The Sports Xchange

Philadelphia Eagles coach Chip Kelly is surprised by Brandon Boykin’s comments suggesting racial motivations in the decision to trade the cornerback to the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Boykin, who was dealt to the Steelers on Saturday night for a conditional fifth-round pick in the 2016 NFL Draft, said Kelly is “uncomfortable around grown men of our culture” in a text message to Comcast SportsNet’s Derrick Gunn.

Kelly was asked by reporters Sunday about Boykin’s comments

“I don’t know. In talking to him last night I think he was stunned, he was disappointed. He really liked it here,” Kelly said. “When he left here last night he shook my hand and gave me a hug, didn’t say anything. I like Brandon. I just don’t know. I really don’t know.”

Other former Eagles have indicated that racial motives play a part in Kelly’s personnel decisions. Former Eagles running back LeSean McCoy, dealt in the offseason to Buffalo, told ESPN in May that Kelly quickly “got rid of all the good players. Especially all the good black players.”

Boykin, a fourth-round pick by the Eagles in 2012, has played in 48 games (six starts), recording seven interceptions and 32 pass breakups.

“He can’t relate and that makes him uncomfortable,” Boykin added in the text message. “He likes total control of everything, and he don’t like to be uncomfortable. Players excel when you let them naturally be who they are, and in my experience that hasn’t been important to him, but you guys have heard this before me.”

Kelly said the Steelers called the Eagles for months about acquiring Boykin in a trade.

“They actively pursued him. They wanted to trade for him at the draft and we turned it down,” Kelly said. “It more speaks to what our depth was at the position. We’re going to have to make some tough decisions at corner and we’re not going to be able to keep them all.

“I’ve always been a Brandon Boykin fan. I think he did an unbelievable job in the 2 1/2 years I was with him and I wish him nothing but success.”