Teicher: Dalton, Chiefs hit it off

tk13 · 10-08-2004, 01:40 AM

http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansas...ts/9863024.htm

Dalton, Chiefs hit it off the second time around

By ADAM TEICHER The Kansas City Star

The man who almost single-handledly shut down a key second-half Baltimore possession for the Chiefs on Monday night was originally an afterthought.

The Chiefs signed veteran defensive tackle Lional Dalton in the spring only after nobody else wanted him. His chance to make the team, then seemingly slim, appeared to shrink even more when the Chiefs drafted a player at his position in the second round, Junior Siavii.

But Dalton has rapidly gone from roster wannabe to starter to key performer. He certainly played a crucial role against the Ravens, who couldn't afford to re-sign him when he became a free agent two years ago.

“He can be very disruptive,” Baltimore coach Brian Billick said. “He looks very much like the Lional that we knew. We hated to see him go. He was a joy to be around. He loved the game and provided a specific role for us that was very important in our championship year.”

Dalton sacked Ravens quarterback Kyle Boller and was in on a tackle behind the line of scrimmage on running back Jamal Lewis on Baltimore's only offensive series of the third quarter. The Ravens' possession was sandwiched between two Chiefs scoring drives, allowing Kansas City to break a 17-17 halftime tie and take a 27-17 lead.

The Chiefs went on to win 27-24, and Dalton spent much of the night in the Baltimore backfield.

“He not only made plays, but he ruined a lot of plays that he didn't end up making,” Chiefs coach Dick Vermeil said.

It's been a while since a coach gave such compliments to Dalton. Since leaving Baltimore, where he was a key backup, his career plummeted.

Dalton, a 6-foot-1, 315-pound lineman out of Eastern Michigan, signed as a free agent two years ago with Denver after a long, hard recruiting battle between the Chiefs and Broncos. He spent a disappointing season with Denver — a year spent mostly quarreling with coach Mike Shanahan.

“When I got to Denver, I had just got married,” said Dalton, 29. “I just had a baby. Coach Shanahan was playing a lot of mind games. There were a lot of things going on. It was a stressful situation. I had a bunch of strikes on me in Denver. I was used to being around a family-oriented organization like it was in Baltimore.

“I think that's why I'm playing the way I'm playing here. I've never been on a team that wanted me to be as successful as they do here. They work with you. They take a personal interest in how you play. They allow you to just go out there and play. There's no scolding. There's just teaching.”

Fed up with the underachieving Dalton, Shanahan traded him last year to Washington. Dalton was out of Shanahan's doghouse, but his play didn't improve, and Washington let him go after the season.

The Chiefs, who remembered Dalton from his Baltimore days, were the only team to show much interest.

“We saw this in him when he left the Ravens and went to Denver, and we were in the hunt to get him,” Vermeil said. “He has never played like he played (Monday night in Baltimore).”

The Chiefs, who lacked good play at the defensive-tackle position for most of the last two seasons, can't help but wonder how much better they might have been had they won the tug-of-war over Dalton two years earlier.

Dalton can't help but wonder how his career might have been different.

“The money in Denver was good, and I couldn't turn it down,” he said. “But I wish I would have come here two years ago. I would have had a lot more success on the field. I seem to blossom in this type of environment.”

Then again, two seasons in the dumps appear to have revitalized Dalton. When he came to the Chiefs, it could have been his last chance in the NFL. He has responded by playing his best football.

“The stuff I went through, I wouldn't trade it for the world,” Dalton said. “I learned to respect the game. I realized how good I have it. If I don't treat every play like it's my last, it could be over for me like that. Then, I'd look back and wish I did things differently. I don't want that.”

10-08-2004, 01:40 AM	Topic Starter
tk13 ... Join Date: Nov 2001 Casino cash: $-1687500	Teicher: Dalton, Chiefs hit it off http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansas...ts/9863024.htm Dalton, Chiefs hit it off the second time around By ADAM TEICHER The Kansas City Star The man who almost single-handledly shut down a key second-half Baltimore possession for the Chiefs on Monday night was originally an afterthought. The Chiefs signed veteran defensive tackle Lional Dalton in the spring only after nobody else wanted him. His chance to make the team, then seemingly slim, appeared to shrink even more when the Chiefs drafted a player at his position in the second round, Junior Siavii. But Dalton has rapidly gone from roster wannabe to starter to key performer. He certainly played a crucial role against the Ravens, who couldn't afford to re-sign him when he became a free agent two years ago. “He can be very disruptive,” Baltimore coach Brian Billick said. “He looks very much like the Lional that we knew. We hated to see him go. He was a joy to be around. He loved the game and provided a specific role for us that was very important in our championship year.” Dalton sacked Ravens quarterback Kyle Boller and was in on a tackle behind the line of scrimmage on running back Jamal Lewis on Baltimore's only offensive series of the third quarter. The Ravens' possession was sandwiched between two Chiefs scoring drives, allowing Kansas City to break a 17-17 halftime tie and take a 27-17 lead. The Chiefs went on to win 27-24, and Dalton spent much of the night in the Baltimore backfield. “He not only made plays, but he ruined a lot of plays that he didn't end up making,” Chiefs coach Dick Vermeil said. It's been a while since a coach gave such compliments to Dalton. Since leaving Baltimore, where he was a key backup, his career plummeted. Dalton, a 6-foot-1, 315-pound lineman out of Eastern Michigan, signed as a free agent two years ago with Denver after a long, hard recruiting battle between the Chiefs and Broncos. He spent a disappointing season with Denver — a year spent mostly quarreling with coach Mike Shanahan. “When I got to Denver, I had just got married,” said Dalton, 29. “I just had a baby. Coach Shanahan was playing a lot of mind games. There were a lot of things going on. It was a stressful situation. I had a bunch of strikes on me in Denver. I was used to being around a family-oriented organization like it was in Baltimore. “I think that's why I'm playing the way I'm playing here. I've never been on a team that wanted me to be as successful as they do here. They work with you. They take a personal interest in how you play. They allow you to just go out there and play. There's no scolding. There's just teaching.” Fed up with the underachieving Dalton, Shanahan traded him last year to Washington. Dalton was out of Shanahan's doghouse, but his play didn't improve, and Washington let him go after the season. The Chiefs, who remembered Dalton from his Baltimore days, were the only team to show much interest. “We saw this in him when he left the Ravens and went to Denver, and we were in the hunt to get him,” Vermeil said. “He has never played like he played (Monday night in Baltimore).” The Chiefs, who lacked good play at the defensive-tackle position for most of the last two seasons, can't help but wonder how much better they might have been had they won the tug-of-war over Dalton two years earlier. Dalton can't help but wonder how his career might have been different. “The money in Denver was good, and I couldn't turn it down,” he said. “But I wish I would have come here two years ago. I would have had a lot more success on the field. I seem to blossom in this type of environment.” Then again, two seasons in the dumps appear to have revitalized Dalton. When he came to the Chiefs, it could have been his last chance in the NFL. He has responded by playing his best football. “The stuff I went through, I wouldn't trade it for the world,” Dalton said. “I learned to respect the game. I realized how good I have it. If I don't treat every play like it's my last, it could be over for me like that. Then, I'd look back and wish I did things differently. I don't want that.”
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