One of the most intriguing storylines of the summer for the Seattle Seahawks won’t take place on the field, but rather in a courtroom.
Seahawks linebacker Mychal Kendricks, who pleaded guilty to federal insider trading charges before signing with Seattle last season, is still waiting to have his sentencing hearing. That hearing will determine whether he will serve prison time, which could prevent him from playing part, or all, of the 2019 season.
“Well, I can’t tell you how that’s going or how that’s going to go,” coach Pete Carroll commented on Tuesday after OTAs. “We’re very hopeful that it’s going to turn out well for Mike and we’ll have to see how it goes, but we’re hopeful.”
The NFL already handed Kendricks a hefty eight-game suspension, which he served last season with Seattle. The Seahawks re-signed Kendricks anyway, although because of his pending legal situation, his contract doesn’t include guaranteed money.
Kendricks is expected to start alongside Bobby Wagner and K.J. Wright in Seattle’s base 4-3 defense, although the addition of linebackers Cody Barton and Ben Burr-Kirven certainly gives Seattle the depth needed to replace him, should that be necessary.
There is no date scheduled for Kendricks’ hearing at the moment; it has been postponed multiple times. Once that hearing is over, Seattle’s future at the linebacker position will become much clearer.
