One of the good things that came out of the controversy with Brandon Boykin being traded to the Steelers then making some critical comments about Chip Kelly, was the reaction by Chip to talk of trading undersized inside linebacker, Mychal Kendricks.
Like Boykin, Kendricks has shown he’s a very good football players, but just like his former teammate, Kendricks is shorter than most of the other players at his position.
Kelly let it be known that Kendricks isn’t going anywhere. With a veteran inside backer like DeMeco Ryans returning from an Achilles tendon tear, it wouldn’t make any sense to get rid of Kendricks, who is at the end of his rookie contract.
Kendrick along with Kiko Alonso gives the Birds two of the most athletic and playmaking linebackers in the NFL.
“You can write that down in ink, not pencil,” Kelly said. “He’s not going anywhere.”
After practice, Kendricks told us that Chip had let him know his place on the team was secure.
“Yeah he told me. I’m here man,” Kendricks said. “I think he reiterated it just now, letting me know that you guys are going to be asking these questions.”
“I was always relaxed. In this league you can only control what you can control”, Kendricks said. “So that was my mindset, now I know I’m here.”
Kendricks might not be here next year, but he’s the type of player, who can be a difference-maker.
“That doesn’t even matter man,” Kendricks said. “We’re here to play ball and to do the best that we can do while we’re here. After the season is after the season. We’ll worry about that then. Until then I’m just going to ball out like I’ve been doing.”
That’s the attitude you’ve got to have. You can’t worry about next season, that will take care of itself if you play well. The Eagles defensive coaches must take advantage of the quality players like Kendricks, who can rush the passer, and makes play in pass coverages.
Good!