Chip Kelly was the hottest coaching candidate in the NFL two years ago when the Philadelphia Eagles finally pried him from the University of Oregon. Nearing the end of his second season in Philly, Kelly looks to like a smart investment. The Eagles have gone 19-9 since his arrival, winning the NFC East in 2013 and leading it again in '14.
Florida Gators will reportedly contact Chip Kelly, Lions not considering Ray Rice and other NFL News
Meanwhile, Nick Foles’ broken clavicle needs more time to heal.
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Naturally, that success coupled with his track record in college football makes him the subject of frequent rumors. His name is often thrown out when any major vacancy pops open. That includes the University of Florida which will reportedly contact Kelly to “gauge his interest” according to Mark Farzetta of CBS Philly.
Kelly's up-tempo offensive approach certainly would be a fun addition to the SEC, but it's difficult to see him actually landing there. Florida athletic director Jeremy Foley may very well be interested in Kelly. A lot of teams would likely be interested in Kelly. But Kelly has given no indication that he's interested in leaving Philadelphia or returning to college football. At the college level, Kelly would have to spend a large percentage of his time recruiting players. In the NFL he can invest that time towards game planning and practice. Kelly has previously said one of the main advantages of coaching in the NFL is not having to recruit.
Bleeding Green Nation analyzed the latest Kelly rumor and came to a very succinct answer:
When Ray Rice was reinstated last week, one of the immediate questions raised was where he might land. Certainly, a player who has a history of domestic violence isn’t a fit in many places as teams look to avoid the PR nightmare that could accompany his signing. Still, some tailback-needy team might consider Rice, and it didn’t take long for the Detroit Lions to be connected with him.
Part of the reason Detroit was thought to be interested is head coach Jim Caldwell, Rice's offensive coordinator from 2012-13 in Baltimore. The Lions also have issues at the position, with Reggie Bush missing several weeks with an ankle injury and Joique Bell struggling. However, The Detroit News reports that the team isn't interested right now.
According to Caldwell, Rice will get a second chance in the NFL "at some point," but he admitted he didn't know when. Rice hasn't played since the Ravens' second preseason game on August 16.
Nick Foles still recovering from broken collarbone
Quarterback Nick Foles has been sidelined with a broken collarbone since the Eagles' Week 9 tilt with the Houston Texans. The injury was expected to knock him out for six to eight weeks, placing his return sometime near the end of December. That timetable hasn't changed according to CSN Philly as a CT scan Friday showed that the clavicle still has not healed.
During Foles' absence, free agent addition Mark Sanchez has played well in his stead, going 3-1 in the process. Sanchez's success allows Philadelphia to take a cautious approach to Foles' health, perhaps giving him the entire eight weeks to heal. Should that happen, it seems very unlikely that the Eagles would make the switch back to Foles during the season. Quarterback changes are always hard on a team, and Sanchez hasn't given the Eagles a reason to believe they can't win with him.
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