Since the frigid weather descended upon the Delaware Valley with such a vengeance a few weeks back, I changed my morning routine. I started waiting until around eleven to venture outside to hit the gym for my morning workout. That put me in position to listen to the Mike and Ike Show on WIP for a little while each day.

Two days ago, Monday, Mike Barkaan started out by discussing the performance of Marcus Mariota and Jameis Winston at the NFL combine over the weekend. The conversation organically moved toward Chip Kelly’s trying to maneuver into position to draft Mariota. That’s where Ike Reese inserted his first two cents.

Without openly criticizing Chip Kelly’s hurry-up style of offense, Ike implied that there was a better way to do things in the NFL:

I never played in the NFL, but that’s pretty much the way I feel.

Ike, on the other hand, played in the NFL for nine years – seven with the Eagles and two with the Falcons. He played in both the Pro Bowl and the Super Bowl once each. A linebacker, he played for defensive guru Jim Johnson with the Eagles and he has great insight into the nuances of NFL football.

Meanwhile, back at the ranch, Mike Barkaan was still focusing on Mariota.

“How about this?” Mike asked Ike. “If the Eagles could make a trade with the Rams at ten – does that serve them any good – if what the Rams are asking are Foles and Shady and a couple of number-ones – also that’s just to get to ten – from twenty. So you move up ten spots?”

“If I was the Rams,” Ike chimed in, “I would do that in a heartbeat. If I’m the Eagles, I can’t do that.”

Take Shady McCoy, Ike explained, while still being considered as one of the best backs in the league, he comes with a high price-tag – $11,950 cap-hit for 2015. Removing his salary would be advantageous to the Eagles – but adding it would be disadvantageous to the team acquiring him.

Same deal with Nick Foles – but even more involved. Acquiring Foles would be a gamble for the other team. If he’s not a sure thing with the Eagles, he’s certainly not a sure thing for any other team. Therefore, acquiring Nick Foles comes with three caveats:

1 – Missing out on taking Mariota.

2 – Hoping Foles becomes a franchise quarterback.

3 – Extending Nick’s contract for big bucks. If Foles turns into a franchise guy, it’s a good deal. But if he bombs out, you’re stuck with a big contract.

Plus, theoretically giving up Foles, McCoy, and two number-ones only gets you to ten. Marcus Mariota isn’t falling that far, and you’d have little left to move up far enough to claim the Grand Prize.

Ike Reese then threw a dark horse into the race to draft Mariota.

And then they took a phone call – Matt from the Northeast:

Look it up, Eagles fans. Tom Brady played in only one game during his rookie season. He went 1-for-3 for 6 yards. The only reason he got a chance to play during his second year was because Drew Bledsoe got hurt. But once Brady got the opportunity to play, Bill Belichick stuck him and Brady continued to improve over the years.

“Can that happen to Nick Foles?” Mike Barkaan asked rhetorically – before answering his own question. “It sure can. Unless Chip Kelly prevents it.”

Barkaan said a mouthful.

For the Eagles to flourish as early as possible, Chip Kelly must modify some of his thought processes:

– He must back Nick Foles publicly.

– He must modulate his offensive tempo to fit the situation.

– He must scrap the run-option and tailor the offense around Nick’s skill-set.

– He must upgrade the defensive backfield.

Do those things, Chip Kelly, and you’ve got a bona fide contender.

But be bull-headed by trying to prove you’re smarter than everyone else, and we’ll be hoping the next coach brings us a Super Bowl victory.

Barry Bowe is the author of 12 Best Eagles QBs and 1964 – The Year the Phillies Blew the Pennant.