Afternoon Round-Up: Kendricks Backs DeSean
Plenty of Eagles-related activity today. Here’s what’s happening:
Linebacker Mychal Kendricks isn’t buying into the narrative that DeSean Jackson is a drag on the locker room, according to NFL.com’s Marc Sessler.
Just talked with @Eagles LB Mychal Kendricks, who said on DeSean Jackson: ‘I want him to stay. I want him to be on our team.’ (1/2)
— Marc Sessler (@MarcSesslerNFL) March 19, 2014
Kendricks went on to call Jackson “misunderstood,” said that he was very focused last year and “didn’t give anybody problems.”
As we wrote back in November, Jackson appeared more engaged this season than he had been in the past. Jackson said that’s because he had “bought in all across the board. Never really had done that in the past, maybe sometimes fighting the system.”
“He’s definitely — on and off the field — been a better teammate this year,” said Jason Kelce. “Just the way he carries himself. Much more involved with the entire offense, much more a part of the entire team.”
Maybe Jackson isn’t an ideal culture fit, but the notion that hurt team chemistry last season seems off base.
— Is Michael Vick New Jersey bound? Could be. Eliot Shorr-Parks with the scoop.
Vick is planning on visiting the Jets, and it could come as early as Friday, a source close to the situation has told NJ.com. This will be Vick’s first official visit, and could be his last if all goes well. And the pressure could be on the Jets to land a free agent, given a methodical and (basically) fruitless approach that has left fans impatient and critical of general manager John Idzik — while the Giants have been on a shopping spree.
Vick is looking for a starting job, but the Jets — while they won’t declare the quarterback situation settled — seem committed to second-year Geno Smith.
Talk inside the Vick camp had a heavy lean towards the Jets prior to the start of free agency. Vick wants a chance to compete for the starting job, and as Pro Football Talk reported, doesn’t want to go to a team that is going to spend a high pick on a quarterback, thereby lessening his chances of earning the starting gig. New York is probably the right play for him.
— And finally, Chip Kelly’s Pro Day tour continues. From Jimmy Kempski.
Chip Kelly is making the rounds at college pro days around the country, which he evidently seems to really enjoy. On Monday, Kelly visited Louisville to watch players like QB Teddy Bridgewater, S Calvin Pryor, and DE Marcus Smith work out. On Tuesday, he visited Florida State.
The player many will associate with Florida State in terms of the upcoming draft is WR Kelvin Benjamin. However, Florida State is absolutely loaded with great defensive prospects. DT Timmy Jernigan will almost certainly be a first round pick, LaMarcus Joyner is a short, but hard hitting playmaker at safety, and LB Christian Jones is a versatile player who can run, tackle, cover, and rush the passer. The Eagles paid some extra attention to Jones at the Senior Bowl. And then there’s S Terrence Brooks and LB Telvin Smith, who could both be Day 2 picks. Just give me that entire Noles defense.