Kendricks Confirms Trade Request

PHILADELPHIA (973espn.com) - The Eagles may want out of the Mychal Kendricks business but the feeling is mutual.

The sixth-year linebacker confirmed Friday that he asked Philadelphia to trade or release him back in January after last season when his playing time decreased to a career-low 27 percent of the Eagles' defensive snaps.

"That's the business," Kendricks said at his locker after practice Friday. "It's just like that. You tell them what you want, they either do it or they don't and you are in the contract that you signed. So that's it."

Essentially Kendricks is a sub-package player now in a world where just about everyone in the NFL uses an 11 personnel grouping (three receivers) more than any other formation.

In such situations, the third linebacker, in this case Kendricks, plays far less than the nickel back.

The Eagles' desire to move Kendricks is tied to his contract, a four-year, $29 million deal he signed in 2015 when Chip Kelly and Bill Davis were still running things and using Kendricks on a somewhat regular basis.

Jordan Hicks and Nigel Bradham remain the team's two, three-down linebackers now and that leaves little opportunity to make an impact for Kendricks and his $6.6 million financial hit.

"You have to take the small opportunities you get and try to make those wow plays," Kendricks said. "And that's what I am gonna try to do."

Asked if playing in the another scheme would help Kendricks return to the production he once flashed earlier in his career, the Fresno native was pragmatic.

"It doesn't even matter because that's not the situation," he said.

Kendricks, though, claimed he is not disgruntled.

"I'm happy," he explained. "...This is a game and I still love to play this game and I get paid for it. I try to look at the positives. I'm saving my body. There could be some good out of this situation."

As for the trade, Kendricks believes that option remains on the table.

"It's never closed," the LB said. "There are a million teams out there. You only got to have one of them that loves you. [The door] is never closed. We are all renting space here. Everyone. Coaches included."

Kendricks has been working with the first team as usual in team drills next to Bradham and Najee Goode with Hicks limited due to his broken pinkie.

The depth is sparse from there with Joe Walker, Kamu Grugier-Hill and Don Cherry, who has had a strong opening to camp, running with the twos.

DAY 5 NOVACARE NOTES:

-With Allen Barbre gone, rookie center Tyler Orlosky grabbed his No. 76. Also in attendance for the first time was former rugby player Adam Zaruba, who wore No. 80.

-WR Alshon Jeffery continues to show his amazing catching radius on a daily basis. He easily hauled in a badly thrown Wentz ball that was thrown behind him and nearly made a circus catch on a back-shoulder fade that few receivers could have gotten near. Once the chemistry comes along Jeffery is going to be the Eagles' most well-rounded receiver in a very long time.

-Nick Foles has a poor day highlighted by consecutive plays in 7-on-7s. First, he badly undrethrew an open Shelton Gibson down the right sideline and then he was picked off underneath by Aaron Grymes.

-David Watford had an impressive day with route running, showing some impressive doubles moves. The former college QB at Hampton has come a long way after a year on the practice squad.

-Rookie CB Randall Goforth went down holding his right knee after getting tangled up with Paul Turner. He eventually limped off but was carted to the medical tent.

-Najee Goode was the mike linebacker in team drills, filling in for Jordan Hicks, who was limited to individual work and some 7-on-7 action because of his broken pinkie finger.

-WR Torrey Smith made a nice couple of catches on comeback routes against tight coverage in team drills. That's a positive because Smith is regarded as a deep threat and not much of an underneath threat.

-It certainly seems as if the Eagles are going to throw a ton of screens and swing passes to Darren Sproles and Donnel Pumphrey.

-Marcus Smith was signed by Seattle on Friday. With the former first-round pick now on the West Coast, the Eagles second -team DL from left to right was Chris Long, Destiny Vaeao, Gabe Wright and Derek Barnett. The third-teamers were Alex McCalister, Justin Hamilton, Elijah Qualls and Steven Means.

-Jim Schwartz mentioned McCalister as a player to keep an eye on now that Smith is out of the picture.

-John McMullen covers the Eagles and the NFL for 973espn.com. You can reach him at jmcmullen44@gmail.com or on Twitter @JFMcMullen