Green cuts Kendall
Move stuns veteran center, teammates
Kent Somers
The Arizona Republic
Aug. 2, 2004 12:00 AM
FLAGSTAFF - The opening of Dennis Green's first Cardinals training camp Sunday was defined not by the players who showed, but the ones who didn't.
He said, then he said
PETE KENDALL:
"My only comment is that I'm shocked and that I'll be moving forward."
DENNIS GREEN:
"From the very first day, I've said the team has not played as well as they could play. No one should be surprised about anything."
If you go
TODAY'S PRACTICES: Two sessions, 8:45 to 11 a.m. and 4 to 5:35 p.m. Open to the public at no charge.
WHERE: Northern Arizona University practice fields, Flagstaff. Parking near the Walkup Skydome.
FIRST SCRIMMAGE: Friday, 7 p.m.
FIRST PRESEASON GAME: Aug. 14, at Minnesota.
REGULAR-SEASON OPENER: Sept. 12, at St. Louis.
Starting center Pete Kendall was informed he was cut as he was packing his car Sunday for the trip to Northern Arizona University, where practice begins this morning. And the team's top three draft picks remain unsigned.
Kendall's release was surprising because Green had spent part of the past few months lauding Kendall as one of the team's few established starters. And when Green named his starting lineup in June, Kendall was in it.
No one, including Kendall, saw this move coming. He had passed his physical and was home when a Cardinals official called him to say Green wanted to talk to him.
Kendall returned to the team's Tempe facility and heard that he was now unemployed.
"My only comment is that I'm shocked and that I'll be moving forward," Kendall said.
Kendall's agent, Neil Schwartz, was more outspoken.
"This one blew me away," he said.
Schwartz said he met in mid-July with Michael Bidwill, Cardinals vice president and general counsel, who expressed interest in extending Kendall's contract.
"Michael assured me that Pete would be a Cardinal for the rest of his career," Schwartz said. "I want to know why (Kendall was released). I don't know how all of a sudden Pete's talent dropped off in the last 25 days. You tell me what transpired."
Through a Cardinals spokesman, Bidwill characterized the discussions as informal, and that no commitments were made.
Kendall's departure comes a month after some players complained to the National Football League Players Association about the intensity of off-season practices. The NFL penalized the Cardinals by making them forfeit the last week of their off-season conditioning program.
It's unknown if Kendall, one of the more vocal Cardinals, was among those players.
Green denied that was the motive for cutting Kendall, 31, who is entering his ninth season.
"From the very first day, I've said the team has not played as well as they could play," he said. "No one should be surprised about anything."
When asked again for his reasons, Green said he focused on five games from last season: losses to Chicago, Cleveland, Pittsburgh, Detroit and San Francisco.
When asked if he meant Kendall had struggled in those games, Green replied that the team had played poorly and wasn't competitive.
"It became clear that we had to make some more changes in that offensive line," Green said. "That chemistry was never good at all. I'd be naïve to think that it was going to change because I was here."
Rookie Alex Stepanovich, the team's fourth-round pick from Ohio State, takes over for Kendall. Stepanovich played both center and guard for the Buckeyes.
The Cardinals also took a center in the sixth round, Nick Leckey from Kansas State, although he's beginning his NFL career at guard.
Kendall's departure and Stepanovich's ascension add to an already shaky offensive line situation. Leonard Davis has been moved from guard to left tackle, resulting in the demotion of L.J. Shelton.
Reggie Wells, who hardly played last year as a rookie, is the starting left guard.
Cameron Spikes is the right guard, and Anthony Clement, who struggled last year, is the starting right tackle.
Kendall's release surprised his teammates, some of whom declined comment. Spikes said you learn quickly in the NFL not to question personnel decisions.
"You just look forward and do your job," he said.
Kendall was entering the fourth year of a five-year deal with the Cardinals. He was one of the team's most consistent linemen the past three years, but he was hampered by freak injuries that caused him to miss the end of each of those seasons.
But Kendall was healthy this off-season, participating fully in all of the team's minicamps and voluntary practices.
He was due to make $2.75 million this year and $2 million in 2005. The team saves that money, but Kendall will count $1 million under the cap in each of the next two years as the team accounts for his $5 million signing bonus.
As a vested veteran, Kendall does not have to clear waivers and will be an unrestricted free agent. Schwartz expects plenty of teams to call.
"I don't think it will be difficult for Pete Kendall to find further employment in the NFL," Schwartz said.
http://www.azcentral.com/sports/cardinals/0802cards0802.html
