Jets fans might have been more than a little quizzical about the potential motivation of disgruntled guard Pete Kendall during Friday night's preseason game against the Vikings, when he snapped the ball way over Kellen Clemens' head and led to a fumble that was returned for a touchdown by Minnesota. He also had another botched snap.
Kendall is having a continuing contract beef with the Jets, and has let it be known that he's none too happy about getting snaps at center. So would he puposely botch the snap to make a point to head coach Eric Mangini and GM Mike Tannenbaum?
"No," he said after practice this morning, echoing his claim to reporters after the game that he simply played poorly. "Why would I put Kellen in that situation? It's unbelievable to me that people would ask. I guess if you take a certain position in this situation, then anything you can use to justify your position, then that's what you're going to do about it. I would not do that to my teammates on purpose."
We buy Kendall's explanation on that, and his previous problems playing center when called upon in the past lead you to believe that it's a matter of technical difficulties. Besides, the guy has said just about anything and everything to force his way off the team, so he doesn't need to make a statement on the field to justify his anger over the contract impasse. Kendall said he has had no problem with his teammates over his frustrations with the contract.
I asked Kendall what his gut feeling was about the eventual outcome of his situation, and he said he simply didn't know. I asked what he'd do if the season started and he was the team's starting left guard, which is a distinct possibility.
"We'll cross that bridge when we get to it," he said. "I don't know what the plan is. I'm just trying to get through the day."
Stay tuned on this one. Absent a $1 million raise on his $1.7 million contract, the Kendall mess will stay ugly.