The Sports Xchange

PHILADELPHIA — Brandon Boykin continues to be frustrated by his inability to convince Philadelphia Eagles head coach Chip Kelly and defensive coordinator Bill Davis that he deserves an opportunity to compete for one of the team’s starting cornerback jobs.

Boykin, who is just a hair taller than 5 feet 9, has been one of the league’s top nickel corners since the Eagles took him in the fourth round of the 2012 draft. But both Kelly and Davis think he’s too small to move outside and play press-man coverage against wideouts a half-foot taller than him.

Two months ago, Kelly told reporters that Boykin would get an opportunity to compete for one of the two outside starting jobs this season. But he hasn’t taken a single snap yet with the No. 1 defense in the first two weeks of OTAs.

“He said, ‘I’m looking for you to compete for that outside spot,'” Boykin said of Kelly. “That’s what he said. He’s the coach. He’s a man of his word and I’m going to hold him accountable to that just like he does us.”

Kelly is a big-people-beat-up-little-people believer. Davis has publicly said Boykin is too small to play outside.

The front-runner right now to open the season at the cornerback spot opposite free-agent newcomer Byron Maxwell is Nolan Carroll, a 6-1, 205-pounder who started 27 games for the Miami Dolphins and was the Eagles’ dime linebacker last year.

Right behind Carroll is second-round rookie Eric Rowe, another long defensive back.

Where does that leave Boykin, who is entering the final year of his contract?

“Probably the same (place),” he said. “Inside. It’s two years running with this story and it’s getting real old for me. I’m just going to continue to be the best slot in the NFL. I feel like I am. I feel like my statistics show that, and that’s what I’m focused on.”