Branden Albert's Huge Balls
12-09-2005, 01:44 AM
http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/sports/football/nfl/kansas_city_chiefs/13363984.htm
POPULAR CHIEF MAKES THINGS MERRY
He gives and receives
But Kennison hasn’t grabbed a lot of attention this season
By ELIZABETH MERRILL
The Kansas City Star
He talks smack during dominos, he tapes rookies to goalposts, and if there was a popularity contest in the Chiefs’ locker room, Eddie Kennison might win without any campaigning.
“Best teammate you could have,” safety Sammy Knight said.
“He’s one of those guys who loves to help everybody,” said Craphonso Thorpe, a rookie who spent a Saturday night peeling tape off his body.
Everybody, in Kansas City at least, seems to love Eddie. A couple of times a season, offensive coordinator Al Saunders uses Kennison as an example of how to work in practice. See Eddie’s energy. Check out his smile.
Tell your friends about him, please. Quarterback Trent Green spent Thursday lobbying for his favorite receiver to finally earn a trip to the Pro Bowl.
Kennison is a month away from turning 33, he’s having the best season of his career, he’s making a giant dent in the Chiefs’ record books. And nobody seems to have noticed.
“Eddie’s kind of been under the radar a little bit,” Green says. “You can only spread so much around.”
In an offense like Kansas City’s, which is filled with the likes of Tony Gonzalez, Priest Holmes and Larry Johnson, Kennison fits in somewhere between role player and third fiddle. But in four seasons, he’s quietly become one of the franchise’s steadiest receivers.
He’s on pace for his second straight 1,000-yard season, something only Carlos Carson has done in the club’s 45-year history. Kennison’s already put together his fourth straight 50-catch season with four games to play. Only Gonzalez and Kimble Anders have done that.
Kennison needs just six more 100-yard games to tie Otis Taylor, who is considered the best wide receiver in Chiefs history. Taylor had 19 in 11 seasons; Kennison has had 13 since arriving in late 2001.
“He’s developed into a clutch performer,” Chiefs Hall of Fame quarterback Len Dawson said, “a guy you can go to in a tight situation because you have very good confidence that he’s going to catch the ball.
“I think he’s got to do it a couple of more years before you put him in that category of franchise wide receiver. But he’s certainly made the right step.”
The most important step Kennison may have taken is the one that led him to Kansas City. He played on four teams in six seasons before his arrival in December 2001, and some wondered if the journeyman receiver would make it past the first spring thaw.
Kennison had 16 catches in the final five games of 2001, but didn’t really take off until the next fall, when he caught 53 passes for 906 yards and two touchdowns. Kennison’s game has changed dramatically, guard Brian Waters said. He used to be a blazer, a track guy who relied on his talent.
As Kennison got older, he focused on his technique and route running. He became more mature. He found a new focus in 2001 when his wife, Shimika, was diagnosed with lupus.
“He’s doing things to keep him in the game,” Waters says. “People don’t realize that if you can’t block or if you don’t know your routes, even though you’re a high draft pick, you’ll only get put in for certain things.
“We never take Eddie off the field now because his game is so good, so well-rounded. He’s gotten that way as he’s gotten older.”
Kennison had one of the biggest games of his career last weekend against Denver, catching four passes for 108 yards in a 31-27 victory. Like Taylor was to Dawson, Green says Kennison is a receiver he can count on.
“He’s been that way since he got here,” Green said.
Saunders said he could talk all night about Kennison but really only needs one word to describe him. Dependable.
When a rookie needs to know the little things to help him adjust in the league, Kennison is there to dispense advice. When the Chiefs need a clutch play on third down, they look to their veteran receiver.
Saunders and coach Dick Vermeil say Kennison is having the best year of his career. Saunders expects him to be even better next year.
“I think he will eventually become one of the most productive receivers in Chiefs history,” Saunders says. “Most guys at his age start to decline a little bit, but Eddie’s having his most productive years because he’s a tireless worker.”
Asked why Kennison isn’t being mentioned much around the league, Saunders said, “I don’t know. That’s your job. I notice him every day.”
But outside the domino games with his defensive buddies in the locker room, Kennison just doesn’t say much. He generally declines interviews about himself and says he’s distrustful of the media.
“I’m not talking about my year,” Kennison said.
“You know what you can put in there? I really appreciate my fans’ support and wish them a merry Christmas.”
He laughs with a teammate and dresses for a meeting. He doesn’t care how he finishes in the record books or is perceived in franchise history.
In the locker room, everybody loves Eddie. And that’s all that matters to Kennison.
POPULAR CHIEF MAKES THINGS MERRY
He gives and receives
But Kennison hasn’t grabbed a lot of attention this season
By ELIZABETH MERRILL
The Kansas City Star
He talks smack during dominos, he tapes rookies to goalposts, and if there was a popularity contest in the Chiefs’ locker room, Eddie Kennison might win without any campaigning.
“Best teammate you could have,” safety Sammy Knight said.
“He’s one of those guys who loves to help everybody,” said Craphonso Thorpe, a rookie who spent a Saturday night peeling tape off his body.
Everybody, in Kansas City at least, seems to love Eddie. A couple of times a season, offensive coordinator Al Saunders uses Kennison as an example of how to work in practice. See Eddie’s energy. Check out his smile.
Tell your friends about him, please. Quarterback Trent Green spent Thursday lobbying for his favorite receiver to finally earn a trip to the Pro Bowl.
Kennison is a month away from turning 33, he’s having the best season of his career, he’s making a giant dent in the Chiefs’ record books. And nobody seems to have noticed.
“Eddie’s kind of been under the radar a little bit,” Green says. “You can only spread so much around.”
In an offense like Kansas City’s, which is filled with the likes of Tony Gonzalez, Priest Holmes and Larry Johnson, Kennison fits in somewhere between role player and third fiddle. But in four seasons, he’s quietly become one of the franchise’s steadiest receivers.
He’s on pace for his second straight 1,000-yard season, something only Carlos Carson has done in the club’s 45-year history. Kennison’s already put together his fourth straight 50-catch season with four games to play. Only Gonzalez and Kimble Anders have done that.
Kennison needs just six more 100-yard games to tie Otis Taylor, who is considered the best wide receiver in Chiefs history. Taylor had 19 in 11 seasons; Kennison has had 13 since arriving in late 2001.
“He’s developed into a clutch performer,” Chiefs Hall of Fame quarterback Len Dawson said, “a guy you can go to in a tight situation because you have very good confidence that he’s going to catch the ball.
“I think he’s got to do it a couple of more years before you put him in that category of franchise wide receiver. But he’s certainly made the right step.”
The most important step Kennison may have taken is the one that led him to Kansas City. He played on four teams in six seasons before his arrival in December 2001, and some wondered if the journeyman receiver would make it past the first spring thaw.
Kennison had 16 catches in the final five games of 2001, but didn’t really take off until the next fall, when he caught 53 passes for 906 yards and two touchdowns. Kennison’s game has changed dramatically, guard Brian Waters said. He used to be a blazer, a track guy who relied on his talent.
As Kennison got older, he focused on his technique and route running. He became more mature. He found a new focus in 2001 when his wife, Shimika, was diagnosed with lupus.
“He’s doing things to keep him in the game,” Waters says. “People don’t realize that if you can’t block or if you don’t know your routes, even though you’re a high draft pick, you’ll only get put in for certain things.
“We never take Eddie off the field now because his game is so good, so well-rounded. He’s gotten that way as he’s gotten older.”
Kennison had one of the biggest games of his career last weekend against Denver, catching four passes for 108 yards in a 31-27 victory. Like Taylor was to Dawson, Green says Kennison is a receiver he can count on.
“He’s been that way since he got here,” Green said.
Saunders said he could talk all night about Kennison but really only needs one word to describe him. Dependable.
When a rookie needs to know the little things to help him adjust in the league, Kennison is there to dispense advice. When the Chiefs need a clutch play on third down, they look to their veteran receiver.
Saunders and coach Dick Vermeil say Kennison is having the best year of his career. Saunders expects him to be even better next year.
“I think he will eventually become one of the most productive receivers in Chiefs history,” Saunders says. “Most guys at his age start to decline a little bit, but Eddie’s having his most productive years because he’s a tireless worker.”
Asked why Kennison isn’t being mentioned much around the league, Saunders said, “I don’t know. That’s your job. I notice him every day.”
But outside the domino games with his defensive buddies in the locker room, Kennison just doesn’t say much. He generally declines interviews about himself and says he’s distrustful of the media.
“I’m not talking about my year,” Kennison said.
“You know what you can put in there? I really appreciate my fans’ support and wish them a merry Christmas.”
He laughs with a teammate and dresses for a meeting. He doesn’t care how he finishes in the record books or is perceived in franchise history.
In the locker room, everybody loves Eddie. And that’s all that matters to Kennison.