Boykin says Chip Kelly 'uncomfortable around grown men of our culture'
Philadelphia Eagles coach Chip Kelly responded to comments made by recently traded cornerback Brandon Boykin at training camp on Sunday.
The Eagles traded Boykin to the Pittsburgh Steelers on Saturday. In a text message to CSN Philadelphia after the trade, Boykin said Kelly is “uncomfortable around grown men of our culture.”
“He can't relate and that makes him uncomfortable,” Boykin added. “He likes total control of everything, and he don't like to be uncomfortable. Players excel when you let them naturally be who they are, and in my experience that hasn't been important to him, but you guys have heard this before me.”
Kelly told reporters on Sunday that he doesn't know why Boykin would say something like that, adding that the cornerback seemed “stunned“ and disappointed that he was traded.
“When he left here last night he shook my hand and gave me a hug, didn’t say anything,” Kelly said. “I like Brandon. I just don’t know. I really don’t know.”
Boykin later clarified his comments to ESPN, saying that he is “not saying [Kelly's] a racist in any way.”
“When you're a player, you want to be able to relate to your coach off the field,” Boykin said. “There were times he just didn't talk to people.”
After being traded to Buffalo in May, running back LeSean McCoy told ESPN that he thinks Kelly tried his best to get “rid of all the black players” during his time with the team. Kelly later denied McCoy's claims, saying color has never been a factor in Philadelphia's selection and retention of players.
Shortly after McCoy made his comments, Eagles safety Malcolm Jenkins told New Jersey Advance Media that he hasn't seen Kelly show favoritism toward any players because of race.
