On Monday morning, ESPN talking head Stephen A. Smith appeared on First Take and offered an opinion that fits with the show's opinion-driven profile, noting that Eagles coach Chip Kelly likes a certain type of player.

Smith said that Kelly's decisions, "leave a few brothers feeling uncomfortable." 

"Chip Kelly makes decisions over the last couple of years that, dare I say, leave a few brothers feeling uncomfortable,” Smith said. “I think that’s fair to say. I mean, we’re sitting here looking at some of the decisions that Chip Kelly makes and I’m like what is up? What’s up with that? I mean, it’s like you’ve got to be his kind of guy, you know? And I’m like, well, Riley Cooper’s your kind of guy?"

The inclusion of Cooper here sure appears to make it clear what Smith is implying, right?

Cooper was caught at a concert using the N-word and subsequently fined and sent home from training camp for the incident.

Smith continued ranting against Kelly's "culture" in Philadelphia and again pointed out that "brothers walking the streets" wondering what Kelly's doing.

Reports have begun to surface about Kelly's style grating certain players.

(We discussed all this and more on the Eye on Football podcast; listen above and subscribe via iTunes here.)

“Let’s get beyond the system, the operative word is ‘culture,'” Smith continued. “The culture is what resonates with me more profoundly because I’m looking at a Chip Kelly and I’m like, really? Now, you’ve got to remember, where did I work for 16 years? I mean, this is Philadelphia. You understand what I’m saying? I’m always in Philly, and I’m telling you right now you’ve got people walking the streets and, hell with it, you’ve got brothers walking the streets going like ‘What’s up with Chip? I don’t understand this. I really don’t understand what you’re doing.’ Now I’m not saying I know, I’m just saying that it does strike me as a tad bit odd. 

"I’m going to repeat this. Gone: LeSean McCoy, Jeremy Maclin, you know, DeSean Jackson. Staying: Riley Cooper. Really? Really? OK."

Long story short, many people insinuated that Smith believes Kelly has some sort of racial bias in his personnel moves. (We're not saying Smith said that, but the implication is there given the names he mentioned.)

Smith appeared on his own Sirius XM show later Monday and ranted against anyone who did suggest he would say that. 

"Apparently I haven’t even had the opportunity to pass gas before I’m amidst controversy. Because a bunch of idiots in the world of Twitter and beyond saw me on First Take today speaking about Chip Kelly … and essentially are trying to create story lines and headlines by accusing me of calling Chip Kelly a racist. Ladies and gentlemen, I did no such thing."

Smith pointed out -- as many did -- that Kelly's reportedly already brought in an African-American player in Byron Maxwell, who the Eagles are set to sign away from the Seahawks.

"Byron Maxwell is supposedly going to become a Philadelphia Eagle. Last time I checked Byron Maxwell is black," Smith said. "There’s plenty of black players on the Philadelphia Eagles. Who the hell was saying something about black and white? Nobody was talking about that."

He continued to rant against "culture."

"What I’m talking about is … the Chip Kelly culture. And how there’s a certain type of individual that he apparently likes and doesn’t like. And I have a problem with it because to me some of it doesn’t make any sense," Smith yelled. "I’ll be damn if I apologize that something’s awry to me that something’s a little bit off to me, that something doesn’t seem right. when you’re willing to lose DeSean Jackson last year, when you’re willing to lose LeSean McCoy this year, when you’re willing to let Jeremy Maclin go to Kansas City .. but you keep Riley Cooper. 

"I have an issue with that. Y’all don’t like it? So what. I don’t care. DeSean Jackson, arguably the most potent deep threat in the game. LeSean McCoy, one of the top three, top five, easy running backs in football. Jeremy Maclin, an elite No. 2, a serviceable if not worthy No. 1. All gone. But Riley Cooper stays. You expect me to apologize for that? You expect me to backtrack and moonwalk like the late Michael Jackson, God rest his soul, off of that? Do I need to tell y’all what to go and kiss? I’m not going to backtrack from that. I stand by it. All I’m saying is it makes me a little uncomfortable."

So many loud noises.

Is it possible Smith is simply saying that Kelly doesn't like guys with a certain personality type? He wouldn't be the only one floating this theory.

But he's not saying that, when he could easily just come out and say that. Instead, Smith is allowing everyone else to draw conclusions through questionable public speaking tactics.

Maybe the important thing for him is we're all talking about him. Which is a shame.

Stephen A. Smith is floating weird theories about Chip Kelly. (USATSI)