Duce Staley: ‘Chip is not a racist at all'

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Eagles running backs coach Duce Staley came to Chip Kelly's defense Wednesday regarding LeSean McCoy's claims that race factors into Kelly's personnel decisions.

"Chip is not a racist at all," Staley said Wednesday. "Chip and I work well together. Everybody has their own opinion. I'm not here to talk about Tra (Thomas) or talk about what McCoy's talking about. I know from my relationship with Chip, that's definitely far-fetched."

In a story in ESPN The Magazine last month, McCoy asserted Kelly got rid of "all the good black players."

The comments came after former Eagles offensive lineman and coaching intern Tra Thomas said players felt a "hint of racism" behind Kelly's roster moves. The issue was initiated in March by ESPN's Stephen A. Smith, who made similar claims.

Last week Kelly refuted the accusation and admitted his attempts to contact McCoy have gone unanswered. Players later backed Kelly, with center Jason Kelce saying he was "upset" that the team "has to deal with those comments."

McCoy on Wednesday angrily refused to discuss his comments with reporters in Buffalo, saying “I have nothing more to say about it. … I’m done talking about it."

He also added, "I never regret nothing I say."

Staley reluctantly addressed the issue Wednesday at the NovaCare Complex when Eagles assistants were made available to the media. He said he and McCoy did talk after the star running back was traded to Buffalo, but said it was nothing more than, "hello and goodbye."

"We're all here to do a job, and that's what it's about, it's about football," Staley said. "So don't take something that's a chapter and make it a book, if you understand what I'm saying."

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