Chip Kelly has been in the news a lot this offseason, but not necessarily for the right reasons.
Aside from Shady McCoy (among others) inferring that Chip may be a racist, the coach/GM also left many fans and critics confused when he decided to send Nick Foles and a 2nd round draft choice to St. Louis for a QB with 2 ACL tears in his past.
Luckily for us, Chip took the time to explain his thought process behind the deal. Via the Sporting News,
In 2006, in the midst of Saban’s middling run as Dolphins coach, he had a chance to sign Drew Brees. Brees, common wisdom said, had a bum shoulder — the result of a 2005 tear of his labrum that led to Philip Rivers’ ascension as Chargers quarterback. Saban passed. He chose Daunte Culpepper as his primary passer. And hindsight still mocks him.
Saban would leave the Dolphins after 2006 with a 15-17 record. Culpepper played but four games. Brees, meanwhile, became a Saint and Big Easy legend; in nine years, the quarterback has collected a Super Bowl ring, more than 40,000 yards, more than 300 touchdowns — and he’s captured the hearts of New Orleans.
Kelly suggests Bradford could see a similar career renaissance in a Fox Sports story. Kelly’s contention: He didn’t want to be the coach that feared injuries and feared the risk. He didn’t want to be Saban.
“The impact Drew had on the Saints was really what we studied,” Kelly told Fox Sports. “What would this league be like if Nick Saban had Drew Brees? Would Nick have ever gone back to Alabama?”
Saban’s swing-and-miss with Brees ultimately left Chip worried he would do the same thing. Instead of fearing the potential of injury (which could occur to any player at any time, of course), he decided that Bradford’s upside far outweighs Foles’.
Only time will tell if he made the right decision and if Bradford was worth the risk.