McCoy in no mood to forgive and forget over Eagles exit
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y.— LeSean McCoy had a blunt response to Eagles coach Chip Kelly’s offer to shake hands on the field in Philadelphia on Sunday. Don’t hold your breath. “Chip can’t shake (anything),” the Bills running back said, using a profanity on Wednesday. “He can’t call me. He can’t shake my hand. There’s nothing he can do with me. He can’t say (anything) to me. It’s as simple as that.”
Nine months have passed since Kelly decided to part ways with the Eagles’ most dynamic offensive threat at the time, trading McCoy to Buffalo in exchange for linebacker Kiko Alonso. And McCoy, in preparing to face his former team for the first time, made it abundantly clear that he still holds a grudge over how abruptly his six-year stint in Philadelphia ended.
McCoy, who previously suggested Kelly’s move was racially motivated, insisted he doesn’t dislike his former coach.
“I have nothing against him,” he said. “No hatred. We’re not enemies.”
That doesn’t mean they’re on speaking terms.
“I’m sure there are people you don’t hate or have an issue with that you don’t speak to,” he said.
“I’m with the Bills. He’s with the Eagles. We never had any great relationship, (were never) best friends. So there’s nothing to really talk about.”
The bad-blood showdown in the City of Brotherly Love highlights a game between the Bills (6-6) and Eagles (5-7), both battling to stay in the playoff picture.
Kelly took a diplomatic approach toward McCoy during a conference call with Buffalo-area reporters.
He referred to McCoy as “one of the premier backs in this game.”
As for why he would trade him, Kelly said it was a salary-related decision because McCoy was going to count close to $12 million (U.S.) against the Eagles’ salary cap this year. Upon arriving in Buffalo, McCoy signed a five-year, $40-million restructured contract, with $26.5 million in guarantees.
Kelly can understand why McCoy was upset because news of the trade surfaced before he had a chance to inform the player.
Kelly said he’s attempted to contact McCoy on numerous occasions, but his calls have gone unanswered.
“I always wanted to talk to LeSean,” Kelly said.
“He did everything we asked him to do when he was here. You guys know him, he’s a great personality. He’s got an infectious personality. I’ve got tremendous respect for this man.” McCoy didn’t want to hear it. “Chip don’t owe me nothing and I don’t owe him anything,” McCoy said.