Darlington: Coaches lack loyalty
Sean Payton might not bolt the Saints for the Cowboys, but it won't be because of loyalty, Jeff Darlington writes. **More ...**
More than a few NFL teams will replace their current coach with somebody new after the season. More than a few NFL teams appear interested in Oregon's Chip Kelly.
ESPN's Adam Schefter reported Sunday that multiple franchises are plotting ways to speak with Kelly and lure him away from the college ranks.
If Oregon wins a national championship, the hyper-competitive Kelly might be willing to enter the pro game, where his unorthodox up-tempo offense already has seeped into NFL circles. Kelly's scheme was leaned on earlier this season by the New England Patriots and we're seeing strains of it across the league.
His approach to the game is drenched in innovation. He regularly rolls the dice on fourth downs, and his style would, in many ways, buck the perceived safe approach used by a majority of NFL coaching staffs.
Last month, one NFC executive told Daniel Jeremiah: "He runs the best practices I've ever seen. I would hire him in a second if I ever had the opportunity."
CBS Sports' Jason La Canfora also cited Penn State coach and former Patriots offensive coordinator Bill O'Brien as a potential hot candidate, but Kelly is bound to be seen as the big prize.
Oregon doesn't want to see Kelly exit stage left, but we don't expect his name to go away as winter approaches.
Follow Marc Sessler on Twitter @MarcSesslerNFL.
