A day after he was traded to the Pittsburgh Steelers, former Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Brandon Boykin became the latest player to direct parting shots toward head coach Chip Kelly. And, somewhat like LeSean McCoy before him, Boykin’s comments could be interpreted to have racial undertones. In a text message to Derrick Gunn of Comcast SportsNet, Boykin said Kelly is “uncomfortable around grown men of our culture.” Here’s more from CSN Philly:
“He can’t relate and that makes him uncomfortable,” Boykin added in the text message. “He likes total control of everything, and he don’t like to be uncomfortable. Players excel when you let them naturally be who they are, and in my experience that hasn’t been important to him, but you guys have heard this before me…
Former Eagles running back LeSean McCoy, dealt in the offseason to Buffalo, told ESPN in May that Kelly quickly “got rid of all the good players. Especially all the good black players.”
Tra Thomas, the franchise’s former cornerstone left tackle who served as a defensive assistant last year under Kelly, said in March that some Eagles players believed there was a “hint of racism” in Kelly’s personnel decisions.
Speaking with reporters on Sunday, Kelly said he didn’t know why Boykin would say what he did.
“I don’t know. In talking to him last night I think he was stunned, he was disappointed. He really liked it here,” Kelly said via Pro Football Talk. “When he left here last night he shook my hand and gave me a hug, didn’t say anything. I like Brandon. I just don’t know. I really don’t know.”
Whether there’s validity to Boykin’s comments or not, there’s clearly a variation of accounts between the former player and his coach.
(Via CSN Philly)
