[S-Dubb]

Mueller considers trade for Jets' guard Kendall


By Greg A. Bedard

Palm Beach Post Staff Writer

Monday, May 07, 2007

DAVIE — Dolphins General Manager Randy Mueller is looking into a familiar face to help his offensive line.

The Dolphins have contacted the New York Jets about a possible trade for left guard Pete Kendall, a source confirmed Sunday. Kendall was Mueller's first-round draft choice in 1996 with the Seattle Seahawks, when he was vice president for football operations.
Your Dolphins source


The possible deal, which was first reported by Yahoo! Sports, is considered a long shot because the Jets are leery to trade with another AFC East team. However, the Jets are reportedly thinking about releasing a few veteran players, including Kendall. He would be free to sign with any team if he were released.

Kendall is schedule to make about $6.1 million in base salary for the three years remaining on his contract. After watching other guards such as Kris Dielman, Derrick Dockery and Leonard Davis sign big-money deals this off-season, Kendall likely is looking for a raise.

With a trade for Kansas City quarterback Trent Green looming, the Dolphins might not have much to offer Kendall, unless they plan on parsing some salary themselves.

The Dolphins are about $8 million under the salary cap. But the NFL has told them the amount of money they have to sign their 10 draft picks totals $5.37 million, according to scout.com. That figure is seventh-highest in the league.

Kendall, 33, has played three seasons with the Jets. He was with the Arizona Cardinals for three years after spending the first five in Seattle.

The Dolphins have seven guards on their roster, and center Rex Hadnot practiced there Sunday. Following practice, Mueller and offensive line coach Hudson Houck had a lengthy on-field discussion.

The two offensive linemen the Dolphins drafted, Samson Satele (second round) and Drew Mormino (sixth), can play guard. Chris Liwienski and Dan Stevenson played left and right guard, respectively, during this weekend's mini-camp.

[Jetsfan115]

if we could get a 2nd rounder for him i'd be estatic. kendall is being greedy and the jets won't put up with it. i say trade him to the fins. he only has like 1 or 2 good years left in him anyway

[HarlemHxC814]

I like Pete Kendall a lot, but from what I'm reading, it seems that the Jets are getting sick of him. That's the key part though, "from what I'm reading", I'm 75% convinced this is something the media is overhyping. However, if Kendall is acting like this, and the Dolphins offer something extremely good for him, then I say go for it, but picking up Andruzzi has to be a priority (I think they should anyway, but even more so if the Jets trade away Kendall)

[jets0n]

If they dont get a quality Guard to replace him then I'd say this is the dumbest move ever. He's a freaking lineman, how much power and influence does he really have? I can understand trading Coles because he doesn't "buy" into the system, but a lineman? All he should care about is blocking for his QB, it doesn't matter what system he's in other than if he prefers zone blocking rather than man to man.

See, this is where the Jets are LACKING LEADERSHIP! In Indy, that is Peyton Manning's team. No body talks in the locker room, no body speaks out. It's because they don't have that privilege. He is the leader, he's is their captain, EVERYBODY follows his example... even Freeney. This is where Chad needs to step up and shut people up. Ever since Curtis has gone down this team lost it's leadership. On the field Chad is great, but off the field and in the locker room I'm starting to wonder why people like Kevin Mawae and Pete Kendall-- who has been here for what... 3 years?!?!-- were/are the vocal leaders. They are lineman and NO LINEMAN SHOULD EVER BE A VOCAL LEADER OF A FRANCHISE IN A LOCKER ROOM!

EVER!

[Jetsfan0099]

If they dont get a quality Guard to replace him then I'd say this is the dumbest move ever. He's a freaking lineman, how much power and influence does he really have? I can understand trading Coles because he doesn't "buy" into the system, but a lineman? All he should care about is blocking for his QB, it doesn't matter what system he's in other than if he prefers zone blocking rather than man to man.

See, this is where the Jets are LACKING LEADERSHIP! In Indy, that is Peyton Manning's team. No body talks in the locker room, no body speaks out. It's because they don't have that privilege. He is the leader, he's is their captain, EVERYBODY follows his example... even Freeney. This is where Chad needs to step up and shut people up. Ever since Curtis has gone down this team lost it's leadership. On the field Chad is great, but off the field and in the locker room I'm starting to wonder why people like Kevin Mawae and Pete Kendall-- who has been here for what... 3 years?!?!-- were/are the vocal leaders. They are lineman and NO LINEMAN SHOULD EVER BE A VOCAL LEADER OF A FRANCHISE IN A LOCKER ROOM!

EVER!

Why cant linemen be leaders?? Also we have our leader, Chad Pennington is the leader of this franchise, and also Jonathan Vilma. They are the 2 leaders of the team.

[gmany3k]

this thread make no sense to me. what articles do you have that says kendall is making trouble?
remember guys this is still a bussiness and players have to get paid according to their agreements
the papers are all paid liers end of story. leaders and yes men are not the same thing. leaders are born and not made.the NFL is getting younger and younger because the owners can swindle more profits from
the kids out of college but not the veterans on their teams .

[theanalogkid]

this thread make no sense to me. what articles do you have that says kendall is making trouble?
remember guys this is still a bussiness and players have to get paid according to their agreements
the papers are all paid liers end of story. leaders and yes men are not the same thing. leaders are born and not made.the NFL is getting younger and younger because the owners can swindle more profits from
the kids out of college but not the veterans on their teams .

I remember watching In Your Own Words with Jake Plummer, there was footage of Plummer and Kendall in a verbal fight on the field after Plummer called him out after Kendall got sacked for a missed block. He also got cut cause he didn't like what Denny Green was doing and went up against him.

[jets0n]

Why cant linemen be leaders?? Also we have our leader, Chad Pennington is the leader of this franchise, and also Jonathan Vilma. They are the 2 leaders of the team.

You missed the point. The QB leads the team. When people like Coles/Barton/Kendall or whoever the hell it is starts talking against the program and trying to divide the team that's when your QB is supposed to put them in their place. Chad obviously isn't doing that and never was. That's the difference between a winner like Peyton Manning and a guy like Chad Pennington. Leaders on the field are different from leaders in the locker room. Right now, this is Mangini's team. But in the locker room he needs his QB to back up everything he says.

Lineman aren't leaders because they dont lead the team, the QB does. It's the most important position in the game and they take the responsibility for wins and losses because that's what the position entails. That's why lineman can't be leaders.

[theanalogkid]

Tom Brady is a winner, but he doesn't seem to me like a locker room leader, maybe because he doesn't have to be.

[jets0n]

Tom Brady is a winner, but he doesn't seem to me like a locker room leader, maybe because he doesn't have to be.

Yeah but it's unequivically his team.

[Smedsthejet]

You missed the point. The QB leads the team. When people like Coles/Barton/Kendall or whoever the hell it is starts talking against the program and trying to divide the team that's when your QB is supposed to put them in their place. Chad obviously isn't doing that and never was. That's the difference between a winner like Peyton Manning and a guy like Chad Pennington. Leaders on the field are different from leaders in the locker room. Right now, this is Mangini's team. But in the locker room he needs his QB to back up everything he says.

Lineman aren't leaders because they dont lead the team, the QB does. It's the most important position in the game and they take the responsibility for wins and losses because that's what the position entails. That's why lineman can't be leaders.

I see what your saying but to be honest Manning has alienated some members of the Colts in the past. For example - after the Steelers playoff game the season before last he called out the poor blocking of his OLine for the offense's less than stellar showing. I don't really want a guy like that at QB.
If Chad stood in every player's way when they had a gripe then that would turn the team against him. And in Coles' case no way did he try to divide the team - he is just an outspoken player and it didn't harm the team in anyway. The way to keep players like that happy is let them have their say. If you gag them or have your QB tell them what they can and can't say, then the situation will be bad.
There has been no concrete evidence that Kendall is unhappy in NY with his contract or Mangini, I haven't seen a direct quote from him yet.
If we do trade him though, seeing as he is 33, I think we'd at most get a 4th - even from a division rival. In all honesty I don't want him to be traded and I don't think, if it is a gripe about his contract, that Mangini would move him on.

[Jetsfan0099]

We better sign Joe Andruzzi as a insurence guy. Kinda gets me mad that we didnt trade up for Justin Blalock instead of David Harris.. Because Blalock would start at LG then. I think Andruzzi really decline since joining the Browns, still might be alright, maybe its just the fact that players go to the Browns and end up stinking. W/e we better bring in Andruzzi soon, because if we let Kendall go without adding any players we are in trouble. Unless they think Adrian Clarke can be the starter at LG.

[Jetsfan0099]

Wade Smith is garbage also, if he starts at LG I will be pissed. Hes a good backup, but not a ideal starter. I much rather see Adrien Clarke start, because he is a really good run blocker, his problem is pass blocking.