[div align=\\\"center\\\"]Eric Kennedy Resurfaces
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Former Yellowknife Wraiths RB/WR has been noticeably absent from the spotlight since retiring at the end of S10. Kennedy was known for being one of the league’s more outspoken players, but left without a word at the end of his career almost two seasons ago. With the recent announcement that Kennedy has taken an official role with the Wraiths’ coaching staff, Kennedy has returned to the public spotlight. With that in mind, he sat down with us to talk about his decision to return.
Q: What have you been up to since retiring?
A: Honestly, the great thing about retiring is that I haven’t had to be up to anything, which is definitely a nice change from the hustle and bustle of the daily NSFL life. Because it’s non-stop. In truth, I have tried to keep busy. I have a few business ventures that I oversee, but honestly, that hasn’t been my cup of tea. I’m basically a silent partner at this point. My real passion is still football and I just want to be involved in any way I can.
Q: I’m assuming that doesn’t mean a return to the field.
A: Trust me. Two years off and the wear and tear starts to take hold really quickly. Nine years took a toll on me and, as much as I miss it, I knew I wouldn’t be able to play at the level I wanted to for much longer. I could have arguably gotten another season or two out of myself, but my contract with Yellowknife was ending and I felt like my performance wouldn’t hold up as well if I kept pushing myself the way that I was. So, I made the decision to go out on a high note. Even as the team’s WR2, I had a thousand-yard season in my final year with the team, so it felt like a good time to walk away. I didn’t want to be a shell of my former self. And, at this point, I don’t think I’d be much use to any pro team.
Q: Many were surprised to see you retire quietly. What led to that decision?
A: Because, at that point, it wasn’t about me anymore. I wanted to make sure that the guys who were going to be on the field in S11 were getting the spotlight and anything I said or did publicly was probably going to take away from that. Retiring is also hard. You’re walking away from something you love. And I didn’t want sympathy; I just wanted people to remember me fondly. We had a great new receiver that was primed for a bigger role and I wanted to pass the torch.
Q: That’s referring to Tegan Atwell, who ended up going to the Otters. Were there any sore feelings over that?
A: I wasn’t really involved at that point. When the decision was made for me to retire earlier in the season, we wanted to make sure that she was given a chance to be our top receiver. At the time, while my injuries hadn’t heavily impacted my playing ability, they were starting to take their toll and she was simply the better receiver at that point. The competitor in me couldn’t really admit it at the time, but I played a very physical style for most of my career and I knew on some level that I wasn’t going to have a long career. The fact that I made it through nine seasons is probably a credit to our team’s coaches and trainers because they did a lot to protect me from myself. So, when I made that decision to step down, Tegan was the clear choice and we didn’t really question that. Negotiations were still ongoing when I left and that’s not the type of thing I would feel right interfering with as a player. I was hoping she would stay on and take over my old role permanently, but that unfortunately didn’t happen.
Q: Yellowknife definitely had to make some major changes after losing both of their top receivers in the same season. If you had known that Atwell was leaving, would you have tried to push for one more season?
A: Knowing me, yes. But would it have been the right move… probably not. I was beat up during S10. I have no clue what type of shape I’d be in right now if I had tried to make it through even one more season. Even to this day, just from the seasons I did play, I have lingering injuries that bother me. But I can walk on my own power and I have most of my mobility. If I’m smart, I’ll be able to keep that. But one more season wouldn’t have been good for me in the long term. This is a tough game. When I made the decision to get out, it was the right one for my health.
Q: Your old teammates had to step up in your absence. Did any of them surprise you?
A: Even with Atwell gone, I knew that we had some great players on that offense. Glenn McPoyal was someone that I always enjoyed playing with and I think he’s definitely been an essential cog in that offense over the years. Bailey Cook stayed around, which is a big credit to him because he started in S1 and he still outlasted me. The guy was an incredible player and he definitely left an impact. That’s for sure. I was also impressed with rookies Antonio Summer and Josh Parker, who really stepped up in a big way. So, they made the best out of a bad situation and I commend them for that.
[div align=\\\"center\\\"][/div]Q: What can you tell us about your position as offensive coordinator?
A: I’m excited about it. As they’ve revealed, I did some work with the team in S11 and S12, mostly this season, just to stay as involved as I could. The team has been going through some changes and, while I can’t comment much on that, I absolutely want to see them thrive and I’m happy to help play a part. I’ve always been very grateful to the team for giving me a chance back in S2 and this is a way for me to give back. And, given that my outside businesses weren’t filling the hole that was missing in my heart, getting involved with the team helped make that transition to life off the field a little easier. But, as I said, I love this game. And I want to stay involved with it.
Q: Were there any talks with the New Orleans Second Line? As a local New Orleans native, the team seems like it would have been a natural fit.
A: Honestly, not really. They’re a team that I’m fond of and, as a local, I would have loved to have been involved with them. If I had left Yellowknife during my career, I would have seriously considered playing for them. But it’s not like I was going around the country interviewing for this type of position. Working with the team beforehand gave me an advantage that I wouldn’t have had elsewhere. I don’t know the Second Line or any other team as well as I know the Wraiths. So, if I’m going to succeed as an offensive coordinator, I think my best chance to do that is with the team that I’m most familiar with.
Q: Does that mean you’re looking to stick with what works and not shake things up?
A: Not necessarily. We’re not in any serious strategy discussions right now. I’m actually in the process of moving out there, so that I can be involved all season the way they’ll need me to be. At the moment, I only know what I see up close, which isn’t as much as you would think. We’ll take a close look at the team and discuss a lot of strategies. To me, the only thing that makes sense is to leave all options open and narrow things down once we’re in a position to do so. And, of course, I won’t be commenting on any of that publicly once I’m inside the bubble.
Q: Admittedly, it does seem strange to return to the public eye after accepting a job like this. Why return to the spotlight now?
A: Spotlight might be a strong word, but I’m excited to be interacting with our fans on a regular basis again. Because I really miss that. I was actually in talks with a few networks about becoming an analyst before Yellowknife asked me to interview for the offensive coordinator position. And one of my requirements for taking the job would be that I would be allowed to speak publicly. Not on strategy, of course, but I do feel I have a lot of insight to offer and I want to be able to discuss the game that I love with the fans. And I’m going to do that in an unbiased way. I’m not coming back just to shill for the Wraiths. As a team, they have some work to do and I’m going to be honest about that. I’m also interested in talking about the rest of the league, which isn’t something I felt comfortable doing back when I was a player. I’m not here to give out hot takes or throw shade.But this gives me a platform to recognize players that I admire and credit where it’s due. At the end of the day, I’m a fan, too.
Q: What are your plans going forward?
A: At this point, I think it falls on me to define my legacy and that’s what I’m here to do. I’m just looking forward to interacting with our fans and doing what I still can to contribute to the game that I love.
Q: Lastly, as a former player, what new Wraiths players have you enjoyed working alongside so far?
A: I already mentioned Josh Parker. He fell into a big role and I think he’s handled it really well. I’m also a big fan of Dick Wizardry. He’s a fun guy to be around and I’ve really enjoyed the time that I’ve spent with him so far. I think he’s also developing really well as a player. I also feel like Brad Pennington deserves a mention. Tremendously talented guy. He was my Quarterback back in S10, but he’s since switched to Wide Receiver and that’s a role that I’ve been really excited to see him step into. It takes an incredible player to make a switch like that and he’s done quite well so far.
OOC Note: For the sake of clarity, Kennedy is only returning as an analyst/commentator and the coaching connection to Yellowknife is purely for appearances. Dermot put a lot of work into putting together the Wraiths’ coaching staff and I wanted to pay tribute to that. As a user, I’m obviously partial to the Outlaws, but the Wraiths will always be near and dear to my heart and they’re definitely my favorite NSFC team. Shout-outs to @White Cornerback, @Bzerkap, @Daybe, @AzhekAhriman, @CDub2, and all of my former Wraiths family.
2027 Words
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Former Yellowknife Wraiths RB/WR has been noticeably absent from the spotlight since retiring at the end of S10. Kennedy was known for being one of the league’s more outspoken players, but left without a word at the end of his career almost two seasons ago. With the recent announcement that Kennedy has taken an official role with the Wraiths’ coaching staff, Kennedy has returned to the public spotlight. With that in mind, he sat down with us to talk about his decision to return.
Q: What have you been up to since retiring?
A: Honestly, the great thing about retiring is that I haven’t had to be up to anything, which is definitely a nice change from the hustle and bustle of the daily NSFL life. Because it’s non-stop. In truth, I have tried to keep busy. I have a few business ventures that I oversee, but honestly, that hasn’t been my cup of tea. I’m basically a silent partner at this point. My real passion is still football and I just want to be involved in any way I can.
Q: I’m assuming that doesn’t mean a return to the field.
A: Trust me. Two years off and the wear and tear starts to take hold really quickly. Nine years took a toll on me and, as much as I miss it, I knew I wouldn’t be able to play at the level I wanted to for much longer. I could have arguably gotten another season or two out of myself, but my contract with Yellowknife was ending and I felt like my performance wouldn’t hold up as well if I kept pushing myself the way that I was. So, I made the decision to go out on a high note. Even as the team’s WR2, I had a thousand-yard season in my final year with the team, so it felt like a good time to walk away. I didn’t want to be a shell of my former self. And, at this point, I don’t think I’d be much use to any pro team.
Q: Many were surprised to see you retire quietly. What led to that decision?
A: Because, at that point, it wasn’t about me anymore. I wanted to make sure that the guys who were going to be on the field in S11 were getting the spotlight and anything I said or did publicly was probably going to take away from that. Retiring is also hard. You’re walking away from something you love. And I didn’t want sympathy; I just wanted people to remember me fondly. We had a great new receiver that was primed for a bigger role and I wanted to pass the torch.
Q: That’s referring to Tegan Atwell, who ended up going to the Otters. Were there any sore feelings over that?
A: I wasn’t really involved at that point. When the decision was made for me to retire earlier in the season, we wanted to make sure that she was given a chance to be our top receiver. At the time, while my injuries hadn’t heavily impacted my playing ability, they were starting to take their toll and she was simply the better receiver at that point. The competitor in me couldn’t really admit it at the time, but I played a very physical style for most of my career and I knew on some level that I wasn’t going to have a long career. The fact that I made it through nine seasons is probably a credit to our team’s coaches and trainers because they did a lot to protect me from myself. So, when I made that decision to step down, Tegan was the clear choice and we didn’t really question that. Negotiations were still ongoing when I left and that’s not the type of thing I would feel right interfering with as a player. I was hoping she would stay on and take over my old role permanently, but that unfortunately didn’t happen.
Q: Yellowknife definitely had to make some major changes after losing both of their top receivers in the same season. If you had known that Atwell was leaving, would you have tried to push for one more season?
A: Knowing me, yes. But would it have been the right move… probably not. I was beat up during S10. I have no clue what type of shape I’d be in right now if I had tried to make it through even one more season. Even to this day, just from the seasons I did play, I have lingering injuries that bother me. But I can walk on my own power and I have most of my mobility. If I’m smart, I’ll be able to keep that. But one more season wouldn’t have been good for me in the long term. This is a tough game. When I made the decision to get out, it was the right one for my health.
Q: Your old teammates had to step up in your absence. Did any of them surprise you?
A: Even with Atwell gone, I knew that we had some great players on that offense. Glenn McPoyal was someone that I always enjoyed playing with and I think he’s definitely been an essential cog in that offense over the years. Bailey Cook stayed around, which is a big credit to him because he started in S1 and he still outlasted me. The guy was an incredible player and he definitely left an impact. That’s for sure. I was also impressed with rookies Antonio Summer and Josh Parker, who really stepped up in a big way. So, they made the best out of a bad situation and I commend them for that.
[div align=\\\"center\\\"][/div]Q: What can you tell us about your position as offensive coordinator?
A: I’m excited about it. As they’ve revealed, I did some work with the team in S11 and S12, mostly this season, just to stay as involved as I could. The team has been going through some changes and, while I can’t comment much on that, I absolutely want to see them thrive and I’m happy to help play a part. I’ve always been very grateful to the team for giving me a chance back in S2 and this is a way for me to give back. And, given that my outside businesses weren’t filling the hole that was missing in my heart, getting involved with the team helped make that transition to life off the field a little easier. But, as I said, I love this game. And I want to stay involved with it.
Q: Were there any talks with the New Orleans Second Line? As a local New Orleans native, the team seems like it would have been a natural fit.
A: Honestly, not really. They’re a team that I’m fond of and, as a local, I would have loved to have been involved with them. If I had left Yellowknife during my career, I would have seriously considered playing for them. But it’s not like I was going around the country interviewing for this type of position. Working with the team beforehand gave me an advantage that I wouldn’t have had elsewhere. I don’t know the Second Line or any other team as well as I know the Wraiths. So, if I’m going to succeed as an offensive coordinator, I think my best chance to do that is with the team that I’m most familiar with.
Q: Does that mean you’re looking to stick with what works and not shake things up?
A: Not necessarily. We’re not in any serious strategy discussions right now. I’m actually in the process of moving out there, so that I can be involved all season the way they’ll need me to be. At the moment, I only know what I see up close, which isn’t as much as you would think. We’ll take a close look at the team and discuss a lot of strategies. To me, the only thing that makes sense is to leave all options open and narrow things down once we’re in a position to do so. And, of course, I won’t be commenting on any of that publicly once I’m inside the bubble.
Q: Admittedly, it does seem strange to return to the public eye after accepting a job like this. Why return to the spotlight now?
A: Spotlight might be a strong word, but I’m excited to be interacting with our fans on a regular basis again. Because I really miss that. I was actually in talks with a few networks about becoming an analyst before Yellowknife asked me to interview for the offensive coordinator position. And one of my requirements for taking the job would be that I would be allowed to speak publicly. Not on strategy, of course, but I do feel I have a lot of insight to offer and I want to be able to discuss the game that I love with the fans. And I’m going to do that in an unbiased way. I’m not coming back just to shill for the Wraiths. As a team, they have some work to do and I’m going to be honest about that. I’m also interested in talking about the rest of the league, which isn’t something I felt comfortable doing back when I was a player. I’m not here to give out hot takes or throw shade.But this gives me a platform to recognize players that I admire and credit where it’s due. At the end of the day, I’m a fan, too.
Q: What are your plans going forward?
A: At this point, I think it falls on me to define my legacy and that’s what I’m here to do. I’m just looking forward to interacting with our fans and doing what I still can to contribute to the game that I love.
Q: Lastly, as a former player, what new Wraiths players have you enjoyed working alongside so far?
A: I already mentioned Josh Parker. He fell into a big role and I think he’s handled it really well. I’m also a big fan of Dick Wizardry. He’s a fun guy to be around and I’ve really enjoyed the time that I’ve spent with him so far. I think he’s also developing really well as a player. I also feel like Brad Pennington deserves a mention. Tremendously talented guy. He was my Quarterback back in S10, but he’s since switched to Wide Receiver and that’s a role that I’ve been really excited to see him step into. It takes an incredible player to make a switch like that and he’s done quite well so far.
OOC Note: For the sake of clarity, Kennedy is only returning as an analyst/commentator and the coaching connection to Yellowknife is purely for appearances. Dermot put a lot of work into putting together the Wraiths’ coaching staff and I wanted to pay tribute to that. As a user, I’m obviously partial to the Outlaws, but the Wraiths will always be near and dear to my heart and they’re definitely my favorite NSFC team. Shout-outs to @White Cornerback, @Bzerkap, @Daybe, @AzhekAhriman, @CDub2, and all of my former Wraiths family.
2027 Words
Thanks to Jangorhino for the sig.