August 01, 2017
On Friday last week, Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Mychal Kendricks revealed that he asked to be traded or released after the conclusion of the 2016 season, as he was unhappy with his role on the team. In 2016, Kendricks played on only 26.8 percent of the team's defensive snaps.
On Tuesday, Doug Pederson was asked about Kendricks' comments and how he would go about handling something like that from a player.
"Listen, Mychal is on our football team," Pederson responded. "We're excited to have him. We understand, too, and he understands, that it's predicated by a lot of offensive personnel. You watch our offense, we're in a lot of that 11- or zebra- personnel. There's only two linebackers on the field. It's unfortunate. I'm excited to have Mychal. He's working hard and in a good position right now."
With that comment, Pederson said almost in a matter-of-fact way that Kendricks is not one of the two best linebackers on the team. Most Eagles observers realize this, of course, but for the head coach to nonchalantly acknowledge it without mentioning the standard "but there's competition" disclaimer is telling, especially when the No. 2 linebacker, Nigel Bradham, is potentially facing discipline from the league stemming from a pair of arrests last season.
What's very clear is that just like last season, barring injury, Kendricks does not, and will not, have much of a role on the Eagles' defense if they are unable to trade him before the start of the season.
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