Former Eagles teammates not playing into McCoy’s racial blame game

PHILADELPHIA >> Fletcher Cox, Malcolm Jenkins and Riley Cooper, among other Eagles, have Chip Kelly’s back.

Hours after Kelly refuted LeSean McCoy’s recent contention that the Eagles’ head coach favored white football players over black football players, the trio made a stand of sorts.

“I think everything around here is equal,” Cox, who maintains he’s a good friend of McCoy said after a voluntary team practice Thursday. “Everything around here is equal. Chip treats everybody the same. I don’t think there’s a difference.”

The other players echoed Cox, who wanted to avoid turning the ugly allegation McCoy made after being traded to the Buffalo Bills into a distraction.

That was the case two years ago when Cooper hurled a racial slur at an African-American security guard, an act Cooper apologized for and drew a hefty fine from the Eagles. Almost all of the Eagles, to their credit, embraced the second chance given to Cooper.

“It’s definitely difficult and upsetting for sure,” Cooper said. “I know (Kelly is) not like that.”

McCoy intimated Kelly had an ulterior motive for shipping him to the Bills for linebacker Kiko Alonso, and for letting go of other star black players. The list included his friend, wide receiver DeSean Jackson.

In a May story in ESPN The Magazine McCoy spoke of how fast Kelly “got rid of all the good players.

“Especially all the good black players,” McCoy said. “He got rid of them the fastest. That’s the truth. There’s a reason.”

Kelly has thought long and hard about McCoy’s words. He doesn’t understand it.

“I’ve got great respect for LeSean,” Kelly said. “However, in that situation, I think he’s wrong. We put a lot of time into looking into the characters and the factors that go into the selection and retention of players. And color has never been one of them.”

Kelly said he doesn’t feel hurt by the accusation. Then again, he tried to get an explanation.

“I’ve reached out to LeSean twice and he didn’t accept my call,” Kelly said. “And I talked to his agent and said I’d like to talk to him at some point in time but I haven’t had a chance to touch base with him.”

Kelly said he doesn’t need to address the comments with his players and is unconcerned with outside perceptions.

“That doesn’t hurt me,” Kelly said. “I’m not governed by the fear of what other people say. Events don’t elicit feelings. I think beliefs elicit feelings. I understand what my beliefs are and I know how I am.”

Kelly suggested the media ask players about the way he treats them. Done.

“I can only speak to my experiences and what I’ve seen over the year I’ve been here,” Jenkins said. “And it’s really been nothing but fairness to me. He lets us know what he’s evaluating us on. He’s been pretty open. And I haven’t seen anything that makes him biased other than the things he’s asked guys to do. Whether that’s been all of the sports science and assessments that we do, whether it’s being here on time, with a great attitude every day and then obviously what you do on the field. I haven’t seen him make a decision outside of that realm of what he’s evaluating us on.”

Eagles center Jason Kelce sounded offended by McCoy’s assertions. Kelce wouldn’t be surprised if McCoy comes to regret the remarks.

Jenkins suspects McCoy’s comments are borne of frustration and ignorance.

“I think if you look at kind of how it’s come up with the Eagles is everybody is looking for an answer as to why Chip is making all the moves he’s making,” Jenkins said. “And nobody can understand it. And so they’re trying to figure out reasons. Is it personalities? Is it race? Does he think his scheme is better than the players? And I don’t think it’s any of that. I think (Kelly) has reasons and motives for why he makes decisions. He’s very, very open as to how we’ll be evaluated and what he wants. So although some of the moves seem crazy outside of this building, I think most guys can understand it here.”

Kelly and the Eagles oppose McCoy and the Bills Dec. 13 at Lincoln Financial Field. Guess what the story lines will be like for that game?

“If I was to worry about those type of things, it would be a distraction,” Cox said. “And I don’t want distractions. I really don’t know what he said. I haven’t read it. I know LeSean. I mean, he’s a good friend. I still text him now and again and see from time to time. I just don’t want to get caught up in that. And I continue to see LeSean as a friend.”