Report: Eagles Chip Kelly Releases Two-Time Pro Bowl guard Evan Mathis

Philadelphia Eagles head coach Chip Kelly has made another head-scratching move. Several media outlets have confirmed that the Eagles released guard Evan Mathis. Pro Football Talk was the first to report on the story.

The two-time pro bowl, who turns 34 in November, was due a $5.5 million base salary this year. Mathis was not participating in any of the team's offseason activities. Reports stated that he was hoping to get a salary increase.

A Philly.com report claimed that Mathis tried to sign a deal that was offered to him last September when Howie Roseman was the general manager of the team. That deal included incentives that would have increased Mathis' annual salary by $1 million. When Mathis attempted to sign that specific offer after the season was over, Kelly reportedly took it off the table.

"We're going to release you so you can see if you can get what you want," Kelly said, recalled by Mathis. Mathis added, "He was cordial and said nice things."

Mathis was reportedly ready to join the team for mandatory minicamp. Over the past few weeks, Kelly and offensive-line coach Jeff Stoutland did not talk much about Mathis, giving the impression that they did not care about the guard's future with the team.

"If you go against Chip, I've think we seen . . . if you don't buy in, we've seen what happens," tight end Zach Ertz said reported by CSNPhilly.com. "Not to say that as a threat in any way, but we want guys that love the process each and every day, whether it's June 1 or January 1 or February 6, whatever day the Super Bowl is. We need guys that are going to come in each and every day and work and I think that's what we're building right now."

Throughout the offseason, Kelly has overhauled the roster and made several questionable moves.

The Associated Press wrote, via USA TODAY Sports, "Kelly, who assumed full control of personnel decisions after his second season as head coach, has overhauled a roster that went 10-6 two years in a row. He traded 2013 Pro Bowl quarterback Nick Foles, two-time All-Pro running back LeSean McCoy and didn't re-sign Pro Bowl wide receiver Jeremy Maclin. Kelly also released longtime starting offensive lineman Todd Herremans, linebacker Trent Cole and cornerback Cary Williams."

Mathis will now enter the free agent market. The Eagles will most likely turn to Allen Barbre and Matt Tobin as their starting guards.