Hammock Parties
11-27-2005, 07:19 AM
http://patriots.bostonherald.com/patriots/view.bg?articleid=114325
Beisel back home: Left KC for greener pasture
By John Tomase/ Patriots Notebook
Sunday, November 27, 2005 - Updated: 12:44 AM EST
KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Monty Beisel grew up 45 minutes from Arrowhead Stadium. He attended Kansas State, married a former Miss Kansas and spent the first four years of his NFL career with his hometown Kansas City Chiefs.
The softspoken linebacker is a Midwest guy through and through, which makes today’s homecoming particularly bittersweet. Beisel said he has no regrets about leaving as a free agent, but readily admits his first year with the Patriots has not progressed as planned.
“It’s been an interesting year,” Beisel said. “It’s not exactly what I had in foresight, but I have to deal with it as it comes and just try to take it for what it is. We’ve got six more games to play, and I’ve got to keep trucking along.”
Beisel signed a two-year contract with the Patriots in April and opened the year as the starting middle linebacker. He recorded seven tackles in the opener against Oakland, but his output quickly dropped.
Beisel struggled to take on blockers, as well as wrap up opposing ball carriers. To compensate, the Patriots shifted outside linebacker Mike Vrabel to the inside.
The return of Tedy Bruschi then relegated Beisel to part-time status. Beisel has also gone into somewhat of a shell, a marked change from the outgoing player who arrived in New England.
“Obviously, a lot of things have changed since Day 1 when I got here,” Beisel said. “People change. I’m trying to continue to get better and move along.”
Injuries haven’t helped. Despite wearing gloves against Atlanta on Oct. 9, Beisel nicked a knuckle on his right index finger. The tiny wound soon became infected, and has since been cleaned twice.
For his troubles, Beisel sports a hideous Frankenstein-like scar across half of his finger, which remains swollen and purple. He wraps it during practice and games.
“It looks pretty good, huh?” Beisel said. “It’s just one of those freak things. It was a little infection. There’s not a whole lot you can do. You get a hundred cuts like that a year and nothing happens. This one just blew up on me.”
The same could be said of his decision to sign with the Pats, though there’s still time to turn things around.
“You’ve got to realize the NFL is a business,” Beisel said. “You go where the opportunities are. At the time I felt it was a better opportunity to come here than stay in Kansas City. I felt playing in Kansas City for (coach) Dick Vermeil for four years was a great opportunity, but that the time was right to move on.”
Beisel back home: Left KC for greener pasture
By John Tomase/ Patriots Notebook
Sunday, November 27, 2005 - Updated: 12:44 AM EST
KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Monty Beisel grew up 45 minutes from Arrowhead Stadium. He attended Kansas State, married a former Miss Kansas and spent the first four years of his NFL career with his hometown Kansas City Chiefs.
The softspoken linebacker is a Midwest guy through and through, which makes today’s homecoming particularly bittersweet. Beisel said he has no regrets about leaving as a free agent, but readily admits his first year with the Patriots has not progressed as planned.
“It’s been an interesting year,” Beisel said. “It’s not exactly what I had in foresight, but I have to deal with it as it comes and just try to take it for what it is. We’ve got six more games to play, and I’ve got to keep trucking along.”
Beisel signed a two-year contract with the Patriots in April and opened the year as the starting middle linebacker. He recorded seven tackles in the opener against Oakland, but his output quickly dropped.
Beisel struggled to take on blockers, as well as wrap up opposing ball carriers. To compensate, the Patriots shifted outside linebacker Mike Vrabel to the inside.
The return of Tedy Bruschi then relegated Beisel to part-time status. Beisel has also gone into somewhat of a shell, a marked change from the outgoing player who arrived in New England.
“Obviously, a lot of things have changed since Day 1 when I got here,” Beisel said. “People change. I’m trying to continue to get better and move along.”
Injuries haven’t helped. Despite wearing gloves against Atlanta on Oct. 9, Beisel nicked a knuckle on his right index finger. The tiny wound soon became infected, and has since been cleaned twice.
For his troubles, Beisel sports a hideous Frankenstein-like scar across half of his finger, which remains swollen and purple. He wraps it during practice and games.
“It looks pretty good, huh?” Beisel said. “It’s just one of those freak things. It was a little infection. There’s not a whole lot you can do. You get a hundred cuts like that a year and nothing happens. This one just blew up on me.”
The same could be said of his decision to sign with the Pats, though there’s still time to turn things around.
“You’ve got to realize the NFL is a business,” Beisel said. “You go where the opportunities are. At the time I felt it was a better opportunity to come here than stay in Kansas City. I felt playing in Kansas City for (coach) Dick Vermeil for four years was a great opportunity, but that the time was right to move on.”