This week on his new website The MMQB, Sports Illustrated NFL writer Peter King tackles a number of main topics affecting the league in his Monday Morning Quarterback column, centering on the Philadelphia Eagles, head coach Chip Kelly and how he is reacting and handling the Riley Cooper racial slur incident.
Kelly is coming to Eagles after a number of high-powered years at Oregon in college and one of the biggest questions heading into the season was whether his offense would transfer from the NCAA to the big leagues and now that topic has shifted a bit. While the offense is the main focus when looking at the Eagles, Kelly now also has to deal with what happened with Riley Cooper and much find a way to keep it from dividing the locker room and affecting the Eagles this season. Kelly was not expecting to deal with the situation and now that Jeremy Maclin is out for the season, having Cooper in the fold might be integral to the offense and things could be affected depending on how long his absence is.
Training camp offers Kelly a chance to try out a number of new things on offense and heading into the preseason he will be looking for more receivers to step up for Michael Vick or Nick Foles or even Matt Barkley if he can somehow win the starting job. King has been making the rounds in training camps for teams around the country and he has been impressed with EJ Manuel as well as the Steelers and what they have been working on with the defense in camp. King writes about Mike Tomlin leading drills and how the defense is trying to improve from last season and he also gives some updates on how cornerback Darrelle Revis is looking for the Buccaneers in camp after dealing with a serious injury.
King also writes later in the column about Kelly and the Cooper situation and why he feels that the receiver will get a second chance from the head coach. King compares the situation to when running back LaGarrette Blount threw a punch against Boise State and Kelly suspended him for the entire season. Kelly later, with the counseling of Tony Dungy, allowed Blount a second chance and he ended up proving himself later in the NFL, rushing for over 1,000 yards for the Buccaneers. King also writes about how Michael Vick has taken a leadership role in the locker room and how what he says has been affecting what the team feels on the Cooper situation.
The Eagles are hoping to bounce back from a 4-12 record last season that saw Andy Reid fired and now the team will have some more issues to overcome with Maclin's injury and Cooper's situation. Kelly will have many eyes on him as the season starts and the team tries to turn things round in the NFC East.
Check here for the Peter King Monday Morning Quarterback column from August 5 or more information on the new website TheMMQB.com.
