The Eagles have interestingly not moved away from wide receiver Riley Cooper who was caught on video using a racial slur. Decisions and moves like this have drawn attention from the likes of Stephen A. Smith who is now questioning the direction in which Chip Kelly is taking the team, "Chip Kelly makes decisions over the last couple of years that dare I say leave a few brothas feeling uncomfortable. I think that’s fair to say" (Glasspiegel, 2015, para. 2).
Although Kelly has signed players who are African American in the meantime, Smith believes that there is a certain type of guy Kelly gravitates to, "It’s like you gotta be his kinda guy, you know? And when Riley Cooper’s your kind of guy… Let’s get beyond the system though, the operative word is culture. The culture is what resonates with me more profoundly because I’m looking at Chip Kelly and I’m like … really?" (Glasspiegel, 2015, para. 2).
Smith's final thought is simple, "I’m gonna repeat this. Gone: LeSean McCoy, Jeremy Maclin, ya know, DeSean Jackson. Staying: Riley Cooper" (Glasspiegel, 2015, para. 2).
So do you think Smith is on to something with his thoughts? Do you think Kelly makes decisions based on race? Does the fact that they have signed players like DeMarco Murray disprove this thought? What's your take on the decisions to move away from a troubled player like DeSean Jackson while holding on to Riley Cooper?
References:
Glasspiegel, R. (2015, March 9). Stephen A. Smith: Chip Kelly's Decisions Have Left "A few brothers feeling uncomfortable". The Big Lead. Retrieved from http://thebiglead.com/2015/03/09/stephen-a-smith-chip-kellys-decisions-have-left-a-few-brothers-feeling-uncomfortable/
By: Eric Vendemia
Although Kelly has signed players who are African American in the meantime, Smith believes that there is a certain type of guy Kelly gravitates to, "It’s like you gotta be his kinda guy, you know? And when Riley Cooper’s your kind of guy… Let’s get beyond the system though, the operative word is culture. The culture is what resonates with me more profoundly because I’m looking at Chip Kelly and I’m like … really?" (Glasspiegel, 2015, para. 2).
Smith's final thought is simple, "I’m gonna repeat this. Gone: LeSean McCoy, Jeremy Maclin, ya know, DeSean Jackson. Staying: Riley Cooper" (Glasspiegel, 2015, para. 2).
So do you think Smith is on to something with his thoughts? Do you think Kelly makes decisions based on race? Does the fact that they have signed players like DeMarco Murray disprove this thought? What's your take on the decisions to move away from a troubled player like DeSean Jackson while holding on to Riley Cooper?
References:
Glasspiegel, R. (2015, March 9). Stephen A. Smith: Chip Kelly's Decisions Have Left "A few brothers feeling uncomfortable". The Big Lead. Retrieved from http://thebiglead.com/2015/03/09/stephen-a-smith-chip-kellys-decisions-have-left-a-few-brothers-feeling-uncomfortable/
By: Eric Vendemia
I think Smith could be on to something but I would like to think that is not true. Coaches recruit based on what their program needs. I know our coach has recruited based not only on performance but if they will fit into the culture of the program. Some coaches look at if the player will be a trouble maker or cause issues within the team. Others look for the type of player. (intense, team first, things of that nature) The more our society evolves the less I think race has to do with decisions. I agree with decisions to move away from troubled players. It is amazing what one bad egg can do to a team.
ReplyDeleteCourtney Cox
I believe that a lot of this has stemmed from what sources said after the team decided to not pursue DeSean Jackson. Sources said that the Eagles’ decision had little to do with his on the field performance and had more to do with his off the field issues. Jackson is said to be associated with a LA street gang. The Eagles believed that his association with the said gang has led to many off the field issues with Jackson. Jackson was missing meetings, had a bad attitude, inconsistent work ethic, and a lack of chemistry with Kelly. People believe, mainly Stephen A Smith, that this reason for dropping Jackson, while keeping Cooper after his racist outburst is racist. I also believe that Stephen A Smith is all about creating drama. Him and Skip Bayless do not make good, knowledgeable points for the most part. Whenever they speak they are creating drama and are trying to rile people up.
ReplyDeleteI am a huge fan of first take, I watch it every chance I get and really enjoy both Stephen A and Skip Bayless's points of view. I do think Stephen A could be on to something in reference to when he said it seems that Chip Kelly gravitates to his kinda guy but o do not believe Stephen A was attempting to make Chip Kelly out to be a racist. I do not believe Chip makes decisions based on race, I think Stephen A was more so questioning the injustice of the situation and if anything implying white privilege but that doesn't mean someone is racist. I think signing Murray doesn't prove nor disprove anything because I really don't believe Stephen A was implying racism. I think the Eagles decision to hold on to Cooper and let go of Desean Jackson had its own reasons that most of us aren't qualified to speak on. I didn't necessarily agree with letting Jackson go but then again I don't know exactly what played into that decision. Not to mention that Cooper has been forgiven and his teammates don't seem to mind, but I do recall McCoy saying he had an issue with it even after he apologized and was forgiven. So maybe that played a role in moving McCoy.
ReplyDeleteJonathan Robinson
I think these comments by Stephen A. are blasphemy. Chip Kelley has coached at the highest level of college football and now is in the NFL. There are African American players that he recruited to play at Oregon and there are African American players he uses on his NFL team. Stephen A. saying that some of these players are not "his kind of guys" is absolutely ACCURATE. That is the great aspect of the NFL, if players don't fit your culture and the way you want your players to play, you can get rid of them.
ReplyDeleteOverall, people look at Chip Kelly's moves this off season and think they are wrong, but in reality, he knows exactly how he is trying to mold his team. And he is doing so with not only white players, but also African Americans.
Derek Shay