For Kendall, Time For 'Business'

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Pete Kendall knows the drill.

He is about to become a free agent in the NFL marketplace for the third time in his 13-year career.

Time to talk to his agent.

Time to gauge interest from the league.

Time to reevaluate his future in the profession.

In short, time for the business side of the game.

In 2008, Kendall showed that, at age 35, he still has plenty left in the tank as a starting left guard.

He completed his season in Washington by playing in all 16 games. He was a force alongside Chris Samuels, especially in the run game.

Of course, Kendall knows that the Redskins may want to get younger on the offensive line.

Last offseason, the team may have drafted his eventual replacement in Chad Rinehart, the fresh-faced rookie lineman out of Northern Iowa.

Kendall indicated he would be happy to return to Washington in 2009.

“I feel like it has been a good fit,” Kendall said. “I have a lot of respect for the guys in this locker room and the things we’ve gone through as a team. Unfortunately we did not win enough games to get back into the playoffs.

“But I think this is a good organization and I think there’s lot of talent here. I think in 2009 this team has a chance to make a run at the playoffs again.”

He added: “Most guys are in my situation, whether they have a contract or not, because teams can let you go whenever they want. But I feel good about how I played this year. I understand the business side of it. I would just like to have some resolution sooner rather than later.”

Should the Redskins decide to go with Rinehart, or another young offensive lineman, then it seems unlikely that Kendall could return.

Kendall’s best bargaining chip with the Redskins is that coaches should know what to expect from him.

Rinehart did not play in a game in 2008, so he remains an unknown quantity beyond the practice fields.

“I think it’s harder to evaluate a player in practice than it is in games,” Kendall said, responding to a question about Rinehart's readiness. “But teams make the decision to go forward with the guys they want to go forward with. They have a right to play who they want to play.”