Eventually, we’re going to run out of ways to describe what kind of player Chip Kelly likes, but Walter Thurmond – who played under Chip in Oregon – seems to have it all figured out pretty well. On the WIP morning show, Thurmond defended his coach, and explained what kind of guy he looks for:

“Coach Kelly is a great leader and he has the mindset, and he wants to win a championship. It’s evident as far as the acquisitions he’s made in the offseason, the guys that he’s brought in that really buy into the program, that want to play unselfish football and guys that take pride in their technique and want to be great. I think that’s one of the biggest things, getting those group of guys together to want to win a championship. I think he’s done a great job so far.”

If you look at the moves he’s made (except for maybe Boykin), buying in and playing “unselfish football” explains away everything. Cary Williams didn’t buy in. DeSean Jackson and LeSean McCoy didn’t play unselfish football. And Evan Mathis negotiated against himself. Of course, that won’t silence the Stephen A. Smiths of the world, but then again, neither would multiple hand-slaps and suspensions from the largest sports network in the galaxy.