Saggysack
08-09-2001, 03:01 AM
http://web.wichitaeagle.com/content/wichitaeagle/2001/08/09/chiefs/maslowski_txt.htm
Maslowski isn't done knocking down goals
The Kansas City linebacker, who started in NCAA Division III, is determined to start.
Associated Press
RIVER FALLS, Wis. --Mike Maslowski is good at beating the odds.
The 6-foot-1, 243-pound linebacker fought his way through the Arena Football League and NFL Europe before arriving on the scene as a standout special teams player for the Kansas City Chiefs in 1999.
Now the former NCAA Division III All-American from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse is trying to earn a job as a starter with Kansas City.
"I always knew that I could come and play in the NFL," he said. "And once I did, I just kept up with my goals, and my goal is never to be just a special teams player, it's always been to be a starting linebacker."
Maslowski did it all as a high school player in Thorp, Wis., located about 90 miles east of the Chiefs training camp. He played quarterback, running back and linebacker while also handling the team's punt, kickoff and place-kicking duties.
When no Division I schools knocked on his door following high school, he stayed close to home and helped UW-La Crosse win a NCAA Division III national championship his junior season in 1995.
Now, Maslowski finds himself trying to beat the odds once again. But in order to do that, he'll have to unseat Marvcus Patton as the Chiefs' starting middle linebacker. That's no easy task considering Patton was named the team's MVP in 1999, and was second on the team in total tackles last year with 143.
But Maslowski is used to defying the odds. After he was cut as a rookie free agent by the San Diego Chargers before the start of the 1997 regular season, he went to the Arena Football League, where he played both linebacker and fullback for the San Jose Sabercats. He played well enough there to eventually catch the eye of the Chiefs, who sent him off to NFL Europe to play with the Barcelona Dragons.
It was in Barcelona where Maslowski started to emerge as a candidate for the NFL. He set a single season record for tackles in the spring of 1999 with 105 while helping the Dragons reach the World Bowl. Following 11 games in the European League that spring, he reported to Chiefs training camp and played in 19 preseason and regular season games for the Chiefs.
He finished the season with 23 tackles on special teams and was the landslide winner of the club's Mack Lee Hill award, presented annually to the Chiefs top rookie.
Maslowski made five starts at outside linebacker for the Chiefs last season, but he can't shake off the desire to return to his natural position in the middle. Despite trying to learn a new defensive scheme, he feels he is doing all he can to earn the job.
"That first week it was tough because it was a new scheme and we were trying to get all the new techniques down," he said. "I'm in there battling and we'll see what happens. I don't know where I stand right now but I'm starting to pick it up and I feel pretty good about the way I'm playing."
Coach Dick Vermeil said Maslowski will see some action with the Chiefs first-team defense in the preseason opener against the Washington Redskins on Sunday. He also said Maslowski has the same type of attributes that have made Patton an anchor on the Chiefs' defense.
"There's a lot of competition at that middle linebacker position between Patton and Maslowski," Vermeil said. "And it's going to be interesting to see what happens. If Maslowski takes the position, it will be because Maz (Maslowski) has been intense in his competition and preparation."
Battle for No. 2 QB spot -- Vermeil said Bubby Brister and Todd Collins will see extensive action in Sunday's exhibition opener against the Redskins. He said he'll wait to make a final decision on the backup quarterback situation at the end of the pre-season.
"Both of them are going to suit up every ballgame anyway," Vermeil said. "Which guy is going to be the designated second guy or not will be dependent on how they do in these pre-season games and what we've watched as they've matured in the program."
Brister's biggest obstacle so far in training camp has been taking the snap from center. He had trouble during Tuesday's practice handling snaps from backup centers Brian Waters and Brad Kubik and stayed late after practice to work on the exchange.
Maslowski isn't done knocking down goals
The Kansas City linebacker, who started in NCAA Division III, is determined to start.
Associated Press
RIVER FALLS, Wis. --Mike Maslowski is good at beating the odds.
The 6-foot-1, 243-pound linebacker fought his way through the Arena Football League and NFL Europe before arriving on the scene as a standout special teams player for the Kansas City Chiefs in 1999.
Now the former NCAA Division III All-American from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse is trying to earn a job as a starter with Kansas City.
"I always knew that I could come and play in the NFL," he said. "And once I did, I just kept up with my goals, and my goal is never to be just a special teams player, it's always been to be a starting linebacker."
Maslowski did it all as a high school player in Thorp, Wis., located about 90 miles east of the Chiefs training camp. He played quarterback, running back and linebacker while also handling the team's punt, kickoff and place-kicking duties.
When no Division I schools knocked on his door following high school, he stayed close to home and helped UW-La Crosse win a NCAA Division III national championship his junior season in 1995.
Now, Maslowski finds himself trying to beat the odds once again. But in order to do that, he'll have to unseat Marvcus Patton as the Chiefs' starting middle linebacker. That's no easy task considering Patton was named the team's MVP in 1999, and was second on the team in total tackles last year with 143.
But Maslowski is used to defying the odds. After he was cut as a rookie free agent by the San Diego Chargers before the start of the 1997 regular season, he went to the Arena Football League, where he played both linebacker and fullback for the San Jose Sabercats. He played well enough there to eventually catch the eye of the Chiefs, who sent him off to NFL Europe to play with the Barcelona Dragons.
It was in Barcelona where Maslowski started to emerge as a candidate for the NFL. He set a single season record for tackles in the spring of 1999 with 105 while helping the Dragons reach the World Bowl. Following 11 games in the European League that spring, he reported to Chiefs training camp and played in 19 preseason and regular season games for the Chiefs.
He finished the season with 23 tackles on special teams and was the landslide winner of the club's Mack Lee Hill award, presented annually to the Chiefs top rookie.
Maslowski made five starts at outside linebacker for the Chiefs last season, but he can't shake off the desire to return to his natural position in the middle. Despite trying to learn a new defensive scheme, he feels he is doing all he can to earn the job.
"That first week it was tough because it was a new scheme and we were trying to get all the new techniques down," he said. "I'm in there battling and we'll see what happens. I don't know where I stand right now but I'm starting to pick it up and I feel pretty good about the way I'm playing."
Coach Dick Vermeil said Maslowski will see some action with the Chiefs first-team defense in the preseason opener against the Washington Redskins on Sunday. He also said Maslowski has the same type of attributes that have made Patton an anchor on the Chiefs' defense.
"There's a lot of competition at that middle linebacker position between Patton and Maslowski," Vermeil said. "And it's going to be interesting to see what happens. If Maslowski takes the position, it will be because Maz (Maslowski) has been intense in his competition and preparation."
Battle for No. 2 QB spot -- Vermeil said Bubby Brister and Todd Collins will see extensive action in Sunday's exhibition opener against the Redskins. He said he'll wait to make a final decision on the backup quarterback situation at the end of the pre-season.
"Both of them are going to suit up every ballgame anyway," Vermeil said. "Which guy is going to be the designated second guy or not will be dependent on how they do in these pre-season games and what we've watched as they've matured in the program."
Brister's biggest obstacle so far in training camp has been taking the snap from center. He had trouble during Tuesday's practice handling snaps from backup centers Brian Waters and Brad Kubik and stayed late after practice to work on the exchange.