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Kennedy embraces his mentor role
By Mike Dougherty | Staff Writer February 3, 2012
EAST RUTHERFORD —
After spending the last nine games on the Giants' inactive list, Jimmy Kennedy isn't wasting time daydreaming about Super Bowl glory.
There is too much work to be done.
"Watching them guys initially was definitely frustrating," said the Yonkers, N.Y. native, who signed a one-year free-agent deal to play defensive tackle for the Giants before the season. "The competitive part of me wants to be out there and play, but it's a chance for me to make sure that I'm healthy, and it's a chance for me to sit back and help some of the younger guys.
"I'm definitely not satisfied with my role, but I'm a pro. I'm a team guy, and they asked something of me, and I've been trying to do everything in my power to help us win. Hopefully, we get that ring, and you won't hear anything from me."
Kennedy, a former star at Roosevelt High School and Penn State, and a first-round pick of the St. Louis Rams in 2003, was brought in to bolster the defensive line and mentor Linval Joseph and the next generation. He spent five games in a rotation up front until a suspension was announced by the NFL in response to a positive test for a banned substance.
He has never fully explained the situation, but the 32-year-old maintains it was not for anabolic steroids. It wound up costing him five games away from teammates. Coach Tom Coughlin and the Giants knew there might be an issue when Kennedy came over from Minnesota, so it was no surprise to the organization.
"The media made something of it, (but) the Giants knew," Kennedy said. "Coach and those guys, they supported me big-time. I wouldn't sign here unless they knew what was coming, and they respect me for that. It wasn't like I blindsided them. I told them, 'Here's what the situation is. Here's what I'm working through.' They knew everything, and that's why I think they respected my professionalism."
He worked out six days a week during the suspension, dropping a few pounds. Watching the games from a distance each Sunday was no fun. And when Kennedy got back on the field, there was no place to play. Joseph and Chris Canty were locked in on the inside. He didn't need any explanations.
"It's a competitive business," he said. "I'm quite sure the Giants wouldn't respect me if I wasn't angry about not being on the field. I'm quite sure they would be like, 'What do we got the guy for?' Yeah, I'm mad about not being on the field, but with that being said, I transfer my anger in different ways, helping my guys, helping us prepare and putting us in this position where we can win the Super Bowl."
And if that requires standing on the sideline at Lucas Oil Stadium in sweats, dispensing encouragement, that's what Kennedy will do on Sunday against the Patriots.
"Jimmy is a guy who could start a lot of places," Giants defensive end Dave Tollefson said. "Worst-case scenario, he would get a ton of playing time. And he comes here and doesn't play but is still a lifter for the locker room. I'm not talking weights. I'm talking about keeping people ready and showing young guys how to be a pro."
Kennedy isn't completely writing off the Super Bowl.
He will be ready to step in and make plays if something unexpected happens to a teammate before the inactive lists are submitted. It could still happen, but there's no sense dreaming about bringing Tom Brady down.
"I'm all for being a team guy," Kennedy said. "That's always been who I am. I went to Penn State. We didn't have names on the back of our jerseys because it's all team. We all sit here and we say, 'All in.' It's not, 'Hey, I'm out, I'm excluded because I'm not in there on Sunday.' I got my work in today, I'm helping my guys win, and, hopefully, we can go out there and leave with a championship."
Mike Dougherty is a staff writer for the (Westchester, N.Y.) Journal News.
By Mike Dougherty | Staff Writer February 3, 2012
EAST RUTHERFORD —
After spending the last nine games on the Giants' inactive list, Jimmy Kennedy isn't wasting time daydreaming about Super Bowl glory.
There is too much work to be done.
"Watching them guys initially was definitely frustrating," said the Yonkers, N.Y. native, who signed a one-year free-agent deal to play defensive tackle for the Giants before the season. "The competitive part of me wants to be out there and play, but it's a chance for me to make sure that I'm healthy, and it's a chance for me to sit back and help some of the younger guys.
"I'm definitely not satisfied with my role, but I'm a pro. I'm a team guy, and they asked something of me, and I've been trying to do everything in my power to help us win. Hopefully, we get that ring, and you won't hear anything from me."
Kennedy, a former star at Roosevelt High School and Penn State, and a first-round pick of the St. Louis Rams in 2003, was brought in to bolster the defensive line and mentor Linval Joseph and the next generation. He spent five games in a rotation up front until a suspension was announced by the NFL in response to a positive test for a banned substance.
He has never fully explained the situation, but the 32-year-old maintains it was not for anabolic steroids. It wound up costing him five games away from teammates. Coach Tom Coughlin and the Giants knew there might be an issue when Kennedy came over from Minnesota, so it was no surprise to the organization.
"The media made something of it, (but) the Giants knew," Kennedy said. "Coach and those guys, they supported me big-time. I wouldn't sign here unless they knew what was coming, and they respect me for that. It wasn't like I blindsided them. I told them, 'Here's what the situation is. Here's what I'm working through.' They knew everything, and that's why I think they respected my professionalism."
He worked out six days a week during the suspension, dropping a few pounds. Watching the games from a distance each Sunday was no fun. And when Kennedy got back on the field, there was no place to play. Joseph and Chris Canty were locked in on the inside. He didn't need any explanations.
"It's a competitive business," he said. "I'm quite sure the Giants wouldn't respect me if I wasn't angry about not being on the field. I'm quite sure they would be like, 'What do we got the guy for?' Yeah, I'm mad about not being on the field, but with that being said, I transfer my anger in different ways, helping my guys, helping us prepare and putting us in this position where we can win the Super Bowl."
And if that requires standing on the sideline at Lucas Oil Stadium in sweats, dispensing encouragement, that's what Kennedy will do on Sunday against the Patriots.
"Jimmy is a guy who could start a lot of places," Giants defensive end Dave Tollefson said. "Worst-case scenario, he would get a ton of playing time. And he comes here and doesn't play but is still a lifter for the locker room. I'm not talking weights. I'm talking about keeping people ready and showing young guys how to be a pro."
Kennedy isn't completely writing off the Super Bowl.
He will be ready to step in and make plays if something unexpected happens to a teammate before the inactive lists are submitted. It could still happen, but there's no sense dreaming about bringing Tom Brady down.
"I'm all for being a team guy," Kennedy said. "That's always been who I am. I went to Penn State. We didn't have names on the back of our jerseys because it's all team. We all sit here and we say, 'All in.' It's not, 'Hey, I'm out, I'm excluded because I'm not in there on Sunday.' I got my work in today, I'm helping my guys win, and, hopefully, we can go out there and leave with a championship."
Mike Dougherty is a staff writer for the (Westchester, N.Y.) Journal News.
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