Chip Kelly: DeMarco Murray's Conversation With Jeffrey Lurie 'Wasn't Orchestrated'
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Chip Kelly says there was no meeting between DeMarco Murray and Jeffrey Lurie. Just a simple conversation.
While a report stated that the star running back went beyond the Philadelphia Eagles' head coach to the owner in order to express his frustrations, Kelly explained to the Buffalo Bills media on a conference call Wednesday why that may be a slight exaggeration.
Kelly said via the NFL Network's Albert Breer that Murray "happened to be sitting next to [Lurie] on the plane [back from New England]" and the conversation "wasn't orchestrated."
"All of our players sit in first class when we travel and when Mr. Lurie travels with us he sits in first class," Kelly told the Philadelphia media later on Wednesday morning. "So they were sitting next to each other."
Kelly said he understands Murray's mindset right now.
"I've had a meeting with DeMarco," Kelly said. "He's frustrated because he didn't get the ball a lot on Sunday, which most running backs are frustrated from that aspect."
Kelly traded the Eagles' franchise leading rusher in LeSean McCoy this past Spring and signed Murray -- the NFL's 2014 rushing champion -- to a five-year deal worth $40 million. However, Murray is averaging a career-low 3.5 yards per attempt and had only eight carries in Sunday's win over the Patriots.
McCoy makes his return to Philly this week with his new team, the 6-6 Bills. His relationship with Kelly is --- to put it politely --- awkward, as McCoy suggested racial reasons fueled some of Kelly's personnel moves this past offseason. Tuesday on SportsRadio 94WIP's Mike & Ike Show, McCoy stood by those comments he made in May.
Kelly told the Bills media he has no issues with his former player and admitted the he may have mishandled the communication aspect of the trade.
