Patriots coach Bill Belichick was quick to recommend Chip Kelly when the Eagles were looking for a new coach this offseason.
But that doesn’t mean he looks forward to playing against him.
Belichick had nothing but praise for the new Eagles coach when they came together for the first of three days of joint workouts.
“I have so much respect for Chip and what he’s done,” Belichick said, via Reuben Frank of CSNPhilly.com. “We’ve been friends for a while and I know he does a great job with this football team and the program that he’s run in Oregon.
“He’s a very innovative, creative guy. He’s got a great mind, he’s smart, and I think he’ll take advantage of whatever resources he can. We’ll see what that is. I’m sure he’ll give us plenty of trouble.”
They met when Kelly was coaching at New Hampshire, and Belichick has had him in to talk shop with his Patriots coaches prior to Kelly taking the Eagles job.
The Patriots have been big proponents of working with other teams in recent years, having had similar arrangements with the Saints and Buccaneers. But the Eagles present a different challenge, as everything they’re putting on the field is new, which will force Belichick and his assistants to adjust on the fly. That makes it good prep for game situations, which every team can use in the preseason.