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.