Hammock Parties
10-18-2005, 01:07 AM
http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/sports/football/nfl/kansas_city_chiefs/12928475.htm
WARFIELD PROBABLY WILL PLAY FOR CHIEFS ON SUNDAY
No more sitting around
By ADAM TEICHER
The Kansas City Star
Other than watching from the sideline in sweats, Eric Warfield had little to keep him busy during Sunday’s game between the Chiefs and Washington.
Warfield made small talk with some teammates. At one point, he took a seat on the bench between kicker Lawrence Tynes and punter Dustin Colquitt, usually the sign of genuine boredom for a position player.
Warfield, a former starting cornerback, should have more to do during this Sunday’s game at Miami. Coach Dick Vermeil said Warfield would probably play for the first time this season.
Vermeil said Warfield’s playing status would not be affected by the availability of starting cornerback Dexter McCleon, who injured a groin muscle against Washington and left the game early.
Vermeil said he was unsure whether McCleon or another injured starter, wide receiver Samie Parker, would play against the Dolphins, though Vermeil indicated preliminary information suggested both would be available.
Parker injured a knee while trying to make a catch against Washington. He also left the game early and was replaced by Marc Boerigter.
McCleon had problems covering Washington’s wide receivers, including Santana Moss, before his injury. Because Warfield — in his first game back from a four-game NFL suspension — was inactive and unavailable to play, McCleon was replaced by Dewayne Washington.
Warfield’s not being available could have cost the Chiefs the game. Washington stayed with Moss on one deep pattern but was unable to keep up with him on a fade pass on Washington’s last chance to tie the game.
Only safety Sammy Knight’s ability to get over and get a hand on the pass prevented the game from heading into overtime.
Vermeil indicated Warfield’s inactivity was in no way punishment for the suspension for a violation of the NFL’s substance-abuse policy. He also said it had nothing to do with the way Warfield played during training camp and the preseason.
“People want to make a big deal of Eric Warfield,” Vermeil said. “Leave the guy alone. Let him come back and play football. He’s gone through his suspension. He did a great job working out physically and doing what he was allowed to do. Now he’s got to get back to playing football and getting back into football shape. It takes some time. He was gone for four weeks. He didn’t make a tackle or cover a receiver or do anything. Carrying that over to the field and the speed of the game, that’s tough to do.
“He practiced as much as any cornerback practiced. He had a good training camp. He didn’t play well in the final preseason game because he was emotionally down because he knew he was facing a four-game suspension. He didn’t play as well as he’s capable of.”
Offensive tackle Willie Roaf did. Because of a sore hamstring, Roaf missed all but a handful of plays from the season opener until he returned against Washington.
Roaf played well, showing few signs of rust from his inactivity.
“It’s a different world,” Vermeil said. “Plus, Willie Roaf is a 10-year All-Pro. To my knowledge, Eric Warfield hasn’t made it to that level yet.”
Another offensive lineman, John Welbourn, also returned last week from a four-game suspension. Welbourn was available to play as a backup and would have played had one of the starters been injured. Eventually, he only got in for certain special-teams snaps.
“Right now he’s in a backup role getting ready to play,” Vermeil said of Welbourn. “He had a great week of practice last week. He was very impressive on the field, and we know he’s ready to play.”
Vermeil wouldn’t specify a role for Warfield against the Dolphins. He came out strongly last week in defense of McCleon as a starter.
Benny Sapp, a favorite of defensive coordinator Gunther Cunningham, appears entrenched as the nickel back. Washington is the fourth corner. He plays only when an opponent uses four wide receivers or someone above him gets hurt.
The Dolphins have no dangerous receiver like the ones the Chiefs have seen in recent games — Santana Moss, Philadelphia’s Terrell Owens and Oakland’s Randy Moss. Chris Chambers is Miami’s leading receiver, with 21 catches.
“Having another week to work will help (Warfield),” Vermeil said. “Wednesday and Thursday are good work days, hard work. Friday is a little lighter tempo. He needs two more days of good work and more (snaps).”
The Chiefs are 30th in passing yardage allowed after yielding 297 net yards to Washington. But Vermeil said he saw signs of progress. The Chiefs sacked Mark Brunell four times and made him fumble twice.
“I was very pleased with the effort,” Vermeil said. “That’s especially true on defense. They played as hard as I’ve seen a Chiefs team play. They hit. When you play with that kind of passion, you create your own good fortune. They didn’t allow the one big play on the quick screen to distract them.
“The pass rush and the defensive-line play were excellent. They’re all getting better. Each week you can see it sort of welding together.”
■ SAMPSON LIKELY TO PRACTICE: Vermeil said he expected offensive lineman Kevin Sampson to practice Wednesday when the Chiefs begin preparing for the Dolphins.
“Whether he’ll be ready to play by Sunday, I don’t know,” Vermeil said, “but he’ll be able to start practicing.”
WARFIELD PROBABLY WILL PLAY FOR CHIEFS ON SUNDAY
No more sitting around
By ADAM TEICHER
The Kansas City Star
Other than watching from the sideline in sweats, Eric Warfield had little to keep him busy during Sunday’s game between the Chiefs and Washington.
Warfield made small talk with some teammates. At one point, he took a seat on the bench between kicker Lawrence Tynes and punter Dustin Colquitt, usually the sign of genuine boredom for a position player.
Warfield, a former starting cornerback, should have more to do during this Sunday’s game at Miami. Coach Dick Vermeil said Warfield would probably play for the first time this season.
Vermeil said Warfield’s playing status would not be affected by the availability of starting cornerback Dexter McCleon, who injured a groin muscle against Washington and left the game early.
Vermeil said he was unsure whether McCleon or another injured starter, wide receiver Samie Parker, would play against the Dolphins, though Vermeil indicated preliminary information suggested both would be available.
Parker injured a knee while trying to make a catch against Washington. He also left the game early and was replaced by Marc Boerigter.
McCleon had problems covering Washington’s wide receivers, including Santana Moss, before his injury. Because Warfield — in his first game back from a four-game NFL suspension — was inactive and unavailable to play, McCleon was replaced by Dewayne Washington.
Warfield’s not being available could have cost the Chiefs the game. Washington stayed with Moss on one deep pattern but was unable to keep up with him on a fade pass on Washington’s last chance to tie the game.
Only safety Sammy Knight’s ability to get over and get a hand on the pass prevented the game from heading into overtime.
Vermeil indicated Warfield’s inactivity was in no way punishment for the suspension for a violation of the NFL’s substance-abuse policy. He also said it had nothing to do with the way Warfield played during training camp and the preseason.
“People want to make a big deal of Eric Warfield,” Vermeil said. “Leave the guy alone. Let him come back and play football. He’s gone through his suspension. He did a great job working out physically and doing what he was allowed to do. Now he’s got to get back to playing football and getting back into football shape. It takes some time. He was gone for four weeks. He didn’t make a tackle or cover a receiver or do anything. Carrying that over to the field and the speed of the game, that’s tough to do.
“He practiced as much as any cornerback practiced. He had a good training camp. He didn’t play well in the final preseason game because he was emotionally down because he knew he was facing a four-game suspension. He didn’t play as well as he’s capable of.”
Offensive tackle Willie Roaf did. Because of a sore hamstring, Roaf missed all but a handful of plays from the season opener until he returned against Washington.
Roaf played well, showing few signs of rust from his inactivity.
“It’s a different world,” Vermeil said. “Plus, Willie Roaf is a 10-year All-Pro. To my knowledge, Eric Warfield hasn’t made it to that level yet.”
Another offensive lineman, John Welbourn, also returned last week from a four-game suspension. Welbourn was available to play as a backup and would have played had one of the starters been injured. Eventually, he only got in for certain special-teams snaps.
“Right now he’s in a backup role getting ready to play,” Vermeil said of Welbourn. “He had a great week of practice last week. He was very impressive on the field, and we know he’s ready to play.”
Vermeil wouldn’t specify a role for Warfield against the Dolphins. He came out strongly last week in defense of McCleon as a starter.
Benny Sapp, a favorite of defensive coordinator Gunther Cunningham, appears entrenched as the nickel back. Washington is the fourth corner. He plays only when an opponent uses four wide receivers or someone above him gets hurt.
The Dolphins have no dangerous receiver like the ones the Chiefs have seen in recent games — Santana Moss, Philadelphia’s Terrell Owens and Oakland’s Randy Moss. Chris Chambers is Miami’s leading receiver, with 21 catches.
“Having another week to work will help (Warfield),” Vermeil said. “Wednesday and Thursday are good work days, hard work. Friday is a little lighter tempo. He needs two more days of good work and more (snaps).”
The Chiefs are 30th in passing yardage allowed after yielding 297 net yards to Washington. But Vermeil said he saw signs of progress. The Chiefs sacked Mark Brunell four times and made him fumble twice.
“I was very pleased with the effort,” Vermeil said. “That’s especially true on defense. They played as hard as I’ve seen a Chiefs team play. They hit. When you play with that kind of passion, you create your own good fortune. They didn’t allow the one big play on the quick screen to distract them.
“The pass rush and the defensive-line play were excellent. They’re all getting better. Each week you can see it sort of welding together.”
■ SAMPSON LIKELY TO PRACTICE: Vermeil said he expected offensive lineman Kevin Sampson to practice Wednesday when the Chiefs begin preparing for the Dolphins.
“Whether he’ll be ready to play by Sunday, I don’t know,” Vermeil said, “but he’ll be able to start practicing.”