Brian Mitchell understands why Chip Kelly has revamped the Eagles. Mitchell thinks the Redskins are finally on the right track. And the former Eagles running back is not a fan of Sam Bradford.
First, Kelly's offseason moves.
"Actually, it looks like what the Redskins normally do in the offseason," Mitchell said Tuesday on Comcast SportsNet's Breakfast on Broad, "I hope the results aren't the same.
"I understand what Chip Kelly's doing. He's trying to make that team into a team that he likes. People pick the people he wants. That's one thing about any coach that comes in, especially a coach with as much power as he has — they're going to get the people that they like.
"LeSean McCoy leaving — he didn't like the style of running. He wants a guy that's going to be hitting it downhill. DeSean Jackson two years ago, and you let (Jeremy) Maclin go this year.
"All I'll say is, it better work. It's not like [it is] in D.C. where people let things go and go and go. Philly will hold you accountable if it doesn't work."
It sounds like Mitchell would be surprised if the Eagles made it work with Sam Bradford. Mitchell played 14 NFL seasons — 10 with Washington, three with the Eagles and one with the Giants.
NFL
His most successful seasons came at the beginning and at the end.
Four seasons playing with Mark Rypien yielded three trips to the playoffs and a Super Bowl victory.
Three seasons with Donovan McNabb produced three trips to the playoffs and two to the NFC Championship Game.
Mitchell, now a Redskins analyst for CSNWashington, knows stability at quarterback is critical.
"You look at this guy, and he came in with a lot of luster, made a lot of money, and he hasn't done much," Mitchell said. "I like to see guys that are durable. Guys that are going to be out there on the football field game in and game out. The Brett Favre type. The guy who gets a little banged up but he still can go out and play.
"When you have a serious, serious injury, there's nothing you can do. But the serious, serious injuries are the ones that begin to make guys be less of the player that they were coming out. No one really knows what Sam Bradford is at this point."
The same could be said about injury-plagued Robert Griffin III.
"If I had to choose one, I wouldn't go with [either] one of them. I'd try to get somebody else. ... Both of these guys stay injured," Mitchell said before referring to a line from legendary former Georgetown basketball coach John Thompson.
"He said potential has gotten a lot of people fired. They potentially could be great quarterbacks, but they potentially can also be sitting on the bench most of the season and put your whole team and the way that you work things out into a whirlwind. So I wouldn't take the risk. For me, I would try to get somebody — he may not be as electrifying — but they can be a lot more durable and a lot more consistent."
As for the Redskins, Mitchell thinks they've turned a corner under new GM Scot McCloughan.
"I was totally impressed with [the draft]. It wasn't a draft about a lot of glamour," Mitchell said. "It was a lot getting a lot of substance."
Maybe owner Dan Snyder finally has learned to stay out of football decisions.
"So far he is," Mitchell said.