This one's sure to ruffle a few feathers in Philadelphia. According to a report from Ian Rapoport of NFL.com, current Buffalo Bills quarterback Tyrod Taylor wanted to join the Philadelphia Eagles this offseason. Unfortunately, Eagles head coach and newly appointed personnel czar Chip Kelly rebuffed Taylor's advances, choosing instead to sign Tim Tebow. Tebow, of course, did not make the Eagles 53-man roster out of training camp. Taylor, through a strong preseason effort, laid claim to the Bills starting job and currently has the NFL's Buffalo-based franchise at 2-2 in a tough AFC East division.
This report likely stings a bit more for Philly fans due to the tough loss the team endured at the hands of NFC East foes, the Washington Redskins, on Sunday. While embattled quarterback Sam Bradford, the player Kelly shipped a 2016 second-round pick and quarterback Nick Foles to the St. Louis Rams for, threw three touchdown passes and no interceptions, he remained erratic and was unable to get the offense rolling until late in the game. In fairness, Taylor, in a losing effort against the New York Giants this weekend, put together his worst game of the season - 28 completions on 42 attempts for 274 yards, one touchdown and one interception.
But prior to the Giants game, Taylor had been performing as one of the league's better passers, statistically. In games against the Colts, Patriots and Dolphins, Taylor completed 73.7, 76.7 and 72.4 percent of his passes. He threw for 195, 242 and 277 yards and had a 7-3 touchdown to interception ratio. As a running threat, Taylor also added 41, 43 and 12 yards and a touchdown on the ground.
Bradford, on the other hand, has proven both gun-shy and generally incapable of producing consistent points for the Eagles. Despite throwing three touchdowns against Washington, he still completed only 53.6 percent of his passes and was sacked five times. For the season, operating in an offense that rejuvenated Mike Vick and allowed Foles to toss 26 touchdowns and just two interceptions, Bradford's quarterback rating is 82.2. His touchdown to interception ratio is 6-4, aided greatly by his sudden barrage of deep passing this past weekend.
In the end, what could have been matters little for either the Bills or the Eagles and Bradford is Philly's signal-caller for better or for worse this season, but it's still interesting to note that maybe Kelly the GM may already be creating issues for Kelly the coach.
