Lzen
05-15-2006, 03:20 PM
Former KU star hopes to catch on with KC
By Rick Dean
The Capital-Journal
KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Don Blackmon knew immediately that one of his rookie linebackers wasn't lined up right. What he didn't seem to know was the identity of the misaligned player.
"Hey, Kansas,'' the Chiefs new linebackers coach called out, "move two feet to your right.''
Nick Reid, the Kansas player in question, relished the opportunity to laugh about the incident after participating in his second workout Friday at the Chiefs' rookies/new players mini-camp.
"I think he knows my name, but he's taken a liking to calling me Kansas,'' Reid said with a chuckle. "That's all right. As long as he calls me something, as long as he's still talking to me, everything will be fine.''
The Chiefs, for the record, know plenty about Reid, the Derby native who eventually developed into the Big 12's Defensive Player of the Year for the Kansas Jayhawks last year.
And though neither they nor 31 other NFL teams saw fit to use a draft pick on a 230-pound player who doesn't exactly fit the NFL mold for inside linebackers, the Chiefs had enough local knowledge that they made a priority of signing Reid as an undrafted free agent.
"He's a guy who just makes plays, who finds a way to get it done. You can't measure that kind of ticker,'' said Chuck Cook, Kansas City's director of college scouting.
"We were happy to get him,'' Cook added. "Carl (Peterson, KC's team president) was especially happy because he'd seen him play a bunch. We don't want to miss on a local guy, like happened with Rod Smith (of Missouri Southern).''
Though he went through two days of the draft without hearing his name called, Reid now has his NFL chance, which is all any collegian drafted or undrafted can ask.
"I know I'm not the fastest player out here,'' Reid acknowledged, "but I try to play smart and take good angles to the ball. That and being a hard-nosed, tough player can make up for a lot.''
It will have to. The Chiefs are not exactly loaded with proven backups to starting middle linebacker Kawika Mitchell, but they do have young veterans Rich Scanlon and 2005 draftee Boomer Grigsby as returners. Both are expendable should Reid be able to show on the NFL level the production he displayed at KU.
The chance to do that for a team he grew up watching as a kid in the Wichita area makes the opportunity even sweeter.
"They've been my favorite team my whole life,'' Reid said. "I've been to maybe eight, 10 games here -- tailgated in the parking lot, cheered them on through thick and thin.
"Becoming a Chiefs would be a dream come true for me.''
That dream started looking more real when Reid walked in the Arrowhead locker room this week and saw his name above a cubicle. Admittedly, the locker was one of the temporary ones the team installs before roster cuts.
"But it was still a great feeling,'' Reid added. "It was cool when we played Oklahoma here and I walked in and saw the names of the Chiefs players. But when you come in and see your own name, it's a whole different feeling.
"I was a little surprised (to go undrafted), but maybe this will work out for the best,'' he added. "I've got the chance now to stay close to home and play for a team I've always followed. If I'm blessed enough to make the team, my family and friends could easily come watch me play.
"Now I've got to bust my butt and show them what I can do.''
Linky (http://hawkzone.cjonline.com/stories/051406/haw_reid.shtml)
By Rick Dean
The Capital-Journal
KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Don Blackmon knew immediately that one of his rookie linebackers wasn't lined up right. What he didn't seem to know was the identity of the misaligned player.
"Hey, Kansas,'' the Chiefs new linebackers coach called out, "move two feet to your right.''
Nick Reid, the Kansas player in question, relished the opportunity to laugh about the incident after participating in his second workout Friday at the Chiefs' rookies/new players mini-camp.
"I think he knows my name, but he's taken a liking to calling me Kansas,'' Reid said with a chuckle. "That's all right. As long as he calls me something, as long as he's still talking to me, everything will be fine.''
The Chiefs, for the record, know plenty about Reid, the Derby native who eventually developed into the Big 12's Defensive Player of the Year for the Kansas Jayhawks last year.
And though neither they nor 31 other NFL teams saw fit to use a draft pick on a 230-pound player who doesn't exactly fit the NFL mold for inside linebackers, the Chiefs had enough local knowledge that they made a priority of signing Reid as an undrafted free agent.
"He's a guy who just makes plays, who finds a way to get it done. You can't measure that kind of ticker,'' said Chuck Cook, Kansas City's director of college scouting.
"We were happy to get him,'' Cook added. "Carl (Peterson, KC's team president) was especially happy because he'd seen him play a bunch. We don't want to miss on a local guy, like happened with Rod Smith (of Missouri Southern).''
Though he went through two days of the draft without hearing his name called, Reid now has his NFL chance, which is all any collegian drafted or undrafted can ask.
"I know I'm not the fastest player out here,'' Reid acknowledged, "but I try to play smart and take good angles to the ball. That and being a hard-nosed, tough player can make up for a lot.''
It will have to. The Chiefs are not exactly loaded with proven backups to starting middle linebacker Kawika Mitchell, but they do have young veterans Rich Scanlon and 2005 draftee Boomer Grigsby as returners. Both are expendable should Reid be able to show on the NFL level the production he displayed at KU.
The chance to do that for a team he grew up watching as a kid in the Wichita area makes the opportunity even sweeter.
"They've been my favorite team my whole life,'' Reid said. "I've been to maybe eight, 10 games here -- tailgated in the parking lot, cheered them on through thick and thin.
"Becoming a Chiefs would be a dream come true for me.''
That dream started looking more real when Reid walked in the Arrowhead locker room this week and saw his name above a cubicle. Admittedly, the locker was one of the temporary ones the team installs before roster cuts.
"But it was still a great feeling,'' Reid added. "It was cool when we played Oklahoma here and I walked in and saw the names of the Chiefs players. But when you come in and see your own name, it's a whole different feeling.
"I was a little surprised (to go undrafted), but maybe this will work out for the best,'' he added. "I've got the chance now to stay close to home and play for a team I've always followed. If I'm blessed enough to make the team, my family and friends could easily come watch me play.
"Now I've got to bust my butt and show them what I can do.''
Linky (http://hawkzone.cjonline.com/stories/051406/haw_reid.shtml)