Tag: Eric Kendricks

Cowboys’ Cooks, Kendricks to battle Saints players… in cornhole

From @ToddBrock24f7: Bills and Patriots players will also compete, paired up with American Cornhole League pros in a test of skills to be aired on ESPN2.

Brandin Cooks has shown himself to be a man of many talents. The wide receiver known as “The Archer” is a licensed pilot in his spare time but is ready to get back to running routes and catching touchdown passes from Dak Prescott.

Eric Kendricks is the Cowboys’ newest addition, a Pro Bowl and All-Pro linebacker who’s played nine years in the league. He’ll reunite this season with his former coach Mike Zimmer, who is now the defensive coordinator in Dallas.

But first, both will step onto a competition field of a different sort, to take on members of the New Orleans Saints in the American Cornhole League (ACL)’s Superhole Celebrity Series.

Cooks will square off against Saints quarterback Derek Carr, and Kendricks will face New Orleans wide receiver Juwan Johnson in an event to be aired live on ESPN2 this Saturday night. Bills defensive lineman Daquan Jones will also go against Patriots linebacker Matthew Judon, and New England wide receiver Kendrick Bourne will battle Buffalo offensive lineman Dion Dawkins; all NFL stars will be paired with current ACL pros in a bracket that will ultimately crown the Superhole V champion.

[affiliatewidget_smgtolocal]

The NFL has been well represented in the ACL’s Celebrity Series in years past. Ex-quarterback Doug Flutie won back-to-back championships in Superhole II and Superhole III in 2021 and 2022.

This weekend’s Superhole Celebrity matches will take place Saturday night in the New Orleans metro area, with tickets available to the public.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

[mm-video type=video id=01hvja7ebn8j399jzn8y playlist_id=01eqbwens7sctqdrqg player_id=none image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01hvja7ebn8j399jzn8y/01hvja7ebn8j399jzn8y-d29fd91437e0f9438e6110d57acabd1e.jpg]

[lawrence-newsletter]

Eric Kendricks heads for Cowboys in free agency plot twist

Eric Kendricks goes from LA to Dallas.

Former UCLA Bruins star Eric Kendricks was released from the Los Angeles Chargers prior to NFL free agency.

Initially, reports surfaced of Kendricks going to join the San Francisco 49ers. However, Kendricks decided to change his mind and instead sign a deal with the Dallas Cowboys, per Tom Pelissero of NFL Network.

Kendricks had agreed to a deal with San Francisco, but getting to play for Mike Zimmer once again was a big reason why he headed to Dallas in the end.

Kendricks spent his entire career with the Minnesota Vikings before playing for the Chargers in 2023, and now he goes back to the NFC and should be a key piece of the defense featuring Micah Parsons.

Kendricks had 79 solo tackles and 3.5 sacks in 15 games for the Chargers, and while staying in LA would’ve been nice for the UCLA alumni, he will see a lot of playing time with a familiar face in Zimmer.

15 free agents the Ravens can sign that don’t count against compensatory picks

We’re looking at 15 free agents the Baltimore Ravens can sign that don’t count against compensatory picks for 2025

The NFL’s new league is less than a week away. With the legal tampering period scheduled to start on Monday, Baltimore will look to retool on defense while making cost-effective decisions.

All-Pro pass defensive tackle Justin Madubuike is the biggest concern this offseason after getting the franchise tag, but the Ravens must also navigate 26 looming free agents.

GM Eric DeCosta has clarified that he’s prepared to lose several key starters and retool via the draft with a handful of 2025 compensatory picks.

The formula is simple.

If you lose more unrestricted free agents than you sign, you are eligible for that many compensatory selections. What round they come is determined by how big their contract is.

DeCosta and other general managers can take advantage of the rule by signing players released before their contract expires. Those players don’t count toward the formula.

According to Over The Cap, plenty of players who can help the team and not detract from the formula will be available.

Here are 15 players Baltimore could sign that wouldn’t count against 2025 compensatory picks.

15 free agents the Eagles can sign that don’t count against 2025 compensatory picks

We’re looking at 15 free agents the Philadelphia Eagles can sign that don’t count against compensatory picks for 2025

The NFL’s new league is less than a week away. With the legal tampering period scheduled to start on Monday, Philadelphia will look to retool on defense while making cost-effective decisions.

All-Pro pass rusher Haason Reddick is the biggest concern this offseason, but the Eagles must also navigate 20 looming free agents.

GM Howie Roseman has clarified that he’s prepared to lose several key starters and retool via the draft with a handful of 2025 compensatory picks.

The formula is simple.

If you lose more unrestricted free agents than you sign, you are eligible for that many compensatory selections. What round they come is determined by how big their contract is.

Roseman and other general managers can take advantage of the rule by signing players released before their contract expires. Those players don’t count toward the formula.

According to Over The Cap, plenty of players who can help the team and not detract from the formula will be available.

Here are 15 players Philadelphia could sign that wouldn’t count against 2025 compensatory picks.

What release of Eric Kendricks means for the Chargers

Why did the Chargers move on from Eric Kendricks?

The Chargers released veteran linebacker Eric Kendricks in an expected move prior to next week’s free agency. The move saves LA roughly $6.5 million against the cap.

The Kendricks move, combined with last week’s unprecedented salary cap increase, brings the Chargers to about $19 million over the cap. With a combination of other cuts, trades, and potentially restructures, achieving cap compliancy is in reach. GM Joe Hortiz said fixing the cap was a necessity at the NFL Combine last week.

Kendricks was largely signed to fix the Chargers’ run defense issues last offseason. While he and Kenneth Murray were an improved and competent duo against the run for the most part, the second level of Brandon Staley’s defense got torn apart in pass coverage. Murray and Kendricks combined to allow well over 1000+ yards combined in pass coverage last season.

Even from when he was signed last season, Tom Telesco structured his deal for the Chargers to rightly have an out on a contract given to an older linebacker. With the new shift to Jesse Minter’s defense, neither Murray or Kendricks are really scheme fits. Both are now set to be free agents next week.

The question now turns to what the Chargers will do in their re-modeling of the linebacker room. Daiyan Henley still figures to be part of the plan going forward after he largely played special teams in his rookie campaign. Outside of him, the room is currently occupied by traditional special teams contributors. Notably, Michigan fits in Minter’s defense like Junior Colson and Michael Barrett are available in the 2024 NFL draft.

Mike Williams, Khalil Mack, Keenan Allen, and Joey Bosa remain the names to watch as the Chargers continue to make decisions throughout the pre-free agency process.

Twitter reacts to Chargers releasing Eric Kendricks

Eric Kendricks’ time with the Chargers has come to an end after one season.

Eric Kendricks’ time with the Chargers has come to an end after one season, as Los Angeles released him on Tuesday.

Kendricks was signed last offseason to provide a veteran presence in the linebacker room. While he totaled over 100 tackles, Kendricks was a liability in coverage.

Here is how the general population reacted to L.A.’s move:

Chargers release LB Eric Kendricks

Eric Kendricks was a first-team All-Pro and a Pro Bowler in 2019.

The Chargers have released linebacker Eric Kendricks, the team announced on Tuesday.

Signed last offseason to a two-year deal, Kendricks started 14 games, totaling 117 tackles with seven tackles for loss, six passes defensed, and 3.5 sacks.

Los Angeles saves $6.5 million against the cap by releasing Kendricks. He was slated to make $5 million in base salary in 2024.

Kendricks, a former second-round pick out of UCLA, began his career with the Vikings, where he played for eight seasons.

The other starting linebacker, Kenneth Murray, is slated to be a free agent next week.

Cowboys Free Agency Targets: 8 defenders who played for Zimmer, staff

When coaches find new digs, they often bring in former players to help lead in the new system. Here are some fun ideas for the Cowboys to consider as the league year approaches. | From @KDDrummondNFL

The Dallas Cowboys have a brand new defensive staff, and with that they will have the opportunity to try and shore up the one issue the unit had in 2023; variance. The Dallas Cowboys had a ton of great performances under Dan Quinn over the last three seasons. Twice the led the NFL in turnovers and two different defensive backs had all-time great NFL seasons under Quinn. Trevon Diggs had the most interceptions in a single season in over 40 years in 2011 and DaRon Bland set the all-time Pick-6 record in 2023. But there were enough performances where the defense didn’t show up, most notably the wild-card loss to the upstart Green Bay Packers, that showed the unit was not all it was cracked up to be.

Now, Mike Zimmer is in charge and while the front office may not rain down on him with draft picks to improve his unit in Year 1, there’s probably a sizable free agent haul awaiting him and his new staff. Often times, coaches like to bring in players who are familiar with their systems and who they know they can trust as bridges to the other veterans they are inheriting.

Zimmer worked for Cincinnati as their DC from 2008 through 2013 and was the head coach of Minnesota from 2014 through 2021. Between his former players and those who suited up for new DL coach Jeff Zgonina (Washington 2020-2023, San Francisco 2017-2018) or run-defense coordinator Paul Guenther (Cincinnati DC 2014-2017, Oakland LB coach 2018-2020) there are a handful of current free agents who might be interested in reunions.

Here are the six names, and where they rank on PFF’s list of top 200 free agents heading into 2024. In addition, there are two players who are currently under contract but could be released before the new league year kicks in who would be under consideration.

Vikings announce new number for Anthony Barr

Barr called up his old friend to get permission to wear his new number

Earlier this week, the Minnesota Vikings reunited with outside linebacker Anthony Barr. But not everything is going to be as it was, namely Barr’s jersey number.

The Vikings announced that Barr will have a new jersey number from his previous stint with the club. In Barr’s initial time in Minnesota, he wore number 55. Now fans will have to adjust to seeing him in the number 54.

While fans may not be used to seeing Barr in the number 54, they should be familiar with seeing the number on the field. Before Barr, the jersey was worn by former Vikings middle linebacker Eric Kendricks. Barr reached out to his former college and pro teammate Kendricks before taking the number, and with his blessing that is the number Vikings fans will be seeing Barr in on Sunday night against the Broncos.

Barr’s number change comes due to his old number already being taken by fellow linebacker Andre Carter. The rookie from Army has appeared in five games for the Vikings, recording just one tackle on the season. Carter also plays on special teams, seeing just over 40% of the special teams snaps this season.

During his first stint with the Vikings, Barr was arguably one of the best linebackers in the league, making four straight Pro Bowls from 2015 to 2018. Barr comes back to Minnesota after the injury to Jordan Hicks to give the team some much-needed depth at the position.

[lawrence-related id=86277,86284,86278,86273,86253,86263,86244]

Chargers Week 9 injury report: Who practiced, who didn’t on Thursday?

Jalen Guyton was a full participant.

The Chargers had their first practice in preparation for Monday night’s game against the Jets on Thursday.

Wide receiver Joshua Palmer was the only non-participant. Palmer was out with the knee injury he sustained in Week 7 against the Chiefs and reaggravated this past weekend against the Bears.

Defensive lineman Morgan Fox and linebacker Eric Kendricks were limited participants with oblique and rib injuries, respectively.

Wide receiver Jalen Guyton (knee) and defensive tackle Otito Ogbonnia (knee) were full participants. They are in their third week of practice since their 21-day activation window was opened.