Kendall blasts Jets for 'smear campaign' BY RICH CIMINI DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITER Sunday, June 24th 2007, 4:00 AM Ten days ago, Jets guard Pete Kendall went public with his unhappiness over his contract situation, demanding to be released or traded. His feelings haven't subsided. If anything, he's madder than ever. Beyond the money issues, Kendall is steamed by what he perceives as a "good cop, bad cop" smear campaign being waged by the Jets, and he vented those opinions yesterday in a phone interview with the Daily News. He also addressed speculation that, as the Jets' union rep, he blew the whistle on coach Eric Mangini for running minicamp practices last weekend that may have violated league rules on offseason contact. The NFL Players' Association reportedly is looking into whether the Jets broke any rules. Kendall said he hasn't been contacted by the NFLPA, but when asked if he notified the union of alleged violations, he replied, "I'm not going to confirm or deny any of that. I guess in the court of public opinion I've been tried, but I'm not going to offer a defense or accept guilt." Asked if he believes that Mangini's practices included too much contact, Kendall simply said, "I'm not going to comment" - a response that spoke volumes. Kendall, seeking a $1 million raise on his $1.7 million salary for 2007, is irked more by the way the organization has handled his contract request. He accused the club of trying to discredit him by leaking false information. After a positive March meeting with Mangini in which the coach encouraged candid, two-way dialogue, Kendall was dismayed to read a report a few weeks later that said the Jets wanted to dump him because he's a locker-room lawyer. "When Eric says one thing, and somebody else seemingly in the organization leaks negative stuff about me, it leaves me scratching my head," Kendall said. "It's like good cop, bad cop. "I know I've taken my lumps - that happens when an athlete goes public with a contract dispute - but when the organization starts lying - or maybe 'misspeaking' is the term I should use - it leaves a bad taste." Kendall said the last straw came the day after his minicamp diatribe, when he read several reports that said he was offered a one-year contract in 2006, the inference being it was his choice to take the security of a four-year deal. He called that a "complete falsehood," insisting it was leaked by the organization. Sources later confirmed that, technically, he never was offered a one-year contract. "It's upsetting to me because it gets spun that I've been disloyal to them," said Kendall, who skipped the voluntary workouts but reported to the mandatory minicamp. "To put those things out there - the clubhouse lawyer and the one-year offer - and to lie and retract it the next day . . . it shows me how na?ve and foolish I was to help them out." Kendall played with a bad back in 2005 and reworked his contract to create salary-cap room and now he wants a raise. But he's in the second year of a four-year deal, and the Jets don't appear willing to spend anymore. Mangini and GM Mike Tannenbaum, refusing to be drawn into a war of words, have declined to criticize Kendall publicly for his sharp words and actions. The club also declined to comment on the alleged practice violations, which could result in a fine or, in an extreme case, the loss of a draft pick. http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/f...4_kendall_blasts_jets_for_smear_campaign.html
This has really turned into a mess. Just sort it out sooner than later FO. To me it doesn't matter who is right or wrong anymore , its just a horrble mess that can only infect others.
This will infect no one..Its the business of the NFL..Kendell should shut up and honor the deal he SIGNED and fire his agent who had to tell him it was a good deal with security..The Jets FO is supposed to start redoing contracts of all the players who aren't happy??..come on..PK has no leverage here . he's 34 and on the downside of a average NFL career...PERIOD
He has no friends within the Jets team? Is that what you think? We've all been on teams where a team mate has gotton a rough deal, and as much as you can try to not let it affect you in terms of focus it does have a negative affect. As a player you might not agree with what hes doing but I'm sure there will be some that do empathise.
In the NFL players come and go all the time..its a business and your time is short so players are looking to get paid while they can..Pete Kendell will move on and it won't affect the Jets one iota, its the nature of the beast in the NFL.
Kendall blasts Jets -Daily News -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Kendall blasts Jets for 'smear campaign' -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- BY RICH CIMINI DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITER Sunday, June 24th 2007, 8:33 AM -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Print Email Suggest a Story Ten days ago, Jets guard Pete Kendall went public with his unhappiness over his contract situation, demanding to be released or traded. His feelings haven't subsided. If anything, he's madder than ever. Beyond the money issues, Kendall is steamed by what he perceives as a "good cop, bad cop" smear campaign being waged by the Jets, and he vented those opinions yesterday in a phone interview with the Daily News. He also addressed speculation that, as the Jets' union rep, he blew the whistle on coach Eric Mangini for running minicamp practices last weekend that may have violated league rules on offseason contact. The NFL Players' Association reportedly is looking into whether the Jets broke any rules. Kendall said he hasn't been contacted by the NFLPA, but when asked if he notified the union of alleged violations, he replied, "I'm not going to confirm or deny any of that. I guess in the court of public opinion I've been tried, but I'm not going to offer a defense or accept guilt." Asked if he believes that Mangini's practices included too much contact, Kendall simply said, "I'm not going to comment" - a response that spoke volumes. Kendall, seeking a $1 million raise on his $1.7 million salary for 2007, is irked more by the way the organization has handled his contract request. He accused the club of trying to discredit him by leaking false information. After a positive March meeting with Mangini in which the coach encouraged candid, two-way dialogue, Kendall was dismayed to read a report a few weeks later that said the Jets wanted to dump him because he's a locker-room lawyer. "When Eric says one thing, and somebody else seemingly in the organization leaks negative stuff about me, it leaves me scratching my head," Kendall said. "It's like good cop, bad cop. "I know I've taken my lumps - that happens when an athlete goes public with a contract dispute - but when the organization starts lying - or maybe 'misspeaking' is the term I should use - it leaves a bad taste." Kendall said the last straw came the day after his minicamp diatribe, when he read several reports that said he was offered a one-year contract in 2006, the inference being it was his choice to take the security of a four-year deal. He called that a "complete falsehood," insisting it was leaked by the organization. Sources later confirmed that, technically, he never was offered a one-year contract. "It's upsetting to me because it gets spun that I've been disloyal to them," said Kendall, who skipped the voluntary workouts but reported to the mandatory minicamp. "To put those things out there - the clubhouse lawyer and the one-year offer - and to lie and retract it the next day . . . it shows me how na?ve and foolish I was to help them out." Kendall played with a bad back in 2005 and reworked his contract to create salary-cap room and now he wants a raise. But he's in the second year of a four-year deal, and the Jets don't appear willing to spend anymore. Mangini and GM Mike Tannenbaum, refusing to be drawn into a war of words, have declined to criticize Kendall publicly for his sharp words and actions. The club also declined to comment on the alleged practice violations, which could result in a fine or, in an extreme case, the loss of a draft pick. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sorry you miss my point. This isn't turning up to wall street and making as much $$$ as you can and screw everybody else. This is a team sport where bonding is an essential part of the game. In bonding relationships are forged , usually very strong ones. Ever see players at the end of the game hugging eachother from different teams? Thats what I'm on about. It WILL have an affect.
hahah, seriously. the fact that he's still here tells me one of two things: they're trying to get value for him in a trade, or they really don't feel there's a suitable replacement. i just can't see Mangini allowing all of this transpire if neither is the case. cheers
I seem to remember a few years back when new England had a similar problem. They held on to the player until the last week before the season started and then released him. Because all the teams have their rosters set at that point, he ended up signing for a lot less than he was making on N.E. I wonder if we are going to pull a similar stunt to make an example of him.
well he doesnt have much trade value to begin with and now that he opened his big mouth he pretty much made it imposible to move him cause clubs know they just have to wait it out and we'll eventually cut him. bad situation it's a shame it had to come to this.
That happened to Lawyer Milloy, but he was in his last year of a big contract looking for another big contract. He did sign another big contract though.
He was also was an animal in that first game which was against NE... Buffalo won 31 - 0 & I remember Milloy standing over Brady after nailing him on a safety blitz... No matter... NE still won the SB that year
My bet is that Kendall gets released at the last possible moment or traded to the NFC (Seahawks?) fairly quickly. I'm betting that Tannenbaum and Mangini are less concerned about appearing to be bastards than about appearing weak. Which is as it should be. There's no precedent for renegotiating a 4 year deal in the second year of the deal. It just doesn't happen. the Jets aren't going to blaze that trail, although I do think that Kendall can get them angry enough to try to screw him.
It's funny that he's even being quoted as saying the Jets are starting a smear campaign against him, yet the only one I see talking to the press is HIM. I haven't read one quote from Mangini or Tannenbaum that is even remotely negative towards him.
