Giglio: Kelly Needs To Make An Exception, Give Into Mathis
By Joe Giglio
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Chip Kelly's handling of the Eagles roster has been dissected and debated from every angle this offseason. Regardless of where you stand on the method to his madness, there's been a simple and logical explanation for every move: to improve the 53-man roster.
From salary cap cuts to moving on from players that didn't buy into the program, the pro and anti-Kelly crowd could at least see eye-to-eye on the common goal. Kelly may end up being wrong with some of the moves, but all can be looked at as an effort to improve on back-to-back 10 wins seasons.
That won't be the case if Evan Mathis isn't starting at left guard vs. Atlanta in Week 1.
Jason Peters and Jason Kelce, the two dominant lineman that formed the best OL trio in the sport with Mathis, may not be sweating the potential departure of the 33-year-old guard, but fans should.
If the Eagles want to go from good to great this coming season, they need Mathis happy, healthy and dominating opposing defenses. With a week to go before minicamp and what looks to be an ugly contract standoff, that reality is becoming less and less likely.
According to reports this week, Kelly removed a contract addendum to Mathis that was on the table last season. Mathis turned down slightly more money from the Howie Roseman-led front office. Apparently, the offer had a short shelf life. Mathis' tenure in Philadelphia looks to have the same fate.
While it's imperative, now more than ever with Kelly as the personnel leader to have conviction in what each player is worth, Mathis needs to be the exception in 2015. His current contract is fair, but far from an overpay. Offering him incentives to be paid like one of the two or three best guards in the league isn't ridiculous to ask, especially when you consider the alternatives and risk associated with losing this player.
Allen Barbre and Matt Tobin lined up for the majority of snaps at left and right guard during OTA practices. If that's the case when training camp begins, the Eagles are in trouble. Not only are those players unproven as starters, forcing them into the regular line depletes depth. If Peters, Kelce or Lane Johnson were to go down, it would be a disaster that could derail an entire season.
Without a top offensive line, the additions of DeMarco Murray and Ryan Mathews won't be nearly as effective. Along with Darren Sproles, a three-headed rushing attack could dominate the NFL and allow Kelly to run the football over 60 percent of the time -- something he did often at Oregon. Mathis' value, especially as an elite run blocker, can't be overstated.
It's easy to acknowledge that Mathis has very little leverage here and should honor the contract he signed. In reality, he won't make more money if he's cut and forced to find a job elsewhere.
But this isn't about Mathis' bank account or Kelly's ego. This is about putting the best team on the field in September. That team includes Mathis at left guard.
Kelly can talk all he wants about not receiving a single trade offer for Mathis in two years and leaders like Kelce and Peters can scoff at the notion of missing him if this situation takes a bad turn, but that won't change the reality of the situation.
As the staring contest between team and player rolls on, it's time for Kelly to blink and do what it takes to bring Mathis back.
Joe Giglio is a host on WIP. Find him on Twitter @JoeGiglioSports. Catch Joe's next show on WIP Saturday night at 7PM.
