The Eagles run game and offensive line have struggled this season, and as we approach Week 9, and as Nick Sirianni begins to field questions about getting rid of legendary OL coach Jeff Stoutland, rumors about Stout's departure sprouted up online. According to a report citing an unnamed source, suggested Stoutland not returning to the Eagles was not just an organization decision, but something players requested, as well.
Given the timing of the report, the optics for the team leaking this information don't look great. It's hard to think that anyone from last year's starting line would want to be rid of Stoutland — they are all staunch and loyal Stout supporters.
During Jason Kelce's segment on 94 WIP this week , the former Eagles center wanted to put the rumors to rest, and instead points the finger back to the team for Stoutland leaving — Kelce was even careful with his words, changing "when Jeff Stoutland left," for "when Jeff Stoutland announced he wasn't coming back."
Kelce pointed out that Jordan Mailata and his wife had dinner with Stoutland the night he made his announcement, and when Lane Johnson retired, he only met with one coach, and it was Stoutland.
"I take great offense to somebody alluding to players not fighting really hard for Jeff [Stoutland] — and I don't know the way the last season went, because I wasn't there, I know it wasn't great. But, that one very much upset me, because the reason we moved on from Jeff Stoutland had nothing to do with the players, [it] had to do with the building wanting to go in a different direction — and that's fine, but don't give me this crap trying to defer direction on the decisions you guys wanted to make."
Earlier in his rant, Kelce also made note that when seasons start come crashing down, people will start leaking things like this to avoid responsibility. The future Hall of Famer was not having any of it, and made it clear that the decision to move on from one of the best offensive line coaches in the NFL was a team decision, not something that came from the players.
