Will he stay or will he go? Oregon's Chip Kelly flirts with the NFL

by Paragon SC on Jan 23, 2012 5:01 AM PST in General Pac-12

Well, that must have been an interesting 8-10 hours last night.

While many of us were watching the NFC Championship game Twitter blew up with reports that Chip Kelly was talking to Tampa Bay.

I went to bed as all sorts of speculation was saying that Kelly took the job...What happened?

Of course speculation immediately centered around the reason(s) as to why Kelly would bolt so close to signing day.

Many think it has to do with the NCAA. I am not one of those for a very simple and obvious reason...The NCAA has not sent a notice of allegations to UO, let alone set a date for the COI to meet. All they have sent so far is a letter of inquiry. We can speculate all we want about what we might think happened between Kelly and Willie Lyles but until the NCAA tips their hand its all speculation.

Kelly's flirtation with the NFL is natural.

Kelly is the flavor of the month after his big win in the Rose Bowl and all the attention that UO has received over the past 24-36 months.

The NFL is looking for the next hot thing.

USC fans have been down this road before with Pete Carroll...the only difference there is that Pete Carroll had a history with the NFL, we all knew that at some point he was going to scratch that NFL itch. Kelly, to my knowledge, has never been a part of an NFL staff (correct me if I am wrong, I don't fell like trying to look it up). I have no doubt that Chip Kelly wanted this, but as things started to break you can believe pressure was brought to bear on him to make a decision quick.

I am sure that Uncle Phil got on the phone.

The more intriguing aspect of this is that it is going on so close to national signing day. I realize there is never a good time, but if Kelly was going to go to the NFL he could have a number of these conversations right after the the Ducks Rose Bowl win. It doesn't take much to hammer out a deal. Because Kelly doesn't have an NFL track record he has little leverage unlike Jeff Fisher who has an NFL pedigree.

Anyway, it makes for interesting theater.

Kelly can stay or go, it really doesn't matter...but with Kelly's known negative recruiting tactics the tables will now be turned. He will have some explaining to do.

If you want to read further here are some links...

"Sources: Chip Kelly changes his mind, will stay at Oregon" | The Register-Guard

Chip Kelly pulling a double-reverse pass with the Buccaneers, right? | OregonLive.com

Chip Kelly to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers? Then what? | OregonLive.com

"Schroeder: Chip Kelly’s dream, for now, is in Eugene" | The Register-Guard

Just another day in the world of college football......

Tweet Comment 9 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

Interesting theater, indeed

thanks to your members who came over and empathized. I appreciated it

scrappy

by Honka Playboy on Jan 23, 2012 6:39 AM PST reply actions

I'm glad Kelly had a change of heart

I enjoy watching Oregon play and it’s nice to finally have another consistently successful program in the conference. Our November 3rd date would have lost a lot of appeal if Oregon had a new coach (unless the Ducks somehow managed to replace him with Chris Petersen, that would be scary). Plus I just can’t see Kelly’s offense working out in the NFL. Too much speed and discipline among defensive players in the NFL for his offense to win.

Fight on!

by Shackleford on Jan 23, 2012 1:22 PM PST up reply actions

Looks like the money wasn't right

But would his fast pace offense work in the nfl, nah it didn’t work for Sam Whise and the Bengals.

Yes we can't play in a Bowl and that is lucky for the rest of College FB' but next year we at USC will dominate.

by so.cal.native1952 on Jan 23, 2012 9:47 AM PST reply actions

I dont' think it was about the $

Because Phil Knight can afford to match anything Tampa can offer. It was about the challenge of the NFL.

Glad he’s staying though.

"Good evening Blazer fans, wherever you may be!"-Bill Schonely

by skywaker9 on Jan 23, 2012 2:33 PM PST up reply actions

Kelly's commons sense should prevail here

So, Kelly is talking to the NFL… eh… flattery… everyone loves it… now and then… it’s nice. But I doubt Kelly will really take the jump. He’s gotta look at the likes of Pete Carroll up in Seattle. NFL experience… lots of it… and it’s still hard… even unlucky considering his PAC 12 rival (or nemisis) just took HIS club to the NFL Championship in his FIRST year… while Pete still looks to be two years away from being two years away. Money isn’t everything especially when it can mean the end of your career. Even SC’s legendary John McKay while pioneering the Tampa Bay Buccaneers ultimately tarnished a career coaching legacy that could have paralleled names like Bryant, Schembechler, Hayes. Bowden, or Paterno.

trojanWar

by trojanWar on Jan 23, 2012 10:06 AM PST reply actions