Kelce, Mathis object to fans' fire Reid sign

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As Jason Kelce and Evan Mathis left the NovaCare complex on Monday, they saw the same thing every Philadelphian did as they drove down Broad Streetor Pattison Avenue.

A banner hung between trees across the street from the Eagles workout facility. The sign hung by three Eagles fans. It read: Andy the timesto go. (Thanks to takingit2thehouse.com for photo.)

Clever huh?

Kelce and Mathis didnt think so.

After the offensive line duo drove past the sign, they decided to turn around, defend their coach and ask that the sign be removed.

We had already turned down the street and I turned to Jason and was like, Should we let that be? Mathis said. I know that if I didnt say anything I would look back and wished I did. So I went back and said Please take that down, this isnt what were trying to do. You dont know how good you have it with Andy Reid as the coach. Were 1-4. Were trying to right this ship. Tearing us apart is not the way to fix it.

Mathis and Kelce said they werent threatening, didnt get loud, simply as that the sign be removed.

First of all, you kind of feel bad for Andy Reid, that he has to look at that right out of his window but then you realize that this is the last thing our team needs right now, Kelce said. Were trying to come together as a team right now and be successful as a team. We dont really need that right now.

Mathis said that when they asked the fans to remove the sign, they started ranting and raving about the problems the Eagles have.

Kelce said he respects the fans rights to express their opinion, just not out front of the Eagles facility.

The two said that it was just a coincidence that they were the ones to confront the fans. Kelce is a rookie. Mathis is a first-year Eagle. They happened to see the sign as they left the facility.

Kelce actually thinks that this incident, and rallying around their coach in general, might give the team a little more unity.

Weve been together all along, Kelce said. But even more now that Andy is taking a lot of the brunt of this. I guess its part of the territory so we have to try to get everything corrected for him.
E-mail Dave Zangaro at dzangaro@comcastsportsnet.com.

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