Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Brandon Boykin has clarified comments that suggested the Philadelphia Eagles head coach, Chip Kelly, has a problem with black players. Boykin, who joined the Steelers from the Eagles on Saturday, had said that Kelly is “uncomfortable around grown men of our culture.”
The comments were particularly pertinent after another former Eagle, LeSean McCoy, implied earlier this year that Kelly was racist and had got rid of “all the good black players”. However, on Sunday, Boykin said he did not believe Kelly is racist and that his problems were more with communication.
“When you’re a player, you want to be able to relate to your coach off the field,” Boykin told reporters at the Steelers training camp. “There were times he just didn’t talk to people. You would walk down the hallway, he wouldn’t say anything to you. I’m not saying he’s a racist in any way.”
Boykin added that other players shared his sentiments about Kelly. “I felt a lot of guys in that locker room feel the same way,” he said. “Of course, when you’re in the organization, you’re not going to voice your opinion. For me, I’ve always been a guy of honesty. Not trying to put anybody out in any way, but if you’re honest with me, I’ll be honest with you, and I felt like that honesty wasn’t there all the time.”
Kelly said he had no problem with Boykin, and thought they had parted on good terms. “When he left here last night, he shook my hand gave me a hug,” Kelly said on Sunday. “I like Brandon.”
The Eagles will receive a fifth-round pick in the 2016 draft for Boykin. That could rise to the fourth-round if the cornerback plays in more than 60% of the Steelers defensive plays this season.
