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08:10 AM ET 01.04 | Credit Oregon AD Rob Mullens for trying. [After the Fiesta Bowl kickoff, Mullens] declined comment on the Ducks' succession plans for offensive coordinator Mark Helfrich should -- or when -- Chip Kelly bolts for the NFL, as first reported by USA Today. "We'll do everything we can to try to retain Chip," Mullens said. And with good reason. But good luck. Mullens said he's had zero talks with Kelly about the NFL and wouldn't discuss the issue with his coach until Friday at the earliest. That's when Kelly reportedly has interviews lined up, right after the BCS bowl matchup with Kansas State. A few hours before the game, Kelly -- a candidate for the Browns, Eagles and Bills jobs -- was in a shirt and tie and glad-handing with Oregon boosters.

Chip Kelly, Getty Images

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Comment #1 has been removed

January 4, 2013 08:15 AM ET

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Browns, Eagles and Bills? Oregon's looking pretty darn good.

Wawa-we-wa

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January 4, 2013 08:18 AM ET

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Good luck with all that.

Otis B. Driftwood

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January 4, 2013 08:29 AM ET

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I would like for Kelly and about 3/4 to 4/4 of his team to go to the NFL next year.

UTK goes to Eugene 2nd game of the season. Yikes...

VFH

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January 4, 2013 08:34 AM ET

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I think Kelly would crash and burn in the NFL. He should stay at Oregon, try to win a National Championship and enjoy life. That bright star he's got going right now would get snuffed out in a hurry at the next level.

UtahFriday

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January 4, 2013 08:49 AM ET

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QUOTE(#6):

Originally posted 08:34 AM ET 01.04 by UtahFriday

I think Kelly would crash and burn in the NFL. He should stay at Oregon, try to win a National Championship and enjoy life. That bright star he's got going right now would get snuffed out in a hurry at the next level.

No more free Nike swag either if he leaves.

THE BISHOP!

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January 4, 2013 09:00 AM ET

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You have to wonder why a guy like this would want to leave - in terms of long term money (less per year but more years knowing you will have a job) - he will make just as much in college

joet

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January 4, 2013 09:02 AM ET

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Fiesta Tostito Chip Kelly should scratch his itch and just go to the NFL.

He'll be back in college by 2016.

CobraStrikesSI

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Comment #10 has been removed

January 4, 2013 09:24 AM ET

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QUOTE(#7):

Originally posted 08:49 AM ET 01.04 by THE BISHOP!

No more free Nike swag either if he leaves.

HaHaHa!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

W_A_M_U?

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Comment #12 has been removed

January 4, 2013 09:56 AM ET

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QUOTE(#7):

Originally posted 08:49 AM ET 01.04 by THE BISHOP!

No more COOL free Nike swag either if he leaves.

FIFY

I believe Nike is the NFL's official uniform/gear maker.

MISSingIA St.

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January 4, 2013 10:04 AM ET

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QUOTE(#1):

Originally posted 08:12 AM ET 01.04 by HellAwaits!!!

Where's his helmet?

You can't see it. The photo is only from the waist up!!!!

The Oldtimer

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January 4, 2013 10:10 AM ET

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Like Icarus, who melts when he gets too close to the sun, the NFL allure is there for all FBS coaches.

In Kelly's case, I expect him to crash and burn. You can't run fat-cat multimillionaire athletes at high-carb tempo for too long.

GoFloSemis

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January 4, 2013 10:29 AM ET

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QUOTE(#15):

Originally posted 10:10 AM ET 01.04 by GoFloSemis

Like Icarus, who melts when he gets too close to the sun, the NFL allure is there for all FBS coaches.In Kelly's case, I expect him to crash and burn. You can't run fat-cat multimillionaire athletes at high-carb tempo for too long.

I think you nailed the problem on the head. We hear of lots of pro players who have to be dragged out of the weight room, but not too many who have to be dragged off the cross country running course. 18 year old wanna-be millionaires will do anything for a chance, even run if they have to; 30 year-olds who are already millionaires aren't going to.

I suspect most teams know that, though, and are interested in Kelly because he dreamed up a different way to win at the college level, so they hope he can dream up another plan for the pro level.

Traded to Seattle

Salem , OR

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January 4, 2013 10:50 AM ET

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Who is UTK? A directional Texas school of some sort?

postmanx3

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January 4, 2013 10:52 AM ET

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Overlooked here is the fact that Oregon is on the verge of crippling NCAA sanctions so the time is right for Kelly to bail a la Carroll/USC.

postmanx3

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January 4, 2013 10:54 AM ET

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QUOTE(#16):

Originally posted 10:29 AM ET 01.04 by Traded to Seattle

I think you nailed the problem on the head. We hear of lots of pro players who have to be dragged out of the weight room, but not too many who have to be dragged off the cross country running course. 18 year old wanna-be millionaires will do anything for a chance, even run if they have to; 30 year-olds who are already millionaires aren't going to.I suspect most teams know that, though, and are interested in Kelly because he dreamed up a different way to win at the college level, so they hope he can dream up another plan for the pro level.

I heard some sports reporter this morning say that Kelly could succeed in the NFL but only if he had a young team that could play his type of offense. Probably true but I see that type of offense as a one year wonder. Once defenses get an off-season to strategize, they'll figure out a way to stop it. Would be interesting to see though.