AirForceChief
03-30-2005, 07:17 AM
Chiefs' newcomers just want to fit in
Team sees Knight, Bell giving defense a much-needed lift
By ADAM TEICHER The Kansas City Star
Tuesday was almost like the first day at a different school for new Chiefs safety Sammy Knight. He was busy attaching names to the faces of new teammates at the opening session of the offseason conditioning program.
His path hadn't crossed those of incumbent starting safeties Greg Wesley and Jerome Woods, so his next order of business was to seek them out to defuse any possible hard feelings over his recent free-agent signing.
“I definitely plan to talk to them,” Knight said. “I haven't had the chance to talk to them. I'm just looking to come in here and help everybody improve and get better. If all of us work hard, there's no reason why all three of us can't be out there at the same time.
“Jerome Woods is an excellent player. So is Greg Wesley. I look forward to working with those guys. Hopefully all of us will get better.”
The Chiefs signed Knight, an eight-year starter with New Orleans and Miami, to take the job of either Wesley or Woods. Coach Dick Vermeil named Knight as the starting strong safety almost immediately after his acquisition and said Wesley and Woods could compete to be the starter at free safety.
The Chiefs envision Knight being what neither Wesley nor Woods was last season: a big hitter and playmaker at safety. Knight, at 6 feet and 205 pounds, isn't big or fast.
But the Chiefs like his knack for winding up around the ball and many times taking it from his opponent. Knight did that well enough in 2001 with New Orleans (six interceptions, five fumble recoveries) to be named to the Pro Bowl.
His 35 interceptions and 11 fumble recoveries since arriving in the NFL are highest in the league. That's an appetizing statistic to the Chiefs, who created fewer turnovers than all but four other teams last season.
“He said he sat down and watched a lot of film before coming here,” cornerback Eric Warfield said. “He thought he could come in and do a lot to help our secondary out. He's a Pro Bowl player, so he has a lot to bring to this defense.”
That's why the Chiefs, unhappy with both of their safeties last season, made Knight a priority to sign once free agency started.
“I don't ever look at having a starting job,” Knight said. “Anywhere I've ever been I've always looked at going in and being the best player I can be and letting the chips fall where they may. Hopefully, I'll come out on top.”
The Chiefs are asking much from Knight and linebacker Kendrell Bell, their other free-agent addition. Both are expected to be leaders in a hoped-for defensive transition from laughingstock to productive unit.
“Looking at this defense play, there's a lot of good players,” Knight said. “It's just a matter of getting everybody on the same page and getting everybody comfortable with playing with one another. A defense is not (11) individuals. It's playing as one unit, and that's what this defense needs is to play as a unit and they'll be vastly improved.”
Bell indicated he was comfortable with the expectations.
“I feel no pressure,” he said. “(Being in) the league is pressure. There's no assurance you'll be here the next day. There's enough pressure right there to keep you motivated. So I'm just coming here to do what I know how to do, and that's win.”
Bell missed most of last season with Pittsburgh because of a sports hernia. Sources indicated the New York Giants, who were initially interested in signing Bell, backed off over concerns about arthritis in his shoulder.
Bell said neither injury would present a problem for him.
“I'm feeling great,” he said. “If we had a game (today), I'd go play.”
The Chiefs haven't been specific publicly about their plans for Bell, but he will probably wind up as their starting middle linebacker.
“I figure I could play any position as a linebacker in that defense,” he said. “I'm comfortable with whatever position they put me in.''
To reach Adam Teicher,
Team sees Knight, Bell giving defense a much-needed lift
By ADAM TEICHER The Kansas City Star
Tuesday was almost like the first day at a different school for new Chiefs safety Sammy Knight. He was busy attaching names to the faces of new teammates at the opening session of the offseason conditioning program.
His path hadn't crossed those of incumbent starting safeties Greg Wesley and Jerome Woods, so his next order of business was to seek them out to defuse any possible hard feelings over his recent free-agent signing.
“I definitely plan to talk to them,” Knight said. “I haven't had the chance to talk to them. I'm just looking to come in here and help everybody improve and get better. If all of us work hard, there's no reason why all three of us can't be out there at the same time.
“Jerome Woods is an excellent player. So is Greg Wesley. I look forward to working with those guys. Hopefully all of us will get better.”
The Chiefs signed Knight, an eight-year starter with New Orleans and Miami, to take the job of either Wesley or Woods. Coach Dick Vermeil named Knight as the starting strong safety almost immediately after his acquisition and said Wesley and Woods could compete to be the starter at free safety.
The Chiefs envision Knight being what neither Wesley nor Woods was last season: a big hitter and playmaker at safety. Knight, at 6 feet and 205 pounds, isn't big or fast.
But the Chiefs like his knack for winding up around the ball and many times taking it from his opponent. Knight did that well enough in 2001 with New Orleans (six interceptions, five fumble recoveries) to be named to the Pro Bowl.
His 35 interceptions and 11 fumble recoveries since arriving in the NFL are highest in the league. That's an appetizing statistic to the Chiefs, who created fewer turnovers than all but four other teams last season.
“He said he sat down and watched a lot of film before coming here,” cornerback Eric Warfield said. “He thought he could come in and do a lot to help our secondary out. He's a Pro Bowl player, so he has a lot to bring to this defense.”
That's why the Chiefs, unhappy with both of their safeties last season, made Knight a priority to sign once free agency started.
“I don't ever look at having a starting job,” Knight said. “Anywhere I've ever been I've always looked at going in and being the best player I can be and letting the chips fall where they may. Hopefully, I'll come out on top.”
The Chiefs are asking much from Knight and linebacker Kendrell Bell, their other free-agent addition. Both are expected to be leaders in a hoped-for defensive transition from laughingstock to productive unit.
“Looking at this defense play, there's a lot of good players,” Knight said. “It's just a matter of getting everybody on the same page and getting everybody comfortable with playing with one another. A defense is not (11) individuals. It's playing as one unit, and that's what this defense needs is to play as a unit and they'll be vastly improved.”
Bell indicated he was comfortable with the expectations.
“I feel no pressure,” he said. “(Being in) the league is pressure. There's no assurance you'll be here the next day. There's enough pressure right there to keep you motivated. So I'm just coming here to do what I know how to do, and that's win.”
Bell missed most of last season with Pittsburgh because of a sports hernia. Sources indicated the New York Giants, who were initially interested in signing Bell, backed off over concerns about arthritis in his shoulder.
Bell said neither injury would present a problem for him.
“I'm feeling great,” he said. “If we had a game (today), I'd go play.”
The Chiefs haven't been specific publicly about their plans for Bell, but he will probably wind up as their starting middle linebacker.
“I figure I could play any position as a linebacker in that defense,” he said. “I'm comfortable with whatever position they put me in.''
To reach Adam Teicher,