Chad Kelly, nephew of Jim Kelly, kicked off Clemson football team

Chad Kelly, the nephew of NFL Hall of Famer Jim Kelly, is no longer a part of the chase to be the Clemson Tigers starting QB. In fact, he is no longer even on the team following Dabo Swinney’s announcement Monday afternoon.

“I have dismissed Chad Kelly for conduct detrimental to our program,” stated Swinney.  “He has had a pattern of behavior that is not consistent with the values of our program.  I hope he will mature and grow from this and become the man and player I know he can be. I wish him nothing but the best in the future academically and athletically.”

There reportedly was an argument between Kelly and the coaching staff during the team’s Orange and White game on Saturday. According to an AP report he disagreed with their decision regarding going for it on a fourth down play. He was benched during the second half of the game following two interceptions. Kelly, a sophomore, was in a three-way race for the starting QB slot competing against senior Cole Stoudt and freshman Deshaun Watson.

Kelly was a red-shirt for the 2012 season then suffered a torn ACL during the 2013 Spring Game. He did play in the SC State game on September 7th. During the 2013 season, he played five games, was 10-17 in passing with a total of 58 yards. He had 16 rushes for 117 yards with a touchdown. Of those rushes, seven were at Virginia with 56 yards.

Clemson's Tajh Boyd denies gambling rumors

The Clemson Tigers had a miserable weekend. The Tigers suffered a 51-14 loss to the Florida State Seminoles and to top it off there were rumors that quarterback Tajh Boyd owed more than $80,000 in gambling debts.

Serious allegations to derail a season. Of course the story came out before the biggest game of the season.

 Just before kickoff against FSU Saturday night, IBNSportsWrap.com published a story alleging Tajh Boyd owed more than $80,000 worth of gambling debt to bookies.

The site says Boyd bet on NFL games and a college football game. It's a story both Swinney and Boyd deny.

"He said just, 'No way, coach,'" said Swinney. "It's just disappointing. We live in a world where things like that happen, you know, and again, I have no reason to think he would lie to me."

"It was kind of shocking to me as well, but I guess stuff like that happens sometimes said Boyd of the report. 

“I don't really know where that came from,” Boyd said, according to The State. “When I heard it, it was pretty shocking. That being built on top of the loss made it a rough little weekend.”

There better be some truth to the rumor because Boyd's mother told TheClemsonInsider.com that the family was considering legal action against the source of the story.

“These reports are totally false,” Carla Boyd said. “Please leave my son alone.” 

Both Dabo Swinney and Clemson athletic director Dan Radakovich (whose compliance office looked into the matter over the weekend as part of its due diligence) said there was nothing to the reports.

As a fan I hope there is no truth to the story.