‘Truthfully, I free superb about my expertise (there) … Now it’s simply time for a brand new journey’
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Laurent Duvernay-Tardif says he carries no grudge towards the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs.
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The offensive guard’s seven-and-a-half seasons in Okay.C. ended Tuesday, when the native of Mont-Saint-Hilaire, Que., waived his no-trade clause to be dealt along with his blessing to the New York Jets.
Duvernay-Tardif opted out of the 2020 NFL season due to COVID-19 considerations. He not solely by no means obtained his beginning right-guard job again upon returning to the Chiefs this 12 months (a job he had gained in 2015), however the 30-year-old dressed for just one recreation — on Monday evening, towards the New York Giants, though he didn’t play a single snap in that victory.
The final time Duvernay-Tardif really performed was in Kansas Metropolis’s comeback Tremendous Bowl victory over the San Francisco 49ers in Miami in February 2020, simply weeks earlier than the pandemic started.
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He mentioned he carries no bitterness about the way it all resulted in Okay.C.
“Truthfully, I really feel superb about my expertise (there),” Duvernay-Tardif mentioned Wednesday from Jets headquarters in Florham Park, N.J., on a video convention name with reporters from Canada and america. “I wouldn’t be right here right now if it weren’t for the Chiefs drafting me in 2014. So I’m actually grateful to the group, to be sincere.
“Yesterday I used to be speaking with (head) coach (Andy) Reid, (offensive line) coach (Andy) Heck and (offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy) — all constructive … In my thoughts the final time that I performed was successful the Tremendous Bowl in Miami, and that’s a fairly good approach to finish a profession in Kansas Metropolis. Now it’s simply time for a brand new journey, and I’m excited to be right here.”
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In an interview with Postmedia earlier than this previous February’s Tremendous Bowl — a Okay.C. loss to Tampa Bay — the absent Duvernay-Tardif mentioned he was nicely conscious he can be in robust to win his former beginning job again, upon his return within the spring and summer season. That activity turned all of the tougher when he suffered a proper hand damage early in coaching camp, which was described as a bruised bone. It sidelined the McGill College grad for many of August.
But it surely was extra severe an damage than that. It was “a fifth-metacarpal fracture,” Duvernay-Tardif mentioned Wednesday. That’s, the bone on the skin of his proper hand.
“They name it a boxer fracture, once you punch any person and break the bone that holds your pinky. In order that’s what occurred,” mentioned Duvernay-Tardif, who earned his McGill med-school diploma three summers in the past.
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Did the damage hamper his comeback try?
“Yeah, for certain,” he mentioned. “For me, I knew that coaching camp was going to be big. I went in there with the fitting mindset, and everyone was fairly impressed with how I used to be knocking the rust off and getting again on the sector.
“In fact the hand damage diminished my probability of dressing and enjoying. After which I feel additionally the truth that I’m a proper guard. I feel it’s arduous to decorate as a backup once you don’t play as nicely on the left aspect. All that put collectively created the state of affairs in Kansas Metropolis this 12 months, and that’s for certain one of many explanation why I got here up with an settlement with the Chiefs to maneuver on, and go to a brand new group (and start) a brand new journey. With the model of offence that the Jets are enjoying, it match with my abilities set.”
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Duvernay-Tardif was requested how quickly he can compete for taking part in time on the 2-5 Jets, though the membership later introduced he gained ’ t play Thursday evening at Indianapolis. He talked round that, however earlier on the decision mentioned “I’m planning on enjoying this 12 months, that’s for certain.”
His contract expires after this season. Will he play subsequent 12 months? He mentioned we’ll see.
“With soccer, if there’s one factor I’ve discovered over my eight years within the league is you’ve obtained to go one week at a time. That’s what I’m going to attempt to do.”
Duvernay-Tardif mentioned he practised “fairly arduous in Kansas Metropolis” regardless of not dressing for the primary seven weeks of the season.
“In fact I obtained injured with my hand, however I really feel fairly good now, really. I really feel I’m in nice form, most likely (because of) the truth that I didn’t play final 12 months. I wish to use that as a bonus.
“Now it’s should a matter of transitioning, studying (the Jets’) tradition, studying the play ebook, studying the system and attempting to earn a job. Within the NFL nothing is taken with no consideration, or given, so that you’ve obtained to earn it.”
JoKryk@postmedia.com
@JohnKryk
