Trade request rebuffed, LB Kendricks eyes bigger role
PHILADELPHIA » Mychal Kendricks said the Eagles snubbed his request for a trade after the 2016 season.
Kendricks made the request during his exit interview with football operations people partly because he played just 16.7 percent of the defensive snaps over the last four games.
“I asked for a trade, for sure,” the linebacker said after practice Friday morning. “Their response was, you’re young and you’re talented and we’re not into that. So I took it like that and was just like, alright, that’s why we have agents. It’s cut and dry. That’s the business. You tell them what you want, they either do it or you don’t and you are in the contract that you sign.”
With Andy Reid as their head coach, the Eagles took Kendricks off the board in the second round of the 2012 draft. Kendricks started 14 of 15 games for Reid, who was fired after the regular season finale.
Kendricks flourished when Chip Kelly took over as head coach as he registered three interceptions and 8 sacks in 2013-14.
After the flurry, the Eagles signed Kendricks to a four-year, $29 million contract extension with $16.1 million guaranteed, including an $8 million signing bonus. Then they fired Kelly.
Last season, Kendricks played just 27 percent of the defensive snaps for Jim Schwartz, his fourth coordinator. No Eagles defender who started at least eight games played less.
Schwartz prefers loading up with cornerbacks against the frequent threereceiver sets opponents attack with. Kendricks, a pass rusher, obviously doesn’t suit the scheme. That said he can’t imagine getting fewer snaps.
“Less? No,” Kendricks said. “I mean, how much less can you do? I guess that’s defined by what teams are running. It is what it is, dude. There are things in this game that you can control. I’ve learned a lot not only about myself but this business, too. It’s all an experience that will lead to a better Mychal Kendricks on and off the field.”
Kendricks is due $4.85 million this season. Including bonuses, he counts $6.6 million against the salary cap. The Eagles would receive a modest cap savings this season but the dead money counting against the 2018 cap would be significant if he’s traded.
A trade of Kendricks would be tricky business for a defense where Jordan Hicks, Nigel Bradham and Najee Goode are the other veteran linebackers with starting experience. Then again, the Eagles are paying a lot of money for a guy that doesn’t fit schematically what Schwartz sees as a trend.
“League-wide 65, 70 percent of the game is played out of three wide receivers now,” Schwartz said Friday. “We played the Giants, there were three wide receivers the entire game, including third-and-one and goal line. So that third linebacker that might not be getting the base snaps that he used to get has to bring something to the party, and a lot of times that’s special teams … Plus, the other thing that happens as far as substitution goes, a lot of these teams, and I’ll mention the Giants again, they make it very difficult to sub because they’re up on the ball every snap. If you try to sub they’re going to snap the ball and you are going to get caught with too many guys on the field.
“The linebacker position has changed, and it’s changed because of what the offense is presenting to us.”
Kendricks would be OK with a trade although he insists he’s happy and fortunate to not only play football, but get paid for it.
“I’m trying to approach every day with positivity,” Kendricks said. “I’m trying to have an attitude of gratitude, bro, and that’s tough. This whole thing that we get caught up with is a game, and you’ve got to have fun with it. And that’s how I’m approaching every day. I’m going to have fun with this and my skill set, whether it be here or somewhere else will be used some point in time.”
While the forensic evidence suggests otherwise, Kendricks insists a trade is always in play and that everyone’s job is at stake — including the bosses’.
“There’s a million at teams out there,” Kendricks said. “You’ve only got to have one of them that loves you or one of them that likes what you’re doing. There’s 32 out there. No, it’s never closed. Everyone’s up. We’re all renting space here. Everyone, coaches included.”