Gretz:Every Corner Has A Story … Tuesday Cup O’Chiefs

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Every Corner Has A Story … Tuesday Cup O’Chiefs
September 8, 2009 - Bob Gretz | Comments (26)

Monday was the first day of the NFL regular season.

And in locker rooms around most of the league, it was a day where players returned from a two-day weekend vacation. They got a chance to see which of their teammates were still in the locker room, and which ones had their lockers cleaned out and empty.

It’s kind of like the first day of school, with a lot of emotions around the room. Some of the young guys have new locker locations, as they are sprinkled in with the veterans, rather than being grouped together with other rookies. Some guys have new numbers to wear, like rookie OLB Pierre Walters who is now wearing No. 97 after using No. 67 in the pre-season.

In one corner of the room, OLB Tamba Hali had his nose buried in his cell phone, still refusing to speak with reporters, something he started back in training camp. At the other end of the room, SS Mike Brown was talking about the Chiefs defense.

“We’ve got the schemes down and we know what the coaches expect from us,” said Brown. “Now it’s just about reacting. All the thinking is done. From now on it’s going to be more about reacting and playing fast.” Brown is running with the No. 1 defense at strong safety.

Not far from Brown was the newest member of the Chiefs, OT Ryan O’Callaghan. The big man (he’s 6-7) was surrounded by reporters for the first and probably last time in the room. He said his first step was learning the plays. “I think there’s a good opportunity here,” O’Callaghan said. “I feel like I can contribute.”

A few lockers away, RB Jamaal Charles was the next guy surrounded by the scribes, tin throats and hairdos. “I think we are going to be more aggressive in the run game this year,” Charles said. “He (Haley) came in and made a lot of changes to the offense. It’s going to be different.”

Across the room ILB Demorrio Williams was peeling tape of his left leg, enough that it looked like he was wrapped up like a mummy. He too did not want to talk which is too bad because Williams is the Lazarus of the ‘09 Chiefs. Declared roster dead just a few weeks ago because of all the time he spent rehabbing early in training camp, Williams for the season opener at least will be in the starting lineup.

Down the row from Williams was NT Tank Tyler talking about veteran OLB Mike Vrabel. “It’s not often you hear guys speak up and talk out there,” Tyler said of Vrabel. “It’s great having him with us. You have to listen to what he has to say.”

Right across from Tyler sat RB Dantrell Savage, who for the second consecutive season defied the odds and earned a spot on the 53-man roster. But as Savage learned last year as a rookie free agent, you can make the team for week one and then have the carpet pulled out from under you several weeks later.

“You can’t relax,” Savage said. “You’ve got to make something of every practice, every game.”

Way off in the back corner of the room No. 1 draft choice DE Tyson Jackson was standing in front of his locker, speaking to the media horde.

“Coach Clancy (Pendergast, defensive coordinator) is talking to u s all the time about stepping up and making our own identity,” Jackson said. “That’s what we have to do. I’m just trying to get in there and get techniques taken care of for me.”

Less than 10-feet away from Jackson, LG Brian Waters sat in front of his locker in the corner; in fact as the longest tenured member of the Chiefs roster, he actually has two lockers, just as TE Tony Gonzalez did last season. Waters continued his recent habit of not talking with the media as well.

On the opposite side, down from Jackson, FB Mike Cox was headed for the shower, sporting a bloody cut on the bridge of his nose. It happens to hundreds of players in a season, where the helmet gets pulled down and slices the area where the nose and eyes all come together. “It’s going to be a long year with this thing already,” Cox laughed.

On the next row of lockers, there in the middle of the room, Walters stood drinking one of those nutritional concoctions that helps players recover after a workout/practice. He and fellow linebacker Jovan Belcher had just accomplished one of the hardest tasks in pro football: he made the 53-man roster as an undrafted college free agent.

“Oh man it’s just unbelievable,” Walters said. “You dream of this and then all the sudden, you are part of it and it’s just …” The smile on his face filled in the void when words couldn’t express his feelings. On cutdown day, Walters stayed in his hotel room, watching television, staring at the clock and wondering what was in his future. That’s when his agent called.

“He asked me how I was doing and I told him how anxious I was and worried and then he says, ‘you made it.’ I was stunned,” Walters said.

How did he celebrate? “I went to bed,” Walters laughed. “I knew I needed to get my rest because now the hard work really starts.”

In every corner of the room there was a different story, a very personal take on the first day of the 2009 NFL season.


SIGNINGS, TRANSACTIONS, INJURIES & MOVEMENT AROUND THE LEAGUE

* BRONCOS – released WR Chad Jackson; TE Richard Quinn was arrested on Monday, facing charges of harassment and domestic violence involving his girl friend.
* COLTS – signed S Aaron Francisco; released LB Jordan Senn.
* 49ERS – signed OT Tony Pashos (Jaguars); released LB Diyral Briggs.
* JAGUARS – released CB Kennard Cox.
* JETS – signed P Steve Weatherford; released punter A.J. Trapasso.
* LIONS – named Matt Stafford as starting quarterback for the season opener.
* PATRIOTS – released WR Greg Lewis; claimed DB Bret Lockett on waivers (Browns).
* SAINTS – signed fourth-round draft choice LB Stanley Arnoux and placed him on the injured reserve list due to a torn Achilles suffered in a mini-camp practice in May.