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Raheem Mostert of the San Francisco 49ers
Generally, when a man will get reduce within the NFL, that’s it. Sayonara. He by no means will get heard from once more.
For Raheem Mostert, it was somewhat extra sophisticated than that. There’s a small contingent of Eagles followers, primarily the web trolls and pot stirrers, who really feel the crew made an enormous mistake by releasing Mostert in 2015.
Be mindful, the undrafted rookie was buried behind extra established gamers like DeMarco Murray, Ryan Mathews, Darren Sproles and Kenjon Barner on the depth chart. Chip Kelly went out of his method to give Mostert an opportunity and tried to stash him on the apply squad however the Miami Dolphins plucked him away and the remaining is historical past.
Let’s be clear, there isn’t any love misplaced for Kelly in Philadelphia. The choice to chop Mostert was a troublesome one for the previous Eagles coach. For starters, Mostert had loved a stellar preseason in 2015 the place he led the whole NFL in yards from scrimmage (351).
He additionally caught 14 passes for 194 yards and rushed 39 instances for 157 yards, capping the exhibition slate by busting free for 162 yards within the finale. Sure, the potential was there and Kelly knew it. He typically gushed concerning the speedy child out of Purdue.
“Mostert did a extremely good job, and we’re enthusiastic about him,” Kelly mentioned in 2015, through Bleacher Report. “He’s an actual pace man and will issue within the kick return sport. He was the 100-meter champion within the Massive Ten. I feel he’s an attention-grabbing man to control right here on this preseason camp.”
Kelly, after all, was fired by the Eagles towards the top of the 2015 season and the 2 males went their separate methods.
Kelly Palms Mostert Second Probability in San Francisco
The connection between Chip Kelly and Raheem Mostert could have had its first chapter in Philadephia however the storybook ending could be years away.
In 2016, Kelly was again patrolling a sideline as head coach of the San Francisco 49ers and he wanted a operating again. He signed Mostert to the 49ers apply squad on Nov. 28 and promoted him to the lively roster on Dec. 31 and threw him into the hearth in Week 17.
He rushed one time for six yards in that sport however proved to be a useful contributor on particular groups (68 return yards). Clearly, Kelly noticed one thing in Mostert and wished to include him into the 49ers’ offense. One downside, the top coach was fired on the finish of the 2017 season.
Incoming San Francisco GM John Lynch appreciated Mostert sufficient to offer him an opportunity on particular groups. He made probably the most of his alternative and the franchise even rewarded him with a three-year contract price $eight.7 million, per NBC Sports activities Bay Space. Mostert could have by no means gotten his second likelihood at a recent begin with out Kelly.
“Not everyone can take care of that kind of stress and ache and agony that I went by,” Mostert mentioned, through NBC Sports activities Bay Space. “However I saved the religion in not solely myself however whoever gave me the chance. This group has accomplished an amazing job of that.”
Mostert Credit Philadelphia for Soar-Beginning Profession
As some nay-sayers were blaming the Eagles’ group for letting Raheem Mostert slip away, the 27-year-old operating again certainly wasn’t sulking.
He ran for 220 yards and 4 touchdowns within the NFC Championship Recreation for the 49ers. In doing so, Mostert turned the primary participant in NFL historical past to hurry for 4 touchdowns and greater than 200 yards.
After the sport, Mostert reflected on his lengthy journey to get to the head soccer after main San Francisco to Tremendous Bowl LIV. Six totally different groups had handed on his companies early in his profession, together with the Eagles, Browns, Dolphins, Ravens, Bears and Jets. He defied all odds.
“I truly nonetheless have the reduce dates and I take a look at that earlier than each sport,” Mostert instructed reporters. “I take a look at the reduce dates. After I received reduce.”
Each crew aside from perhaps the Eagles. He nonetheless has a mushy spot for Philadelphia in spite of everything these years. In line with his agent Brett Tessler, Philadelphia was “nice to us and now we have nothing however fond recollections of beginning our profession there.” And Mostert is welcome again anytime.
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