Chip Doesn’t Want Mariota

freddie coleman imageI was listening to Freddie Coleman on ESPN radio late last night on my ride home when Freddie brought up Ron Jaworski’s latest comments on the intrigue involving the Eagles, Chip Kelly, and Marcus Mariota.

In case you missed it, here’s a four-point breakdown of what Ron Jaworski said yesterday:

(1) – “The latest I’m hearing now from my sources around the league, who are pretty wired in, is that he’s going to go number one now to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers,” Jaworski told CSN’s ‘Philly Sports Talk,’ via PhillyMag.com.

ron jaworski imageBased on that input, Jaworski moved the name of Marcus Mariota to the top spot on his personal draft board.

(2) – “Chip Kelly said Marcus Mariota will win multiple Super Bowls in the National Football League,” Jaworski said. “He didn’t say it would be in Philadelphia. But that’s how much he loves this guy. And a lot of people feel the same way.”

The only surprise there is Chip’s declaration that Mariota will win multiple Super Bowls.

(3) – Ron then said that if Chip really believes that to be true, then he should do everything in his power to mortgage the Eagles future to trade up to acquire Mariota.

I disagree here because Chip Kelly has yet to prove that he can evaluate NFL talent.

(4) – But after giving so much hope to those Eagles followers who maintain the cock-eyed optimism that the Birds will somehow miraculously obtain Marcus Mariota in the upcoming NFL draft, Ronnie yanked the carpet right out from under their feet faster than a pick-pocket in a nudist colony. That’s because Ron said he didn’t believe it was possible for Chip to manuever all the way up from number-20 to to the top spot in the draft.

I immediately tweeted to Freddie.

freddie coleman tweet 0414

And Freddie soon added my comment to the on-air discussion.

Some ten hours passed.

After a good night’s sleep, I’m listening to The Fanatic on my way to the gym and Harry Mayes was also discussing Ron Jaworski’s comments. And I, of course, tweeted him my two cents.

harry mayes image

Here’s my three reasons why I believe the Eagles aren’t going to draft Marcus Mariota:

(1) Like Ron Jaworski said – It’s relatively impossible to move up from twenty to one in this year’s draft.

(2) The Tampa Bay Buccaneers signaled their intent to draft Marcus Mariota with the first pick in the draft when they hired Dirk Koetter as their new offensive coordinator during the off-season.

Check out a piece written by Mark Eckel for nj.com back on January 9th on Tampa’s hiring of Dirk Koetter and the potential impact on the Eagles. Mark swung me.

(3) Chip Kelly either thinks he’s the smartest man in the room – or wants the rest of the football world to think he’s the smartest man in the room. Either way, if he obtained Marcus Mariota in the draft, he would be forced to win at least one Super Bowl – or be exposed as not being so smart after all.

Chip Kelly’s ego doesn’t want the football world to think he’s a dope.

Ergo – Chip doesn’t want Mariota.

chip kelly and marcus mariota image

Barry Bowe is the author of Born to Be Wild, 1964 – The Year the Phillies Blew the Pennant, and 12 Best Eagles QBs.

Written by Barry Bowe
Former sportswriter - first to put Timmy Duncan's name on the sports page.