Sylvester Stallone Sticks Up For Chip Kelly

LOS ANGELES - Following the Eagles' 1-3 start, Chip Kelly isn't exactly the most popular sports figure in town these days. But he's now being defended by the creator of Philadelphia's greatest fictional sports icon.

Rocky himself, Sylvester Stallone, this week called for patience with the Eagles' head coach. In an exclusive interview with TMZ Sports, Sly asked Philly to give Chip some time.

"Philadelphia to me has always been this underdog city," Stallone said. "They come off this slow start and then build up a head of steam, so I don't think it's time for 'Chips ahoy' yet. "Give him time to develop. It's a new time. It's a new era."

The actor also agreed with the interviewer that Kelly should try taking a sip from the cup that Congressman Bob Brady "borrowed" from Pope Francis last month.

See the interview here:

Stallone has been known to opine about the Eagles; last month he criticized the team for cutting backup quarterback Tim Tebow. And Sly, of course, will return to the Rocky role this November in Creed, which was filmed in Philadelphia.