*Longtime Philadelphia Eagles running back LeSean McCoy is now a Buffalo Bill – a transition that took place when Philly inexplicably traded him in March. He wasn’t happy with the trade then, and he has just fired a shot at his former coach, basically accusing him of racism.
McCoy spent six seasons in Philly and was traded as the NFL’s current third-leading rusher.
In an interview with ESPN The Magazine to discuss the Buffalo trade, McCoy suggested that his race had something to do with Kelly’s decision:
ESPN: You told The Philadelphia Inquirer in April that Chip doesn’t “like or respect stars.” What was the problem with you and Chip, and how did that relationship end?
McCoy: The relationship was never really great. I feel like I always respected him as a coach. I think that’s the way he runs his team. He wants the full control. You see how fast he got rid of all the good players. Especially all the good black players. He got rid of them the fastest. That’s the truth. There’s a reason. … It’s hard to explain with him. But there’s a reason he got rid of all the black players — the good ones — like that. [Editor’s note: The Eagles declined to comment on McCoy’s statements.]
ESPN: How many other players have shared that thought with you?
McCoy: Oh, man. People have heard it. I mean … Stephen A. Smith has talked about it. Other players have talked about it. But that’s one of the things where you don’t even care no more. I’m on a new team, ready to play. So it’s nothing to do with Chip. I have no hatred toward him, nothing to say negative about him. When he got [to Philadelphia], I didn’t know what to expect. When he let DeSean go last year, I was like: “C’mon. DeSean Jackson?” So it is what it is.
Regarding McCoy’s claim, Jimmy Kempski of PhillyVoice.com provided a full breakdown of the Eagles’ offseason moves and highlighted the players added and lost:
• Black players added: 8
• Black players lost: 7
• White players added: 3
• White players lost: 4
Among the notable African American additions, DeMarco Murray to replace McCoy, cornerback Byron Maxwell, running back Ryan Mathews and cornerback Walter Thurmond. The Eagles made six draft picks last week, and the first five picks were black players. Also, five of the six players the Eagles drafted in Kelly’s first offseason with full control, were black, and the Eagles have seven black assistant coaches.
