Dallas Desperados sign former NFL Pro Bowl lineman Lincoln Kennedy
January 23, 2007 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Dallas Desperados News Release
The Dallas Desperados announced Tuesday the free agent signing of offensive lineman Lincoln Kennedy. Kennedy joins the Desperados after an 11-year NFL career that included three consecutive trips to the Pro Bowl (2000-02).
"Lincoln Kennedy is an experienced All-Pro veteran of the NFL, and we are counting on his experience and ability to help us win a championship," Desperados head coach Will McClay said. "Under the new rules, protecting the quarterback has become even more important and we expect Lincoln to work in conjunction with Jeff Chase, Terrance Dotsy, Devin Wyman and the rest of our linemen from last year. With great players, great coaching and great play from the quarterback, we only gave up two sacks last season, and we are continuing to improve to make that stat a trend for Desperados football."
Kennedy was drafted by the Atlanta Falcons in the first round (ninth overall) of the 1993 NFL Draft. He started all 16 games at left guard for the Falcons as a rookie and was named to the NFL's All-Rookie Team. After playing in all 16 games through his next two NFL seasons, Kennedy was traded to the Oakland Raiders prior to the start of the 1996 training camp. He started all 16 games for Oakland from 1996-1998. He started 15 games in 1999 for the Raiders before an injury forced him out of the season finale. He returned in 2000 to man the starting right tackle position for all 16 games and earned his first trip to the Pro Bowl. In 2001, he started 15 regular season games and the Raiders two postseason contests in 2001 en route to his second consecutive Pro Bowl selection. In 2002, once again started 15 regular season games along with Oakland's three postseason contests, including the Super Bowl XXXVII match up against Tampa Bay, to earn his third straight trip to the Pro Bowl. He returned to Oakland in 2003 but struggled through injuries, starting 10-of-12 games. Following the 2003 season, Kennedy retired from the NFL.
"Lincoln will have to knock the rust off and be humble enough to understand this is a new game, and he is just one of the guys trying to make this team better," McClay said. "What impresses me most about Lincoln is his character, which is what we build this team on last year, and will continue to do. He is committed to being the best lineman in this league and also committed to helping us win a championship. That is all I can ask for."
Kennedy was an All-America and All-PAC 10 offensive lineman at the University of Washington. He won the Outland Trophy and was a Lombardi Award finalist as a senior. He won the Morris Trophy as the nation's top lineman in 1991. The four-year letterman helped lead Washington to a 12-0 record and a National Championship in 1991.
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