That’s Inquirer Eagles beat writer Jeff McLane, writing this morning about Chip Kelly’s search for a quarterback and finally saying what most of us have been thinking for months:

Kelly flirted with the idea of trading up for Marcus Mariota in the draft, but ultimately he decided that the price was either too steep or that the Titans weren’t interested in trading away the second overall pick.

In retrospect, Kelly probably should have meet Tennessee’s pre-draft demands, however outrageous. There will be options this offseason – Trade for Colin Kaepernick or Robert Griffin III? Draft Jared Goff, Paxton Lynch, Connor Cook, or fill in the blank? Bring back Bradford? – but will any be as attractive?

And can Kelly be trusted to pick the right guy? His track record is mixed. But so are those of the many general managers who were never able to get one of the few difference-making quarterbacks.

Once again, I get shit on every time I bring this up. I had CSN-ers coming at me on draft night when I criticized Derrick Gunn for avoiding the topic of Mariota completely in his Gunn-on-one interview with Chip Kelly. But, here we are, Week 13, and there are no obvious indications about who will or even should be the Eagles’ quarterback next season. Mariota represented Chip’s best chance at obtaining a franchise quarterback in Philadelphia, and, as I wrote two weeks ago, he stands little chance without one.