On December 31, 2014, the Eagles announced they were parting ways with Vice President of Player Personnel Tom Gamble.

The Eagles issued a statement on New Year’s Eve that Vice President of player personnel Tom Gamble was gone.

Statement:
The Philadelphia Eagles and Tom Gamble, Vice President of Player Personnel, have agreed to part ways.

“We thank Tom for his service over the past two seasons and wish him and his family the best as they move forward,” said Howie Roseman, Eagles GM. “I appreciate all Tom has done for our scouting department and our team.”

On the surface this may seem like a reaction to recent drafts that included 2013 first round Lane Johnson, an offensive lineman, who overall has played well but who missed the first four games of the 2014 season because of a suspension for violating the NFL drug abuse policy and 2014 first round pick Marcus Smit, who barely played and was activated for just eight games.

Of the seven picks in 2014 only second round pick WR Jordan Matthews (second round) and DT Beau Allen (seventh round) had any impact. They are the only two who played in all 16 regular season games.

Numerous reports by Eagles beat writers claim this is the start of a major power struggle within the Eagles front office that head coach Chip Kelly is losing.

According to the reports, Gamble was close to Kelly and an executive the second-year coach leaned on despite some recent poor selections in the draft.

Here is a transcript of Kelly’s last press conference that related to the front office.

Q. Barring you getting the “12 first-round draft picks”, how personally involved would you be in terms of keeping Maclin and McCoy here?

COACH KELLY: Yeah, I’m in charge of the roster in terms of who our 53 are so I have to weigh in on that. But I also know there are other factors, salary cap, money, and the numbers and all those other things. But I have to tell them who I want and who I don’t want.

Q. How is your working relationship with Eagles general manager Howie Roseman?

COACH KELLY: Good.

Q. What kind of input has changed in terms of your influence of personnel and acquisitions since you’ve been the head coach?

COACH KELLY: I don’t think anything’s changed.

Q. Do you get involved with the contracts?

COACH KELLY: No.

Q. You just tell them?

COACH KELLY: No, for me to stand there and say, ‘I think paragraph five of his contract should mean this, instead of this.’ That’s not my forte, not my strength. I’m not going to delve into that and say, ‘I think his signing bonus should be this, but let’s retroactive that and only make it for injury in the third and fourth year.’ That’s not my strength. I understand it, but that’s really what he does an outstanding job of that. I think since I’ve been here one of the attractive things about this job, there are not cap issues. You don’t look at it and go, ‘Oh, my God. We’re going to have to cut 12 players because we’re going to be $40 million over the cap.’ He does an outstanding job of that. That’s his training.

Q. Do you tell him I’ve got to have so and so?

COACH KELLY: No, because I wouldn’t take any so and so if it’s going to cost you $50 million and it’s going to gut the rest of your team. You still have to look and put the whole team together. That’s where people make mistakes in this whole process is that I want [Daily News reporter] Les Bowen, give him everything he wants no matter what it is, and the rest of our team is going to stink because Les can’t carry us. [Joking] Sorry, Les, but that’s just the deal. It’s a team game. I would fight for 50 for you. But I don’t think the rest of the team is going to be any good. You need a supporting staff.

Q. Eagles VP of player personnel Tom Gamble has interviewed for openings in the past. What would this organization lose if he were to go elsewhere this offseason?

COACH KELLY: I think it’s the same thing with assistant coaches. As I said earlier, I think we have an outstanding group of assistant coaches. But if they have an opportunity to move on to what they consider is a better opportunity for them, then you’re never going to stand in their way. I think if people have goals and aspirations to continue to move up the ladder so to speak. Some guys are content in their roles, but other guys want to see what the next step is or see what the next seat is or put the next hat on. I think Tom does an outstanding job and if he has the opportunity to do that, then I would support him in anything. And if I can give him any help in that situation I would. But he’s a heck of a football guy.

Look at difference in comments by Kelly toward Roseman and Gamble.

Also notice owner Jeffrie Lurie is not mentioned or quoted in the statement issue by the Eagles PR department.

Some of these reports suggest this power struggle could influence Kelly to leave the Eagles.