag.com.
“If we get down by any significant amount of points or we don’t make any first downs, we’re going to get booed. That’s just kind of how it is. It’s not really home field advantage playing here anymore. Really, that’s the truth. Cats here, they really don’t care.”
It didn’t take long for somebody to get in Johnson’s ear and he decided to apologize for what he said. He tweeted the following comments.
“My comment about the fans was out of line and I apologize. I’m just frustrated like they are about our performance on the field. The bottom line is that we need to give them a reason to cheer by scoring and winning games.”
I expect Johnson’s comments will be forgotten in the near future, if the team gets its act together and beats the Lions. If they lose, Johnson is likely to continue to hear about his criticism of Eagles fans.
Forgotten G-Man!!! That’s a Fat Chance that LJ Comments will ever be forgotten.. He said exactly what he and others players feel about the Fans which is basically inexcusable for any Professional Athlete to ever say ..
Also this Eagles Team will not Win a Game the remainder of the 2015 Season..
The Train is running off the proverbial railroad tracks..
The Chip Kelly ERA is Over and it will get worse before things get better
Adam Schefter reports The Birds and Chipster part ways at the end of this season–“sick of each other”. Good riddance!
By Matt Lombardo NJ.com
Agent for Eagles’ starter: Chip Kelly has lost the team
PHILADELPHIA — In the midst of a season that appears to be unraveling, Eagles players say they still support head coach Chip Kelly, but an agent for a starting player told NJ Advance Media on Tuesday that Kelly, in fact, has lost the loyalty of his players.
“Chip Kelly has lost the team,” said the agent, who requested anonymity because of fear of retribution against his client. “Between the losses and his bull[bleep] methods that aren’t working, I can tell you that the players have tuned him out.”
The agent also raised the possibility that at least one player was using an injury to stay off the field, because “he won’t play hurt for Chip.” The player, he said, could play with the injury but has chosen to stay on the sideline.
The comments reflect a season that is spiraling out of control after back-to-back losses at home, 20-19 to the Miami Dolphins and 45-17 to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers:
•Last week, running back Darren Sproles complained about his playing time and his limited role in Kelly’s offense as he fights for snaps with fellow running backs DeMarco Murray and Ryan Mathews.
•On Sunday, Sproles displayed his frustration with quarterback Mark Sanchez, gesturing when Sanchez overthrew him on a screen pass that seemed ready to go for big yardage in the second quarter, and then getting into a shouting match with Sanchez when a pass attempt to Sproles was intercepted and returned for a touchdown.
•After the game, linebacker Levonte David, who returned the pass for a TD, told NJ Advance Media that he was able to pick off Sanchez’s pass because of the predictability of Kelly’s offense.
•On Tuesday, Murray blew off his weekly league-mandated media session after an anonymous teammate questioned Murray’s effort in a report by The Philadelphia Inquirer.
•Tackle Lane Johnson upset fans by questioning their loyalty. When fans angrily responded on social media on Tuesday, Johnson apologized.
•ESPN’s Adam Schefter said Tuesday on Sirius Radio that he believes “the momentum and signs seem to be piling up against a Chip return to Philadelphia. I think both sides are sick of each other. I think the fans are tired of him, I think he’s tired of the situation there – just my read from afar.”
•Kelly’s sports science methods have become a point of contention in the locker room this season, especially when it comes to the sleep monitors the team had asked players to wear at night.
“It was optional if you wanted to do it,” Eagles linebacker Connor Barwin told Jenny Vrentas of Monday Morning Quarterback. “But that, I think, was a little intrusive for guys,”
According to Vrentas, the Eagles ask players to self-report their sleep instead.
In October, the NFLPA filed a grievance on behalf of the 32 teams to stop the practice without gaining prior permission from the players’ union.
MORE: Brian Westbrook unloads on Eagles, Chip Kelly in radio rant
The Eagles (4-6) are one game behind the Giants (5-5) for the NFC East lead heading into a Thanksgiving Day game against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field.
But cracks appear to be forming in the locker room, despite some players’ insistence that the Eagles haven’t quit on the season.
“Nobody’s going to quit,” Eagles linebacker Brandon Graham told NJ Advance Media Monday. “That would be stupid if you’re out there quitting. You’re not just auditioning for us, you’re auditioning for every team out there because all of us are just renting the space right here.”
Sounds like Jason Peters is the Player that won’t play hurt for Chip…
I hate Chip Kelly and what this Franchise has become…
A bunch of whining, excuse-making Coach’s & Players who feel entitled, not accountable for their poor play and poorly put together…
Good Riddance to Chip Kelly for it could not happen fast enough for me
Though I have to admit I did not see this crash & burn scenario that’s going on now this quick p, but the key is Lurie better hire a Competent and experienced GM first who then can do a proper Coach Search… Stop looking for the next great thing, and hire a man of character & integrity with a proven track record
Wow, the great experiment is over … The genius has been exposed
What took so long? Paulman and I was pointing these cracks and flaws since he’s been here. Remember Raheem whatever his name is won 10 games his first year in Tampa. LOL man oh man when will this nightmare end? But of course they’ll go out tomorrow and win by 3 TD’S haha.
Lane Johnson doesn’t have to stay here. Offensive Tackles who change teams get richly rewarded. ( Eugene Monroe, Brandon Albert, Jared Veldheer) Eagles whiffed twice with high draft picks trying to find him ( Watkins and Justice)
Rams WR Stedman Baliley was suspended four games for violating the NFL’s substance abuse policy so the Rams signed Wes Welker. Last night Stedman Bailey was shot in Miami 2 games into his suspension.
Stedman Bailey along with Tavon Austin, Jared Cook, Chris Givens, and Kenny Britt were the 5 Rams players who come onto the field with their Hands Up Don’t Shoot Solidarity Protest.
Stedman Bailey has had numerous off the Field Issues while at West Virginia and while Playing the NFL and seems to be a Guy who makes poor choices
Can you name one of these numerous off the field issues while at WVU that you speak of ?
He’s had 2 in the League 1. Perf Enhanc 2. Substance abuse (ie weed)
And how is this shyt relevant to anything Eagles?
Off fiels issues on OTHER teams don’t change the fact that your team’s culture bullshyt has quite apparently yielded a bunch of soft-ass yes-men. have any of you looked at the score today? Typical clown ass eagle fan shyt. Concerning yourselves with other team’s issues or problems. Need to worry about the sinking ship here. The Gm and coaching job by Kelly is a felony of itself.
A Real-Estate Agent Friend of Mine says Chip Kelly just put his Haddonfield Place that he just moved into “Up for Sale” already…
I agree with what people are saying on this board about Kelly being a ego maniac and making a lot of bad moves based on his stupid idea of ‘culture’. But I don’t see him going anywhere any time soon.
I don’t think the owner will fire him, and I don’t think his ego will let him quit…
In my opinion – as bad as things seem now (and they are bad), Kelly will learn from it and fix it.. I don’t like the cocky little bastard, but he is not a loser. He is like Pete Carroll – he might go away, but he’ll come back and win. If not here then someplace else in the NFL.
Irish, he just needs to Coach no way after two years did he understand NFL talent. Winning the first year was a curse it blinded everyone most importantly it blinded Lurie.
I agree with that Big. He should stay out of the personnel department…
Everyone agrees on that…..but what is the solution?
Can’t hire a GM now.
Is there a way for the Eagles to hire someone and give them some sort of nebulous title like “senior adviser”…Kelly eats a little crow at the press conference, but mostly just beams that, “We’re always looking for ways to improve our club and _______________ has such a wealth of knowledge that he can only add to our organization……”
And the man with the mystery title, behind the scenes becomes the actual gm???
Also, does Pat Shurmer get fired for selling Kelly on the twig?
Vinnie, I’d go senior advisor route first, see where his head is. If he refuses to relinquish any power Lurie just needs to eat that salary and let him walk. The major problem is the roster is devoid of talent. I personally think LSU or USC takes Lurie off the hook.
Kelly wouldn’t last 2 Years in the Physical SEC where his Finesse Offense would not do very well
Kellys best landing spot is the wide open Big 12 (U of Texas) where the Talent of HS Football is the deepest in the nation and most Schools now play that style of spread/read option Offense like Baylor, TCU, Texas A&M, Texas Tech, SMU, U of Houston, etc, etc and The Longhorns Boosters, etc will unload the $$$$ truck and pay $7.5 Million to Kelly in a heartbeat to become relevant again inCollege Football where they have fallen on hard times in their own State
USC in the wide open Pac-10 is an option but sources state that many of the USC Alumni are not very enamored with Chip Kelly and are concerned with his Recruiting Violations & baggage he had while at Oregon
Just get his ass out of Philly, I don’t care where the Genuis goes next.
man I hope you’re right.
Chip Kelly is getting $6.5 million a year in Philly.
Jim Harbaugh is getting $5 million a year in Michigan.
Chip Kelly is not taking that big of a pay cut to voluntarily leave.
Detroit Lions will go hard after Jim Harbaugh and LSU’s Les Miles (who is also from Michigan)
Jim Harbaugh will also be courted heavily by the Indy Colts where he played
The lions have a coach with proven nfl experience. The owner made the smart decision by firing the ineffective off coord, gm, and president. Their decisive owner clearly saw issues other than hc. Apparently they walk the walk in detroit, where we just talk the talk here in philly.