When asked Tuesday if he saw any connection between how he handled the Cooper situation and the recent claims by former players, Kelly said “there could be”.
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Here’s the full text of Boykin’s comment from a CSNPhilly.com article from Geoff Mosher, after Boykin initially said that Kelly was “uncomfortable around grown men of our culture”.
With the Steelers working on more zone coverages with their defensive backs, Boykin’s ability to make plays on the ball could make him a welcome addition. “He likes to be in total control of everything“. I don’t just walk around and say, ‘Hey, let me go grab him and sit down and have coffee together.’ When they get here, they’re doing stuff. But can we stop the Kelly-is-racist witch hunt? I think a lot of players probably have a tough time relating to Chip…. “Didn’t say anything”.
Racism has, however, been an accusation bandied about on the periphery of discussion in light of some of the head-scratching moves that he has made since taking over the team, which has included excising the roster of some of ostensibly its best players, who happened to be black. Sanchez said his knee felt strong. “(During stretching) guys were like, ‘Sanchez, ain’t you Mexican?
You don’t see Bradford straining on throws. “We got black guys, white guys, Polynesian guys. It’s not even worth talking”.
“Barring any major setbacks or anything”, he said, “I feel great about that”. It’s the fact that one person isn’t bigger than the rest of the team. And no player is bigger than the team.
He was called into Eagles head coach Chip Kelly’s office Saturday night and told he was traded to the Steelers for a conditional fifth-round draft pick in 2016. “But I don’t want to speak on him too much because I just want him to be a surprise to everybody”. There are several candidates to replace Boykin.
Drafted in the sixth round last May by Philadelphia, Shepherd consistently has impressed the Eagles coaches throughout the spring and summer and appears to be in line to get the first crack at the team’s starting nickel back position heading into the 2015 season.
This is not a matter of race, I believe, however, but a matter of culture, as Boykin has said. He had a hamstring.
How many other players have shared that thought with you?
“(Kelly) gave me an opportunity to play”, Boykin said.
Kelly said linebacker Mychal Kendricks isn’t going anywhere. Kelly shot that down right away.
Boykin said he has heard nothing but good things about Tomlin. “And so the doctors, I talked to them yesterday about it and they were cool with it, so we’re going to go without one”.
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And while Jenkins wears his leadership badge with honor, there’s irony in his being the chosen one, because he doesn’t always agree with Kelly and is not afraid to tell him. After sitting down with defensive coordinator Bill Davis, secondary coach Cory Undlin and personnel man Ed Marynowitz to consider the offer, Kelly decided it was better to get value for Boykin now rather than wait until the end of training camp. “I respect him as a person, but as a player, we didn’t have that connection”. It’s to be expected.
