On today's edition of NFC East Intel we look at Eagles' roster mistakes, the Giants missing the playoffs for the fourth straight season and Greg Hardy playing for a bonus for the Cowboys on Sunday.
PHILADELPHIA EAGLES
Headline:Eagles, Chip Kelly Part Ways
The Philadelphia Eagles announced late Tuesday afternoon that they have "released" third-year head coach Chip Kelly, less than three whole days after their 38-24 loss to the Washington Redskins that eliminated the team from the playoffs for a second straight season.
"We appreciate all the contributions that Chip Kelly made and wish him every success going forward," team chairman and CEO Jeffrey Lurie said, via the team's website.
The team also "released" Ed Marynowitz, who was serving as vice president of player personnel, as Tom Donahoe assumes the role of senior director of player personnel. Donahoe is the former general manager of the Buffalo Bills.
Eagles coach Pat Shurmur will take over as the team's interim coach for its Week 17 finale against the New York Giants. Thanks to the Redskins clinching the NFC East title on Saturday, Sunday's Eagles-Giants game has no playoff implications for either team.
What this means for the Redskins: Kelly received praise for 10-win seasons in his first two years with the team in 2013 and 2014, but made a multitude of roster moves the past two offseasons that ridded the roster of several star players.
One of the main depatures, wide receiver DeSean Jackson, since signed with the Redskins and has haunted his former team in his three games against them since.
Headline:Jason Peters Reportedly Pulls Himself Out Of Eagles Elimination Loss
Per Philly.com's Les Bowen, Peters removed himself from the Eagles’ 38-24 loss to the Redskins last Saturday because he "didn't want the risk of getting hurt for a team that is not going to the playoffs."
What this means for the Redskins:For a team that was in a desperate positon, it is interesting that one of their leaders – and really one of the best offensive lineman in the NFL over the past decade – came out of a game that ultimately meant that Philadelphia was eliminated.
Yes, the game was pretty much out of reach, but it's never a good sign when someone of Peters' status decided to exit a game under their own will.
Depending on what happens with the Eagles this offseason, specifically the coaching situation on the direction the team wants to go, Peters has possibly played his last down with Philadelphia.
The eight-time Pro Bowler turned 34 years old next month and is set to make more than nine million.
With DeSean Jackson, LeSean McCoy, Evan Mathis and Jeremy Maclin already long gone from Philadelphia, Peters would be the last of a long list of players from the pre-Kelly era to leave the Eagles.
Headline:Eagles Didn't Properly Rebuild After Last Season
While the Eagles made some headline changes last offseason, it didn't result in a better record for Philadelphia. With an ensured losing record in 2015, PhillyVoice.com's Jimmy Kempski believes the Eagles didn’t rebuild right especially on offense.
What this means for the Redskins:What did the moves to get Sam Bradford and DeMarco Murray while getting rid of LeSean McCoy, Nick Foles, Todd Herreman and Evan Mathis get the Eagles this season?
A lost season with an ensured losing season for the first time in former head coach Kelly's tenure as Eagles head coach.
Kelly made two big-time player-for-player trades in the offseason, swapping Foles for Bradford while shipping McCoy to Buffalo in exchange for linebacker Kiko Alonso.
While Bradford has been more effective than Foles – who is no longer the Rams' starting quarterback – the former Heisman Trophy winner hasn't been great in Philadelphia.
As for the running back situation, Murray has been sparingly used down the stretch in a down season for the reigning rushing champion, while Ryan Mathews – another free agent acquisition – missed time with a concussion.
With the loss of Maclin, the Eagles tried to replace him with the likes of Miles Austin – who has since been cut – and underperforming rookie Nelson Agholor.
NEW YORK GIANTS
Headline:As The Giants Are Eliminated From The Playoff Race Once Again, Tom Coughlin's Future Comes Into Focus
Could Sunday's game against the Eagles at MetLife Stadium be the last of Coughlin's tenure in New York?
What this means for the Redskins:While the Giants had already been eliminated from playoff contention before playing the Vikings on Sunday Night Football, and they were without their best offensive weapon in Odell Beckham Jr., New York got embarrassed on national TV as they fell by a final of 49-17.
With the Redskins defeating the Eagles on Saturday night, it means the Giants have now missed the playoffs for the fourth straight season.
It is New York's longest postseason drought since they missed the playoffs every year from 1964-1980.
The issue for the Giants right now, though, is what they have invested in the current system with Coughlin and quarterback Eli Manning working together for the last 12 seasons.
Coughlin, 69, is the oldest head coach in the NFL right now.
"It's a shame," Coughlin said of missing postseason action once again, per *The New York Times*. "Again, it's not about me. I'm here for them. If you want to break it all down, blame it all on me. I'm the head coach. I'm responsible. We lose; I lose the game for our players. Put it that way, leave it that way."
Headline:Playing In London, Draft Standing On Line Sunday Vs. Eagles
Sunday's game against Philadelphia has schedule and 2016 NFL Draft implications for the Redskins.
What this means for the Redskins:Who wants to go overseas next season? What about drafting in the top-10?
Both are on the line Sunday, as the loser of New York-Philadelphia will have to play the St. Louis Rams at Twickenham Stadium next October while the winner will simply travel to Seattle to take on the Seahawks at some point during the 2016 season.
And if the Giants lose, they'll likely lock up a top-10 selection in next year's NFL Draft with a 6-10 record.
According to NFL.com, New York will likely be in the market for either a defensive end, running back, safety or offensive tackle.
DALLAS COWBOYS
Headline:Cowboys Aren't Ready To Shut Down Dez Bryant Just Yet
Even though the Cowboys have really nothing left to play for other than pride Sunday afternoon against the Redskins, Dallas head coach Jason Garrett said the team isn't ready to rule out Bryant.
What this means for the Redskins:In a season that hasn't gone the Cowboys' way at all, Bryant is having the worst season of his career due in large part to injuries and never being able to develop a rhythm with any of the four quarterbacks Dallas had under center this season after missing a good chunk of the offseason as he held out for a new contract.
Bryant has just 31 catches for 401 yards and three touchdowns in nine games this season – all career lows.
The Oklahoma State product did not play last week in the Cowboys' 16-6 loss to the Bills.
"You know, we really try to evaluate our players' health independent of who we're playing and when we're playing and where we're playing and what the records are," Garrett said, via the *Fort Worth Star-Telegram*. "And that was the case with Dez. His foot and his ankle have been bothering him for a few weeks now and just thought it was the right thing for him to do was not to play."
Headline:Greg Hardy Will Be Playing For Monetary Incentive
Two sacks away from a $500,000 contract bonus for getting eight sacks this season, Hardy will try to rattle Kirk Cousins and Co. on Sunday at AT&T Stadium.
What this means for the Redskins:And if pride isn't enough for the Cowboys and Hardy, the defensive end could be motivated by a salary bonus on Sunday.
Per *The Dallas Morning News*’ Brandon George, Hardy could make an extra half million on Sunday if he records two sacks against the Redskins to push his season total to eight.
After missing the first four games of the season due to suspension, Hardy has 34 tackles and six sacks in 11 games.
Hardy recorded two sacks in his season debut on Oct. 11 against the New England Patriots, but has just four sacks over the last 10 games.
He tallied a half-sack last Sunday against the Bills.
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