Linebacker Eric Kendricks became the latest recipient of a new multi-year deal Danielle Hunter Jersey , when he re-upped with the club on Monday. After being drafted in the second round out of UCLA in 2015, Kendricks has led the Vikings in total tackles in each of his first three seasons.
The only other player in franchise history who's accomplished that feat was Rip Hawkins, who did so over his first four years from 1961-64.
"He represents us in a first class way out in the community. He's a leader in the defense. He's a leader in our locker room. His work ethic, his prep that he puts in week in and week out, is why he is such a dynamic player on Sunday," general manager Rick Spielman said. "Hopefully we will continue to add players like Eric as we continue to build this roster and move forward."
During training camp in 2017, the Vikings signed defensive end Everson Griffen, nose tackle Linval Joseph and cornerback Xavier Rhodes to contract extensions to keep them from reaching free agency. Kendricks has one season left on his rookie contract. This deal, according to reports by ESPN and NFL Media, is worth as much as $50 million over five years with $25 million guaranteed.
Up next in the extension queue: linebacker Anthony Barr, wide receiver Stefon Diggs and defensive end Danielle Hunter, all with rookie contracts set to expire after the 2018 season.
"The hype is real. Everybody is super excited," Kendricks said on a conference call with Minnesota reporters. "We're always excited to play football here. I think it's the best locker room I've ever been in. We've got the best defense I've ever been on. I'm just excited to play for this team. With the addition of Kirk Cousins, it's not going to hurt us by any means at all. I'm just excited to see how he can sling the rock. I'm excited to practice against him Jalyn Holmes Jersey , especially."
Last season, Kendricks had a career-high 136 total tackles. He has two interception returns for touchdowns since entering the league plus 30 tackles for loss, 26 quarterback hurries and 21 pass breakups. Playing the middle spot in the team's base 4-3 scheme and manning with Barr the two linebacker positions in the nickel defense, Kendricks became an instant starter for head coach Mike Zimmer.
As a rookie, Zimmer once said, Kendricks often ran around the field like he had "too much coffee." He has since settled in well and significantly improved his pre-snap recognition of plays.
"I just don't want to be falling off. I'm definitely going to hone in on my craft, whether that's pass rush, my drops, route recognition, things like that. Run game, my first step is always a little bit sloppy," Kendricks said. "Just always getting better. I'm just trying to take it to the next level."
The Vikings announced the deal on Monday, the first day of offseason workouts as players filed in from their winter habitats and many of them saw the gleaming new headquarters for the first time.
"This facility is ridiculous," Kendricks said Alex Anzalone Jersey , later adding: "I don't know where I'm going yet, but I'm going to figure it out. Everything is really nice."
Kendricks kept the extension a secret, even from his parents. His brother, Philadelphia linebacker Mychal Kendricks, was the only one not involved in the negotiations who had the inside scoop.
This has been quite the year for the family, starting with the Vikings-Eagles matchup in the NFC championship game that went Mychal's way and then the Super Bowl big brother won two weeks later.
"That's one of the things that we dreamed of growing up playing this sport, so it's been cool," Kendricks said. "I can't say it makes me any hungrier. I've been hungry. I just know what I want, and I'm going to work to get it."
Shaquille O’Neal is already known by many names. Superman. The Diesel. The Big Aristotle. But he would like to add another to the list: Movie Star.In ”Uncle Drew,” which opens Friday, he plays one of the former basketball stars (all of them real pros under heavy old-man makeup) reunited by Kyrie Irving’s titular character (first created for a TV ad) to compete in a street-ball tournament at Harlem’s Rucker Park. Shaq’s character, known as Big Fella, is found running a martial arts dojo.
But post-NBA life has been far more successful for the four-time NBA champion. He’s an analyst on TNT’s ”Inside the NBA,” a popular pitchman and an active entrepreneur and investor. He has dabbled in everything from professional wrestling to law enforcement. He’s even a voice setting on the Waze navigation app. This summer he will tour under the name DJ Diesel.
”Uncle Drew” is just one of the projects that the 46-year-old O’Neal has going. Among his favorites is a TBS show he’s developing with Ken Jeong. Comparing their chemistry to Chris Tucker and Jackie Chan Robert Griffin III Jersey , O’Neal says it will be ”`Seinfeld”-epic-ish.”
In an interview, O’Neal spoke about his big plans in Hollywood, why the NBA has gotten soft and where he hopes LeBron James lands this off-season.
AP: What do you miss about playing in the NBA?
O’Neal: I miss all of it. I miss interacting with the fans. I miss having the unexpected adrenaline rush, the doubts, the fear, overcoming the fear. I miss everything.
AP: Do you play anymore?
O’Neal: No, not at all.
AP: How come?
O’Neal: I ain’t got it. Right now, I’m relinquishing all my powers to my son who’s going to UCLA .
AP: That’s a shame. I’d love to see you and Charles Barkley play one-on-one.
O’Neal: Yeah, Charles would lose.
AP: Your post-NBA career has been uncommonly busy. Why?
O’Neal: Seventy percent of all professional athletes have nothing, not even a job, after they’re done. The fact that I couldn’t even call a franchise to get an interview to be a coach frightened me. So nothing was simple. Educate yourself, be nice to people and save your money. If you do that, you should be OK.
AP: You have numerous TV shows and films in development. What are your Hollywood aspirations?
O’Neal: I want to be as big as Rock.
AP: Dwayne Johnson is the biggest movie star on the planet. That’s setting a high bar.
O’Neal: We come from the same place: athletes that transition. That’s my goal. I want similar type movies. I want to get thrillers. I want to get dramas. I want to do comedies. I want to be the next Rock. I want to do a thriller where I’m like a hero and beat up all the bad guys.
AP: It’s been 24 years since your big-screen debut, ”Blue Chips.” Do you feel like a veteran actor?
O’Neal: Well Alan Page Jersey , I have shot 15 movies. I always tell my friends I shot 15 movies but they say, ”Yeah, but if you play Shaq in nine of the movies, that’s not really acting.” I say, ”You make a good point.” I’m just happy to have the opportunity.
AP: Favorite movie?
O’Neal: Oh, ”Stepbrothers.” All day, every day. I know that movie by heart.
AP: What else do you like?
O’Neal: I just got done watching ”Justice League.” I thought it was pretty good. But they held Superman out too long.
AP: In vogue in today’s NBA are big men who can shoot from the perimeter . Could you have developed a three-point game?
O’Neal: No, I would have played the same way. Because you can’t score 40 points a night shooting jumpers. Nobody has, nobody will. But you can score 40 points a night shooting 60, 70 percent inside the paint. The fact that guys are shooting jumpers, that’s just telling me they don’t like physical contact. Shooting jumpers is easy. Anybody can shoot a jumper. But can you bang a guy four of five times and then still have enough to score two points for your team?
AP: You think the league has gotten soft.
O’Neal: Of course.
AP: The Lakers are rumored to be a likely landing spot for LeBron James. Do you want that to happen?
O’Neal: I just want the Lakers to be like they were back in the day. I want somebody that can beat Golden State. Golden State has turned into madness. The thing that would make me very excited is if LeBron James and Kawhi Leonard came to the Lakers. Then you’d have problems in the West. Then basketball would be fun again.
AP: Have you ever talked to Kyrie Irving about his flat Earth beliefs ?
O’Neal: No, because I said it too. But I was playing.
AP: You were in make-up for four hours a day for ”Uncle Drew.” How did you pass the time?
O’Neal: Sleep. When I woke up, it still wasn’t done.
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