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Oregon Ducks head coach Chip Kelly is reportedly in contract negotiations with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Hey, remember that report where Chip Kelly looked like he was about to be the next head coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and leave the Oregon Ducks in a bit of a panic? Looks like Chip was just kidding about all of that. Joke's on us! Adam Jude of the Eugene Register-Guard reports.
University of Oregon football coach Chip Kelly told a highly placed UO source late Sunday night that he has reversed course and decided to turn down an offer from the NFL’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
The source told The Register-Guard earlier Sunday night that Kelly had reached an agreement to become Tampa Bay’s head coach. “It’s done,” the source said.
Just before midnight, Kelly changed his mind, telling the source: “I’m staying.”
Kelly back at Oregon? Well, Pac-12 defensive coordinators can go back to plotting the rest of the offseason away.
I'm guessing Phil Knight was not at all happy to hear that rumor and made sure that Kelly would be well-compensated by the Ducks, well over whatever the Buccaneers are offering. NFL teams can offer a lot, but Knight is a one-man spender here who generally doesn't want to see Oregon heading backward as a program. Oregon fans look like they can rest easy tonight.
To discuss Kelly and the Ducks, head on over to Addicted to Quack. To talk about Kelly spurning the Bucs, head to Bucs Nation.
Chip Kelly might be on his way to taking his high-flying offense to the pros. Will both he and the Oregon Ducks manage the same success at the next level?
Adam Jude of the Register-Guard files this report.
University of Oregon football coach Chip Kelly has reached an agreement to become the head coach of NFL’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers, a highly placed UO athletic department source told The Register-Guard.
"It’s done," the source said Sunday night.
A deal has not been announced by Tampa Bay, and a UO athletic department spokesman said Sunday night that Kelly’s status with the UO had not officially changed.
It's always been rumored that Kelly was interested in the next level, but these rumors and the latest report seems to indicate those rumors were facts. Kelly is probably very interested in trying out his offense at the next level, instilling it in a pro team and making it work. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers appear to be the team that best fits his profile and has the vacancy for Kelly to try it out.
How the Ducks will be adapt will be interesting. The Oregon offense is almost entirely attuned to run Kelly's schemes and offense, and it's not likely to change anytime soon. The Ducks will need to find a head coach that is attuned to the spread option and won't tinker with its mechanisms too much.
To discuss the prospect of Kelly leaving Oregon, head on over to Addicted to Quack. To discuss the though of Kelly heading to Tampa Bay, go to Bucs Nation.
The Oregon Ducks might have to deal with some big-time news for the program. Oregon head coach Chip Kelly might be heading to the NFL. Multiple sources say that Kelly is serious in his talks with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. KGW filed the original report.
A source close to the situation told KGW Kelly will make the jump to the NFL if he can come to terms on a contract.
...
Kelly is still Oregon's head coach and will remain so if negotiations stall. But the source did say the deal was in its final stages.
Kelly has had an incredible record in Eugene, pushing Oregon to its greatest heights, with three conference championships, a 34-6 record, two Rose Bowl appearances (including a victory) and a national championship appearance after the 2010 season. Kelly and Oregon were looking like a serious threat to return to the title game next season, despite the losses of quarterback Darron Thomas and running back LaMichael James.
For a few years, people have been wondering about whether Kelly's offense could work at the next level. It looks like there's a decent chance we're about to find out if it works.
To discuss Chip Kelly potentially going to the Buccaneers, head to Bucs Nation. To talk about Kelly and the Ducks, go to Addicted to Quack.
AUDIO: Chip Kelly Denies Taking Tampa Bay Bucs Job, Drops Wedding Crashers Quote With 95.3 FM The Score
by Avinash Kunnath
Chip Kelly of the Oregon Ducks is not known for his love of the media. He's normally condescending and generally standoffish when it comes to talking about anything regarding Oregon football, because the man seems to wish he was left alone.
Well. Chip was happy to talk with the media concerning what exactly went down with the Bucs, as he talked with Steve Tannen of 95.3 FM The Score. You can listen to the audio by clicking here.
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Jan 26 6:50p