Come On, Chip, I'm Groveling Here

Dear Chip Kelly,

Please, please, please do not go coach the Cleveland Browns.

I have come to accept that you will leave for the NFL. And it pains me to say so. You came back this year simply to win a National Championship and you were denied by a field goal once again. You went down to the wire with the Bucs last year, but presumably wanted to leave your mark on college football forever and came back for one more year.

One more year and no National Championship. Only this time, we aren't going to be so fortunate to have you stick around for next year. Cleveland wants you so badly, they flew down to Arizona to speak with you before the Fiesta Bowl.

I trust that you will stick to your mantra of "Win The Day" and address the NFL coaching propositions when that day arrives. But I'm not naive enough to believe that college football and Oregon dominance holds the same allure that it did last year.

So go to the NFL. Make loads of money. And you'll probably be successful. Just don't do it with the Cleveland Browns.

Here is the thing about the Browns, Chip: players, coaches, and fans go there to die. Cleveland's run of mediocrity over the last two decades is impressive in a twisted sense. The revolving door of players and coaches makes pretty much everyone DOA when they step off the plane in Cleveland.

Chip, I really think you could be successful in the NFL. I also think you could go on to be the greatest NCAA football coach that history has ever seen. And if I were in your position, I would take my fat salary at Oregon, my incredible facilities and outrageous amounts of money from Nike and build a program that goes toe-to-toe with the big boys year after year. But, I'm not you.

I can't stop you from going to the NFL. But I can pray like hell you don't do it with the Browns. Chip, you're way too good of a coach to take over a franchise like that. I do not want to see you flame out in the NFL because you are trying to coach bad players in a poorly managed organization.

If it means one more year at Oregon and waiting to see what else is available next year, so be it. But I have seen too much from you to see you take a chance in Cleveland.

Know that I will always be behind you, even if you do take the Browns job. But I'll watch with one eye covered in that case.

Sincerely,
Duck Nation