Jeremy Maclin: 'I still believe in Chip (Kelly)'

The Philadelphia Eagles have undergone quite the makeover in recent weeks, trading their starting quarterback and running back and allowing their leading wide receiver to walk away in free agency.  

"If you would have told me two years ago that that would be the case, I would have laughed," former Eagle Jeremy Maclin said Thursday of the changes, according to Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer. "This is a business, man. Things like that happen."

Maclin signed a five-year, $55-million contract with the Kansas City Chiefs, reuniting him with his former coach, Andy Reid. The Eagles wanted Maclin back, but were unable to match the Chiefs' offer. 

"It wasn't really about money," Maclin said. "Obviously you want to get paid because of all the stuff that you do. But it wasn't necessarily about who could pay me the most money."

Maclin said he anticipated getting a deal done with Philadelphia earlier in the offseason because both sides had made it clear that they were interested in the same thing. However, after negotiations slowed down towards the start of free agency, the idea of joining the Chiefs became more appealing for the Missouri native.

"I still believe in Chip," Maclin said. "I think Chip's going to do great things here. I have the utmost respect for him. Unfortunately, we couldn't get something worked out. But at the end of the day I'm very excited about playing for Kansas City and playing for Big Red."