Chip Kelly NFL rumors: Browns restart search, Oregon still in play

After initial rumors that said Oregon head coach Chip Kelly was "close" to a deal with the Cleveland Browns, new reports have surfaced that Kelly will not be the head coach of the Cleveland Browns.

Browns owner Jimmy Haslam and execs are headed back to Browns. Sources say they will reboot coach search without Chip Kelly in the fold.

— Chris Mortensen (@mortreport) January 6, 2013

Kelly is now reported to be choosing between the Philadelphia Eagles and staying at Oregon, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.

Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com, Mary Kay Cabot of the Plain Dealer and Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports are all reporting that Chip Kelly is leaning towards staying at Oregon, once again turning down the opportunity to join the NFL ranks.

According to one report, issues of roster control were a key point in the negotiations between Kelly and the NFL teams pursuing him. The Eagles left most the personnel matters to Andy Reid when he was the coach there, with GM Howie Roseman handling cap and contract matters with aplomb. Cleveland's structure, or what they offered Kelly, isn't so clear.

Chip Kelly removing himself from the Cleveland job strikes a huge blow to Browns organization, who expected to revitalize their offense under the coach's schemes. Kelly is 46-7 in his four-year tenure at Oregon and has played in a BCS bowl each of those four seasons. He is 2-2 in bowls, after defeating Kansas State in the Fiesta Bowl last week. He lost the BCS National Championship to Auburn in 2010.