“I like the defense we are on now, I like the group of guys we have in the locker room,” Kendricks said at a news conference announcing the deal. “I’m just excited to get another opportunity to play with them.
A crazy front in front of me, so that’s another factor that came into it. At the end of the day, I just want to be out there playing football and winning championships.” Kendricks is scheduled to make a base salary of $1.138mn in 2018 in the final season of his four-year rookie contract. Kendricks has recorded 314 tackles over his first three NFL seasons, including a career-best 113 in 2017.
He also has 7.5 sacks and two interceptions — returning both for touchdowns. Kendricks, 26, was a second-round pick (45th overall) in 2015 from UCLA. He broke into the lineup in Week 4 and has since been a mainstay as the team’s top run stuffer.
His older brother, Mychal Kendricks, is a linebacker for the Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles, who beat the Vikings 38-7 in the NFC Championship Game. “That was a huge moment for my family,” Eric Kendricks said.
“Obviously, it didn’t end well for us. It ended very good for my brother, and he was able to go on and win in the Super Bowl. Going back home and talking to him and that’s one of the things that we dreamed of growing up playing this sport, so it’s been cool. I can’t say it makes me any hungrier. I’ve been hungry. I just know what I want and I kind of just work to get it, period.”
Cowboys DL Irving signs $2.9mn tender
The Dallas Cowboys have retained David Irving after the defensive lineman signed his $2.9mn restricted free agent tender. After accepting the team’s second-round tender, the 24-year-old Irving is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent in 2019, unless he signs an extension before then.
Irving, who was present at the Cowboys’ team headquarters on Monday for the start of Dallas’ offseason training program, has provided strong production when he’s on the field. In 2017 he racked up 7.0 sacks — second on the team — in eight games while playing defensive end and defensive tackle.
He missed both the season’s first four games (suspended for violating performance enhancing drugs policy) and last four (concussion). Irving has 11.0 sacks in 23 games over the past two seasons and 11.5 in 35 career games, all with the Cowboys since 2015.
The Cowboys originally plucked Irving off the Kansas City Chiefs’ practice squad in 2015 after he went undrafted out of Iowa State. The Cowboys also announced the signing of long snapper Scott Daly on Monday. Daly has never played in the NFL after starting all 13 of Notre Dame’s games in 2015.