Transcripts of selected interviews with Jets players following Thursday's afternoon practice:
QB CHAD PENNINGTON
On the release of Pete Kendall …
Things like this always happen. The only thing I hope is that it works out for him. It's most important that it works out for him and he feels good about the whole situation. Then everyone can move on.
On Kendall's veteran leadership …
Pete did an excellent job last year. We had a relatively young group, especially with two rookies starting. He, along with Anthony Clement and Brandon Moore, did a great job of leading those guys and helping those guys out. We all know the NFL is about change. There's constant change and any time you look or read or hear something, there's change going on. This is part of it and I just hope things work out for him and he can play well and be in a good situation.
On whether the idea of having Kendall on the line this season was a comfort to him …
As a quarterback you step in the huddle and you give the other 10 guys in the huddle your vote of confidence. You step out there and try to direct traffic and do everything you can to make sure they're confident in what they're doing and you're confident in what you're doing and you work as a team. Pete did a lot of great things for us while he was here with the Jets. Now he's moving on and the Jets are moving on and that's how it is.
On how surprising it is to have Kendall leave at this point …
I don't think you're ever guaranteed to stay or guaranteed to go. You just never know in this league. Sometimes the timing is what everyone thinks it will be and sometimes the timing isn't what everyone thinks it will be. I know it was a tough situation for him and a tough situation for the organization. I'm glad it got resolved. People's opinions can go either way, but I'm just glad it's resolved and I'm sure Pete feels relieved that it's resolved one way or the other and he can move on and the organization can move on.
On how he and the offense feel right now …
We're making progress. We're still ironing some things out and doing some different things. We're trying to work on some of the details of fundamentals that we want to get better at and start to prepare ourselves even more and be more detailed. This is just the next step in a long process.
On how he feels after last week's game vs. Minnesota …
I feel good. We've had some good practices getting to the end of training camp. Now you start to focus on resting and taking care of your body and try to get geared up for the regular season and use these next few opportunities to hone some things. But it's not the end of the world. The game of football is going to create some adversity and challenges and you've got to be able to attack those challenges and face those challenges head on. You have to realize that in the preseason you do everything you can to be successful and if something doesn't work out you move on and learn from it.
On the opportunities for Jacob Bender and Adrien Clarke …
Anytime you have change within your team, it creates opportunity for someone else. At every position there's always someone looking for opportunity and when they get the opportunity they're going to take advantage of it. Now we have two guys that have the opportunity to contribute to our team and help us be successful. I know both Adrien and Jacob are very excited about their opportunity and what they can do. It's a good situation for both of them and hopefully it works out.
G BRANDON MOORE
On if Pete Kendall left a legacy with the offensive line here …
I can't speak for the offensive line. But if you want to consider it a legacy, I took a lot of things from him. He came to this team when I was becoming a starter and I took a lot from him. Just watching him go about his business and being a pro, I learned how to approach each week and each game plan. That's what I take from Pete.
On what the line has to do to jell before the season …
I think the offensive line is one of the positions that need a lot of live reps and I think we'll get that this week playing as much as we will and the practice reps. I think there's a lot more experience and we'll get better as we go.
On Jacob Bender …
Jacob is coming along really well. The one thing I noticed with him is that he doesn't repeat a lot of the same mistakes over and over again. I think that's what you want to see out of a young player – any player – to get the corrections and not repeat the same mistakes.
WR LAVERANUES COLES
On if Kendall's departure has created less of a distraction …
I wouldn't say it was a distraction. He was an important part of this ballclub. He was our player rep, and anytime you have a guy that is a player rep and a leader in the locker room — he was a captain last year also — it's always a great loss. I know there were guys that were always together on and off the field. A lot of guys' families aren't here and they were always together off the field as a family. Anytime you have a guy leave with that magnitude, of course he's going to be missed. But you have to be happy for him and hopefully he gets what he wants. The Washington Redskins have a great football player.
On what Kendall can expect in Washington …
The great thing over there is that they take care of their guys. That's their type of organization. They take care of their players. It's a players-first organization. Everything is first-class. I'm sure it's a great situation for him because if they were willing to bring him there, they're going to take very good care of him and he's going to be very productive over there.
On the message the organization sent by trading Kendall …
It's not just the message with him. I think the tone has been set with everyone. Nobody here is etched in stone. At any given time any guy can be gone. That's just pretty much the way it is around here. There's nobody that can say they're going to be here. I had to come in last year and prove myself like I was a rookie. Nothing here is etched in stone. It's a whole new front office and they have things set up the way they want to run things. At any given time you can be gone. If they feel like dealing with you, they'll deal with you and if they don't want to deal with you, they'll get you out of here.
OL JACOB BENDER
On if it feels weird to not have Pete Kendall on the field …
It's different because I would come to the sidelines and Pete would say, "You took this step wrong" or "You did this." I was thankful to spend some time with Pete and have him help me out. I'm going to keep working. Pete helped me a lot in transitioning to guard and I'm still learning.
On if his family is coming up from Maryland for the game against the Giants …
Yes, my dad and my brother. I think my dad is going to bring his [Harley].
On how different playing guard and tackle are …
At guard, things happen quicker, you have to take shorter movements, whereas with tackle you have a little more time for things to develop.
On being given a chance at a starting position …
I feel blessed. I'm going to work my hardest and do whatever I can. Wherever Coach feels he needs to put me, that's where I'm going to play.
On competing for the starting job at left guard …
The NFL is a dream. Finally I'm here, working and competing. That's what I'm out here to do. I'm taking corrections from coaches and I keep busting my butt.
On how seriously he takes being on the left side …
It's cool to be on the blind side. Every spot on the offensive line is just as important as the next except you're in a different stance.
On pass blocking …
I've been working hard on my pass blocking as well as everything else, becoming a good NFL player, and I'm going to keep working. I'm taking corrections from Coach, working hard and keeping at it.
On what he would say to people who think he is not ready to play in the NFL …
It doesn't matter what competition you played against. You are in the NFL so somebody thought you were good enough to make it here. I'm going to work my hardest and show everyone what I have.
