As you’ve probably heard by now, Chip Kelly was fired by the Philadelphia Eagles for a variety of reasons ranging from “hard to work with” to “maybe racist”. Kelly ends his tenure as an Eagle Head Coach with a record of 26-21, which was heavily mired by this season’s 6-9 SU stretch where he also finished 6-9 ATS. His reign will not be remembered without its severe blemishes.

It wasn’t that Kelly’s play calling, personnel assessment or attitude where the problem – it was the total package. It just didn’t work and his ex-players have basically laughed him out of Lincoln Financial Field. That’s never a good sign.

The good news for Philadelphia is that they had a singular, and easily definable problem that also served as the most scapegoat-able position in the NFL.

The easiest thing to do in the professional football is to blame the coaches, but there are always other factors to blame. General managers are bad at putting together winning teams. Some coordinators are probably more at fault. Owners are irresponsible with their spending habits. It goes on and on and gets worse and worse. Very few teams can do what the New York Jets have done this season and totally reinvent themselves.

As you’ve probably heard by now, Chip Kelly was fired by the Philadelphia Eagles for a variety of reasons ranging from “hard to work with” to “maybe racist”. Kelly ends his tenure as an Eagle Head Coach with a record of 26-21, which was heavily mired by this season’s 6-9 SU stretch where he also finished 6-9 ATS. His reign will not be remembered without its severe blemishes.

It wasn’t that Kelly’s play calling, personnel assessment or attitude where the problem – it was the total package. It just didn’t work and his ex-players have basically laughed him out of Lincoln Financial Field. That’s never a good sign.

The good news for Philadelphia is that they had a singular, and easily definable problem that also served as the most scapegoat-able position in the NFL.

The easiest thing to do in the professional football is to blame the coaches, but there are always other factors to blame. General managers are bad at putting together winning teams. Some coordinators are probably more at fault. Owners are irresponsible with their spending habits. It goes on and on and gets worse and worse. Very few teams can do what the New York Jets have done this season and totally reinvent themselves.

By nature, gamblers hate mistakes they can’t see coming. It’s like betting last-minute that AJ McCarron is going to fumble the snap on Monday Night Football or getting screwed by a random injury. It’s impossible to work these types of x-factors in to whatever calculations or assumptions you design to create the most risk adverse, investment situation for your money.

It’s probably an oxymoron to call gamblers “risk averse”, but it’s not like the sharps and veterans of the industry go out there burning cash like it’s a stack of old porn their mother just found under the bed. We all try to find different angles, corners and metrics to improve our leverages. At least, that’s what we should be doing.

I’m a fan of advanced metrics as a nerd who loves football and probably has too much spare time on my hands. But I also prefer fiddling with classic stats to try and find inside anomalies because – honestly – I’m not as smart as the guys who design the advanced metrics in the first place.

There’s a lot of different, self-made stat configurations I could dig up, but most of it’s boring and don’t necessarily lead anywhere. Most of it reaffirms stuff I already know or assume, which is what most of us want to hear when we’re buying points or laying them. More than anything, I’m just trying to find a wrinkle in the matrix. An anomaly. Something that doesn’t make sense that can help me arrive at a destination that’s closer to a definitive conclusion.

One of the most anticipated matchups from this past Sunday featured the Carolina Panthers and the New York Giants. The undefeated streak was once again on the line, and the Giants were pressing to make a playoff push in the muddled NFC East. The game also featured a matchup between the best cornerback in the league and one of the most electrifying receivers alive. It was a battle that did not disappoint.

By now you know what happened. Words were said. Bats were swung. Guys were hit. Passes were deflected. A touchdown was scored. And in the end, Norman’s Panthers kept their perfect record intact while the Giants saw their post season hopes fade to black.

Then ODB got suspended for a flagrant hit on Norman’s skull and all hell broke lose.

People have been screaming like crazy about this confrontation all week long making it difficult for anyone to really get a unique angle on the subject. Was Odell right? Did Norman deserve it? Why on earth would the NFL appeal it right in the midst of Will Smith’s movie “Concussion” making emphatic rounds across the country?

One of the most anticipated matchups from this past Sunday featured the Carolina Panthers and the New York Giants. The undefeated streak was once again on the line, and the Giants were pressing to make a playoff push in the muddled NFC East. The game also featured a matchup between the best cornerback in the league and one of the most electrifying receivers alive. It was a battle that did not disappoint.

By now you know what happened. Words were said. Bats were swung. Guys were hit. Passes were deflected. A touchdown was scored. And in the end, Norman’s Panthers kept their perfect record intact while the Giants saw their post season hopes fade to black.

Then ODB got suspended for a flagrant hit on Norman’s skull and all hell broke lose.

People have been screaming like crazy about this confrontation all week long making it difficult for anyone to really get a unique angle on the subject. Was Odell right? Did Norman deserve it? Why on earth would the NFL appeal it right in the midst of Will Smith’s movie “Concussion” making emphatic rounds across the country?