Camp Fires, week 1

[Skkorpion]

http://arizonasportsfans.com/storypage.php?Story_ID=485&Category=cardinals

 

[red desert]

Good, honest, well-written perspective. As always.

Thanks.

 

[Skkorpion]

Walter, you had Kendall pegged early and I disagreed with you all along.

This is one of your best evaluations yet.

 

[CARDINALIS]

In order to succeed in any venture you must have a strong leader and the rest of the group should have absolute faith in him. Coach Green has a vision and passion to succeed. He reacted as any strong leader would by letting go of a person who may have undermined the respect he has from the rest of the team.

 

[Crimson Warrior]

In order to succeed in any venture you must have a strong leader and the rest of the group should have absolute faith in him. Coach Green has a vision and passion to succeed. He reacted as any strong leader would by letting go of a person who may have undermined the respect he has from the rest of the team.

I remember Spikes and Kendell mouthing off a lot out on the field last year when things weren't going well.

I never did like that. It was unprofessional.

 

[joeshmo]

I swore I was going to let this Kendall thing rest but after reading this article from the NY area I have to speak up.

http://www.newsday.com/sports/football/jets/ny-spjets083923174aug08,0,47305.story?coll=ny-jets-print

Here are a few sections and quotes straight from Kendalls mouth That pisses me off.

"I absolutely did not call the union [and report any infractions]," Kendall said. "That's not to say that I didn't have discussions throughout my career with player reps. The league and the union obviously saw there was an abuse there, and they took appropriate action. Everybody in the locker room talked about what was going on."

His first sentance tries to tell everyone he didnt complain and brush off the reports that he was the whiner. But he then goes on to say that he has had discusions with player reps(Scott Player), and calls Greens practices "abuse" and the restrictions appropriate. He did the complaining simple as that yet he tries to brush it off like he didnt, sort of like double talk or as I like to call it politician talk. He is really saying, "No I didnt call the union but the player rep I complained to did"

Everybody may have been talking about the practices in the locker room but let me guess who the ring leader was. If you are not part of the solution you are a part of the problem.

Kendall quickly realized many other teams felt differently about him than Green. He said around half of the NFL's 32 teams made inquiries about his availability. He declined to specify which teams, but both the Jets and Giants made a run at him. Tom Coughlin was Kendall's coach at Boston College, but it was the Jets' superior financial offer that made the decision a no-brainer.

"In total, it was the best offer, financially, professionally, family-wise, and the opportunity to play a home game," he said.

A home game? Didn't the Cardinals have any?

"Well, at least the stadium will be full of Jets fans," he said. "We got big crowds in Arizona . . . when the Packers came to play, or the Cowboys or the Raiders."

First of all did about 16 teams give you a call or did 12 teams. Make up your mind.

He then goes out with his usual parting shots just like he did in Seattle. He apparently didnt like the support that the few but die hard Cards fans had to give at the home games. Is what he said true, yes, but all he had to do was shut his mouth instead of throwing out a parting shot at the fans.

End of Rant!

And no more Kendall talk from me, he is out of my vocabulary from now on, and good riddance.

 

[football24/7]

If Kendall is all that, and is the "leader" of the offense, then Walter is right in my opinion. He for one should of jumped on board with Green's system from the beginning. If the stench of last year wasnt enough for Kendall to realize that drastic changes needed to happen, then he wasnt all he was made out to be. The country club that Mac ran was in hindsight the wrong thing. If Kendall was with the Giants, and his former college coach in Couglin, would he complain the same way he did here. Probably not. Do you really think Coughlin ran a country club at BC when Kendall was there. I think what Green did was bold, ballsy, and the right message to all, including the front office. I am here to win football games, and if you are not with me, then get on board or hit the road. No more of this heart crap. Mac preached heart, and never give up. Well they gave up in some games by halftime. I wonder what Mac will think when Green ends up with a better record with basically the same team he had.

 

[Cheesebeef]

Kendall has just been another in a long line of over publicized, over-rated players on this board - I mean if he and Shelton were really playing at almost Pro Bowl levels - this team would have been miles better in both the running and passing games - I mean most teams don't have two supposedly "top tier" Offesnive linemen and still have an O-line that performs so extremely poorly throughout the season.

And if he did bitch about the workouts - well - he's a loser - plain and simple. He should know that in order to get out of the armpit of the NFL - it was gonna take drastic measures to start. Screw him and the rest of the weak-asses who still clamor for the job security and lax practices shepperd by the ulitmate loser - Mac and his patehtic ass staff - tough luck Kendall and have fun playing Guard - which is where he should have been - what a freaking baby.

In case you can't tell - I'm not a big fan of Kendall and would personally sacrifice this season playing the young guys and go 6-10 instead of maybe, maybe 7-9 with Kendall playing his usual mediocre 12-13 games.

 

[KingofCards]

Kendall is going to get a mouth full when the Jets come here.

I always thought he was a loud mouthed jerk.

 

[Sandan]

Just remember, he is playing guard for the Jets not genter. Maybe he is a very good guard, I wonder how good he really is at center ?

I wonder if he thought he was safe so could refuse moving back to guard here ?

 

[Sam Wise]

One question on the article. As I remember, Kendall was asked to go to center after we released Grut and Dishman was a failure. Are we chastising him for signing with the Jets to play Guard and if so why? I understand the releasing of Kendal weather I agree with it or not, But I never thought that Kendall was a loafer or milking it after his payday. He played hard for us and I don't feel any of us have the right to "get on him" about him signing a nice contract with the Jets. This was DG's decision, more power to both of them.

 

[joeshmo]

Are we chastising him for signing with the Jets to play Guard and if so why? I don't feel any of us have the right to "get on him" about him signing a nice contract with the Jets.

Huh!

Nobody is getting on him for getting a contract with the Jets or for playing gaurd. Those are not even close to the issues some have with he who shall remain nameless, in fact they arent even issues. I dont know where you got that. In fact Cheesy and Walter think thats where he should be playing.

At least I didnt even get close to thinking that about the article or the rest of the posts in this thread.

 

[BW52]

Kendall has just been another in a long line of over publicized, over-rated players on this board - I mean if he and Shelton were really playing at almost Pro Bowl levels - this team would have been miles better in both the running and passing games - I mean most teams don't have two supposedly "top tier" Offesnive linemen and still have an O-line that performs so extremely poorly throughout the season.

And if he did bitch about the workouts - well - he's a loser - plain and simple. He should know that in order to get out of the armpit of the NFL - it was gonna take drastic measures to start. Screw him and the rest of the weak-asses who still clamor for the job security and lax practices shepperd by the ulitmate loser - Mac and his patehtic ass staff - tough luck Kendall and have fun playing Guard - which is where he should have been - what a freaking baby.

In case you can't tell - I'm not a big fan of Kendall and would personally sacrifice this season playing the young guys and go 6-10 instead of maybe, maybe 7-9 with Kendall playing his usual mediocre 12-13 games.

Disagree about Kendall`s playing ability.Agree about whining about practices.
My question is why get on Kendall for his injuries and not being available when its out of his control? Did he get injured from lack off conditioning or what?Never ever heard the Kendall didn`t give all he had for the Cards.Why does Kendall get the boot and a VASTLY INFERIOR o-lineman given a FREE PASS for his position ( Anthony Clement)? Since ***** Green is the Coach it`s his choice to pick and choose his guys.IMHO the hiring of DG was a large mistake.

 

[Sandan]

As I remember, Kendall was asked to go to center after we released Grut and Dishman was a failure.

I think PK requested the move

 

[Tangodnzr]

I think Kendall is unfairly getting roasted by some people here, especially Joe Schmo and Cheesy.

As has been pointed out, Kendall never seemed to be any kind of malingerer here.

Nidan said that Kendall MAY have requested the move to Center. I don't think that's any really big deal. If anything, I think if you consider the context of the timing of it, it was probably a combination of :

• Kendall feeling he could do the job at center, at time of need, and therefore, in that respect, being a move "for the team".
• Feeling it was also in his own best interest, to prolong his career.
• With Dishman being such a washout when tried at center, the team had a better chance of filling in a decent Guard to replace him than finding a quality center. Let's face it there just wasn't much in the cupboard at the center position once Grutts could no longer do it.

I also think its not very accurate to place the offensive line woes last year on his shoulders. THAT I would point the finger at Jerry Sullivan and Pete Hoener more for.
Kendall was/is a "heady" player. I don't think Mac's portrayal of him playing at a pro bowl level was all that far off.
He was also obviously the emotionall leader of the O-line, but I think also the team in general.

Remember the preseason game when he got in Jake's face? Wasn't it the San Diego game?

While in Seattle, Kendall was a media favorite, due to his "quotability quotient". He spoke his mind and told people what he actually thought.
I didn't see as much of that once he came to the Cards.

I think Crazy Canuck hit the nail on the head, with his statement about "Clubhouse lawyer". I can see Pete being that to a certain degree.
If Denny Green has shown anything right now, it's an intolerance to people speaking their own mind to "the public" in any way.
And therein, coupled with the fact that Green was probably just itching to make a power statement of some kind, I would venture to say, is why the vengeful course of action he took with Kendall.

A classic example of chopping off your nose to spite your face, IMO.

 

[CardLogic]

Blue-collar Guy: Pete Kendall

I liked Pete Kendall and enjoyed the time he was with the Cardinals. I thought that he was a decent player, not outstanding.

But when I look at the years he was with the Cardinals; and based on some of Pete's own statements and comments from the board; I realize that Kendall was about one thing more than all others... promoting Pete Kendall!!!

Thinking back upon some of Pete's own comments from his radio spots. He often talked like a "blue collar guy." That in some respects is good. Take your job seriously, do your best, provide quality and value to your employer. I believe that Pete did those things.

But the single utmost goal of the blue collar mentality is self-preservation. This is what Pete did best! If you doubt that take another look at where he landed and the numbers of his new contract with the Jets.

 

[Scott MS]

On another note, wasn't it also the Jets who overpaid to get David Barrett? Teams overpay, that's life. You just hope you don't have too many David Bostons on your team!!

 

[Duckjake]

Well, at least the stadium will be full of Jets fans," he said. "We got big crowds in Arizona . . . when the Packers came to play, or the Cowboys or the Raiders."

I still contend that the lack of fans in the stands has a far greater negative impact on the Cardinals' performance than people want to believe.

I'll never forget the Falcons game a couple of years ago where the Atlanta players, running back onto the field after pre game warm ups, stopped and stared at the stands in disbelief at the tiny crowd.

They have hung in fairly well at home but in a game so dependent on mental toughness it has to wear on them seeing so few of their fans and so many of their opponents at SDS.

And I'd hate to think how really awful things would have been if Jstadvl didn't make so much noise.

 

[Tangodnzr]

Since when is "self preservation", of and in itself, necessarily such a bad thing?

A person would have to be a complete imbecile to not have that to "some" degree.

I never saw anything here from Kendall that would suggest his sense of that was "out of proportion".

Now Simian Rice, David Boston, Martay Jenkins, David Barrett, etc....now there's some "Where's there's smoke there's fire" in that regard.

Not Pete Kendall.

And since when is getting a nice contract something a player should be dissed for?

Sorry, but I can't agree with some of your "logic" here.

 

[SECTION 11]

Well, at least the stadium will be full of Jets fans," he said. "We got big crowds in Arizona . . . when the Packers came to play, or the Cowboys or the Raiders."

I still contend that the lack of fans in the stands has a far greater negative impact on the Cardinals' performance than people want to believe.

I'll never forget the Falcons game a couple of years ago where the Atlanta players, running back onto the field after pre game warm ups, stopped and stared at the stands in disbelief at the tiny crowd.

They have hung in fairly well at home but in a game so dependent on mental toughness it has to wear on them seeing so few of their fans and so many of their opponents at SDS.

And I'd hate to think how really awful things would have been if Jstadvl didn't make so much noise.

I totally agree with this. Home field advantage is more important in football than any other sport. I don't blame Kendall, or any other player, one bit for wanting to play in front of a good home crowd. Who wouldn't?

Some say that home field is worth three points. I think that's fair.
How many games would the Cards have won in AZ with an extra three points over the years? More than a couple.

 

[pete]

Well, at least the stadium will be full of Jets fans," he said. "We got big crowds in Arizona . . . when the Packers came to play, or the Cowboys or the Raiders."

I still contend that the lack of fans in the stands has a far greater negative impact on the Cardinals' performance than people want to believe.

I'll never forget the Falcons game a couple of years ago where the Atlanta players, running back onto the field after pre game warm ups, stopped and stared at the stands in disbelief at the tiny crowd.

They have hung in fairly well at home but in a game so dependent on mental toughness it has to wear on them seeing so few of their fans and so many of their opponents at SDS.

And I'd hate to think how really awful things would have been if Jstadvl didn't make so much noise.

I hope it doesn't as this is a pretty piss poor excuse for lack of performance. I hope Green cuts every player that wants to use an empty stadium as an excuse. There are no fans in the stadium because they suck. They sucked last year, the year before, and the year before that. Once they stop sucking and win even half their games, they will have a stadium full of bandwaggon fans.

 

[SECTION 11]

Once they stop sucking and win even half their games, they will have a stadium full of bandwaggon fans.

The same fans that will disappear when they inevitably start sucking again, as all teams do at some point. It's a real hard-core group here in AZ...

 

[SECTION 11]

I hope it doesn't as this is a pretty piss poor excuse for lack of performance. I hope Green cuts every player that wants to use an empty stadium as an excuse.

It wasn't an excuse for lack of performance, it was a shot at the crap fan support. I don't blame him.

 

[pete]

The same fans that will disappear when they inevitably start sucking again, as all teams do at some point. It's a real hard-core group here in AZ...

It doesn't take long! See AZ D-backs. The sports fans do suck in this town but if a team even shows a hint of being good or getting into the playoffs, the stadiums are usually full or pretty close to it.

 

[Tangodnzr]

I hope it doesn't as this is a pretty piss poor excuse for lack of performance. I hope Green cuts every player that wants to use an empty stadium as an excuse. There are no fans in the stadium because they suck. They sucked last year, the year before, and the year before that. Once they stop sucking and win even half their games, they will have a stadium full of bandwaggon fans.

Where in Pete's quote do you see him using that as an "excuse"?????

It was simply an honest, accurate comment, to me.

To me...first the signing of Grutts in 2000 then Pete in 2001 is what marked the beginning of the turnaround in Card's management in trying to insure the team didn't "suck" so much as in the past.

I also suspect that maybe you've never performed much in front of people in any way.
Anyone who has can tell you that the bigger the crowd the more it tends to get the adrenalin going, thats just basic human nature.

To catagorize Pete Kendall as a player who wasn't self motivated and blaming "lack of crowd" for his "failure to get motivated"....is just way, way, way off base IMO.