Kendall saga takes another interesting twist
By ANDREW GROSS
THE JOURNAL NEWS
(Original publication: August 19, 2007)
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - Pete Kendall could control his emotions. He just couldn't hide his sarcasm.
"I would hope to be evaluated as a guard and I believe the determination had been made I was a guard,'' the 12-year veteran said after being used at both left guard and center in Friday night's 37-20 loss to the Vikings. "That's how I view myself. Then again, I don't control where I play. If it's tackle next week or punter, I'll do the best I can.''
Kendall has requested, and thus far not received, either his release or a trade away from Gang Green. He claims the Jets have reneged on an offseason verbal agreement to restore $1 million in salary that he had cut from his previous deal.
The second preseason game added a new twist to Kendall's less than excellent training-camp adventure. After the Jets surprised him by starting to use him as a second-team center in practice last Sunday, Kendall was used in that position in the third and fourth quarters against the Vikings.
Two of his shotgun snaps went awry, including one that went over quarterback Kellen Clemens' head and was recovered by the Vikings for a touchdown.
"I can't blame anybody but myself - I'm the one who pulled the ball, obviously it was awful,'' said Kendall, adding he approached the coaching staff to express his discomfort at being used as a center. "I don't control where I play. I don't control when I play. I don't control who I play for. So I'm going to go out there and do it. I did the best I could. The shotgun snaps were awful. It cost the team a touchdown.''
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Kendall saga takes another interesting twist