Vermeil wants ex-Husker to stay
 

Vermeil wants ex-Husker to stay
BY STEVEN M. SIPPLE / Lincoln Journal Star


In a perfect football world, Kansas City Chiefs coach Dick Vermeil would have Will Shields return for at least another season and Barrett Ruud join his NFL squad.

At least those were the impressions Vermeil conveyed Friday during a meeting with reporters at Memorial Stadium.

Shields, a 12-year NFL veteran, recently has expressed thoughts of retirement, though Vermeil said he thinks Shields will play in 2005.

Vermeil said he hopes the ex-Nebraska star returns as Kansas City tries to improve on last season's 7-9 record.

"Players win games, not coaches," Vermeil said. "We need him."

Vermeil came to campus to serve as keynote speaker at the NU Spring Coaches Clinic. About 700 coaches from around the region were on hand for Friday's opening day. The annual clinic ends today.

Vermeil said he took time out from draft preparations because of his respect for Nebraska head coach Bill Calahan and the Husker program.

"You should never be too busy to do something for somebody you respect," Vermeil said.

Vermeil obviously respects Shields, calling the Oklahoma native "one of the most outstanding individuals in the National Football League."

"I care about him and want him to do what's best for his family," Vermeil said. "Secondly, I hope very much he comes back, because he's part of our Chiefs family. In fact, he's the head of it. He's the chief Chief."

The chief Chief, however, has aching knees.

"Will just needs to be handled a little differently, if he is going to play," Vermeil said, noting Shields' arthritis. "We would temper his practices … to meet his needs. He's still an All-Pro offensive lineman. But you do eventually wear down, and sometimes wear out.

"He hasn't worn out; he's worn down a little bit."

Ruud, an NFL middle/outside linebacker prospect who finished his eligibility at Nebraska last season, is an excellent player, Vermeil said.

"I'd like to have him with the Chiefs," Vermeil said.

Chiefs officials this week identified the linebacker position as an area of need as they finalized draft preparations for their defense, Vermeil said.

Ruud, a Lincoln Southeast graduate, ran the 40-yard dash in 4.65 seconds at the NFL scouting combine — a good time, not great.

"He doesn't have the fastest 40 time, but the way he moves is effortless," Vermeil said. "And he moves so efficiently. He can play the game very, very fast — and not only fast, but under control."

The 6-foot-1, 245-pound Ruud seldom was injured and last season became Nebraska's all-time leading tackler.

"When you watch him go through agility drills, you see his ability to flip his hips and bend his knees," Vermeil said. "They're all attributes of a fine athlete."

During his speech to coaches, Vermeil said, he planned to share ideas about leadership and guiding young people.

"Teaching is teaching, whether it's high school, junior college, college or pro football," he said. "I would venture to say this: On this campus, which is a great, great university, there probably is no better teaching job done than what's done by the football coaches.

"I've had the opportunity to bring college professors into football meetings and on the practice fields, and they're in awe of what goes on in preparation and the details of how you put a practice together and how teams function so efficiently."

Vermeil, a native of Calistoga, Calif., and a 1959 graduate of San Jose State, has coached in high school, junior college, college and the NFL.

"I still do a lot of things I did when I was a high school coach," he said.

Reach Steven M. Sipple at 473-7440 or ssipple@journalstar.com.
http://www.journalstar.com/articles/...9969692289.txt

Of course he wants Shields to stay, he is a stud lineman and if he retired it would put a void at guard and you just cant fill his shoes in one training camp.

of course, this is the most random article i think I have ever read....

Oh great, Ruud will be our 2nd round pick instead of trading for Surtain. :banghead:

Possibly. But it's something other than another mock draft or Surtain thread. :banghead:
But I would certainly welcome Barret Ruud to the Chiefs with our 2nd rnd pick if we don't get Surtain with it. :thumb:

ROFL I was thinking the same thing Jim. But Ruud is a damn good LB. And from the combine and everything else his stock has risen to being projected later 1st rnd.

Well then Carl will step right up and draft him at 15.

I only wish I was kidding.

What round is Ruud projected to go?

"He doesn't have the fastest 40 time, but the way he moves is effortless," Vermeil said. "And he moves so efficiently. He can play the game very, very fast — and not only fast, but under control."

Finally, somebody in this organization is looking at PRODUCTION instead of combine flash...

If Shields doesn't get a ring I hope Russia or China nukes us...

I recall the day after Thanksgiving last fall that both Vermeil and Peterson were in Lincoln to scout Ruud when they played Colorado. Which in and of itself doesn't mean much. But then they also don't head out much during the season to watch college football. Also since Josh Bullocks-FS and Fabian Washington-CB declared for the draft and both impressed at the combine I'm sure they are both on the Chiefs board. Remember that Washington posted the fasted 40 at the combine with a 4.28 and his other one was like 4.31. He also was very good in the shuttle drill. Been reading too that the Bronco's are very interested in Bullocks at FS. It would kill me to see a Husker on the Broncos. :banghead: :cuss: :shake:

i think willie is waitin for carl to make a move on surtain...if he dont make the move then i could see shields retiring...that would piss me off!

2nd Round.

I take what DV says about a defensive player with a grain of salt. He can't evaluate D talent to save his life. Leave that to Gunther, please, or something, but not DV.

Whew!
I was worried they wouldn't figure that out! :doh!: