DaFace
11-03-2006, 08:54 AM
Chiefs lineman happy to be back
BY DOUG TUCKER
Associated Press
KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Back from his second suspension in two years, there is a great deal that John Welbourn does not want to talk about.
After stiff-arming reporters for a week since he rejoined the Kansas City Chiefs, Welbourn answered "no comment" Thursday to all questions concerning his retirement, unretirement and subsequent six-game suspension.
Welbourn is now working out daily with the Chiefs, playing mostly at backup left tackle. He is only 30 and could have several years left on what's been a productive career if the Chiefs decide to reinstate him. They have another week to make up their mind.
"This is going to go around and around in circles," Welbourn said when a throng of media representatives kept peppering him with suspension-related questions and he kept replying with no comment.
"I just don't want to be a distraction to the team," he said. "I want to come back and be a contributor."
After being suspended four games at the start of the 2005 season for violation of NFL drug policy, Welbourn started nine games and played well. He was suspended the first six games this year for another league policy violation.
In June, he announced his retirement and plans to go to law school. After he was suspended, he applied for reinstatement.
"I'm excited to play some football," he said. "I hope the coaches make a good decision, but I feel pretty good."
So why retire in the first place?
"I think sometimes you make decisions you may regret later on," he said. "But football's always been fun, always been a good time, and you definitely miss playing if you're not playing."
No one doubted Welbourn's long-range goal of law school. He has a degree in rhetoric from Cal-Berkeley and is respected by teammates for a high degree of intelligence. There has been no sign of resentment toward a player who was never a problem or a troublemaker.
"The guys have been incredible. The coaches have been great. I felt very fortunate, very blessed that people have treated me the way they have," he said. "Everybody's excited to see me. Hopefully, I can come back and still contribute."
He said he worked out diligently while out of the game, and that his 9-to-5 job in the insurance business lost its luster rather quickly.
"It's definitely an interesting thing when you get up at 5 in the morning, lift weights from 6 to 8, are at the office by 9, sit in the office 'til 6 or 7 o'clock at night working, then you go home, make dinner. It's like everybody else, a normal Joe driving to work. And you start realizing that playing football is a great gift and it's an incredible opportunity and if you can still do it..."
Being out for a while provided a fresh perspective, he said.
"Stepping out and seeing (football) from the outside looking in has been an enlightening thing," he said. "It's something I think everybody should have to do."
BY DOUG TUCKER
Associated Press
KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Back from his second suspension in two years, there is a great deal that John Welbourn does not want to talk about.
After stiff-arming reporters for a week since he rejoined the Kansas City Chiefs, Welbourn answered "no comment" Thursday to all questions concerning his retirement, unretirement and subsequent six-game suspension.
Welbourn is now working out daily with the Chiefs, playing mostly at backup left tackle. He is only 30 and could have several years left on what's been a productive career if the Chiefs decide to reinstate him. They have another week to make up their mind.
"This is going to go around and around in circles," Welbourn said when a throng of media representatives kept peppering him with suspension-related questions and he kept replying with no comment.
"I just don't want to be a distraction to the team," he said. "I want to come back and be a contributor."
After being suspended four games at the start of the 2005 season for violation of NFL drug policy, Welbourn started nine games and played well. He was suspended the first six games this year for another league policy violation.
In June, he announced his retirement and plans to go to law school. After he was suspended, he applied for reinstatement.
"I'm excited to play some football," he said. "I hope the coaches make a good decision, but I feel pretty good."
So why retire in the first place?
"I think sometimes you make decisions you may regret later on," he said. "But football's always been fun, always been a good time, and you definitely miss playing if you're not playing."
No one doubted Welbourn's long-range goal of law school. He has a degree in rhetoric from Cal-Berkeley and is respected by teammates for a high degree of intelligence. There has been no sign of resentment toward a player who was never a problem or a troublemaker.
"The guys have been incredible. The coaches have been great. I felt very fortunate, very blessed that people have treated me the way they have," he said. "Everybody's excited to see me. Hopefully, I can come back and still contribute."
He said he worked out diligently while out of the game, and that his 9-to-5 job in the insurance business lost its luster rather quickly.
"It's definitely an interesting thing when you get up at 5 in the morning, lift weights from 6 to 8, are at the office by 9, sit in the office 'til 6 or 7 o'clock at night working, then you go home, make dinner. It's like everybody else, a normal Joe driving to work. And you start realizing that playing football is a great gift and it's an incredible opportunity and if you can still do it..."
Being out for a while provided a fresh perspective, he said.
"Stepping out and seeing (football) from the outside looking in has been an enlightening thing," he said. "It's something I think everybody should have to do."