C-Mac
08-29-2007, 07:24 AM
http://www.kansascity.com/sports/chiefs/story/251562.html
Drummond gives Chiefs a veteran return threat
By JASON KING
The Kansas City Star
Eddie Drummond (right) wants to help out at wide receiver, but his biggest value to the Chiefs is returning kicks. The emcee requested that no one ask for autographs.
But as Eddie Drummond lingered outside a Hyatt Regency Crown Center ballroom Tuesday, the Chiefs’ new return specialist hardly seemed pestered by the throng of fans pleading for his signature on footballs, jerseys and helmets.
“I’m actually enjoying all this,” Drummond said after the team’s annual kickoff luncheon. “It feels great to have a fresh start. It feels great to be wanted again.”
Drummond hardly felt that a way a week ago. Less than 72 hours before he signed with the Chiefs on Sunday, Detroit Lions officials summoned Drummond into an office to tell him he’d been released.
Strange as it seemed to outsiders, the move wasn’t all that shocking to Drummond, who said his practice reps had decreased dramatically since Detroit changed special-teams coaches after last season.
“Let’s just say I didn’t exactly shed any tears,” Drummond said. “They had put in a whole new scheme up there. This was probably best for everyone that I move on.”
The Chiefs certainly aren’t complaining. The team seemed destined to open the season with an inexperienced return specialist following the offseason trade of Dante Hall.
Now, with Drummond, the Chiefs boast a player who may be even better than his predecessor.
During 2004-06, Drummond ranked first, 21st and eighth, respectively, in the NFL in punt-return average. Hall was eighth, 20th and 18th during that same span.
Drummond has also ranked among the league’s top five kickoff returners in two of the last five seasons. He made the Pro Bowl following a 2004 campaign that saw him tie an NFL record with four combined returns for touchdowns (two kickoffs and two punts).
A more straightforward runner, Drummond said it’d be a mistake to compare him to the shifty, elusive Hall, who is now with St. Louis.
“Just the opposite,” Drummond said. “I’ve got more of a running-back type of mentality. I’m going to make two moves, break a couple of tackles, and I’m gone. I’m not a guy that loses a lot of ground and then tries to gain it back, so you’re not going to see runs that last long. You’re going to see a lot of quick runs that break out.”
Another one of Drummond’s strengths is that he plays on all the special-teams units. When he’s not returning kicks and punts, Drummond said he’ll be contributing on the Chiefs’ coverage units.
That, coach Herm Edwards said, was one of the main reasons Kansas City signed the 5-foot-9, 190-pound Drummond.
“He’s a core guy,” Edwards said. “He’s done everything you can ask a guy to do on special teams as well as return.”
That apparently wasn’t good enough for Detroit. Lions coach Rod Marinelli said one of the main reasons Drummond was released was because he didn’t want to keep four players — including the kicker, punter and holder — who contributed solely on special teams.
Drummond, who doubles as a receiver, had hoped to play a bigger factor in the Lions’ offense. But he fell out of the good graces of offensive coordinator Mike Martz last season.
Lions president Matt Millen tried to trade Drummond during training camp but eventually released him when he couldn’t work out a deal. Marinelli told reporters in Detroit that the two sides parted on good terms.
“I didn’t want to keep waiting,” Marinelli said. “We’ve got to be fair to him, too. I thought (releasing Drummond) was the fair thing to do. He’s been a good player here. It’s nothing about him. He’s a heck of a returner.”
Drummond said Pittsburgh, Denver and Tampa Bay inquired about his services the same day he was cut by the Lions. Kansas City, though, seemed like the best fit.
Drummond attended Penn State and spent a summer rooming with Chiefs running back Larry Johnson. And Chiefs special teams coach Mike Priefer is the son of Chuck Priefer, who coached Detroit’s special teams before leaving after last season.
“Chuck Priefer was awesome,” Drummond said. “If (Mike) is anything like that then they’re going to have a special situation here.”
Drummond signed a one-year contract with Kansas City, but he hopes his time with the Chiefs extends well beyond 2007. He said he hopes to eventually work his way into the rotation at receiver, which could earn him a longer contract.
But for now Drummond is focused on bringing back the success the Chiefs once enjoyed in their return game with Hall.
“Usually I don’t get too excited during the preseason,” Drummond said, “but I can’t wait to play St. Louis Thursday.”
Inexperienced return specialists such as Ean Randolph and Justin Phinisee have shown promise this preseason. Drummond, though, doesn’t sound too concerned with anyone who may be behind him on the depth chart.
To lose his spot as a starter, Drummond said, he’d have to get in Thursday’s preseason finale and “try to screw something up.”
Drummond smiles.
“Hopefully,” he said, “nothing like that will happen.”
Drummond gives Chiefs a veteran return threat
By JASON KING
The Kansas City Star
Eddie Drummond (right) wants to help out at wide receiver, but his biggest value to the Chiefs is returning kicks. The emcee requested that no one ask for autographs.
But as Eddie Drummond lingered outside a Hyatt Regency Crown Center ballroom Tuesday, the Chiefs’ new return specialist hardly seemed pestered by the throng of fans pleading for his signature on footballs, jerseys and helmets.
“I’m actually enjoying all this,” Drummond said after the team’s annual kickoff luncheon. “It feels great to have a fresh start. It feels great to be wanted again.”
Drummond hardly felt that a way a week ago. Less than 72 hours before he signed with the Chiefs on Sunday, Detroit Lions officials summoned Drummond into an office to tell him he’d been released.
Strange as it seemed to outsiders, the move wasn’t all that shocking to Drummond, who said his practice reps had decreased dramatically since Detroit changed special-teams coaches after last season.
“Let’s just say I didn’t exactly shed any tears,” Drummond said. “They had put in a whole new scheme up there. This was probably best for everyone that I move on.”
The Chiefs certainly aren’t complaining. The team seemed destined to open the season with an inexperienced return specialist following the offseason trade of Dante Hall.
Now, with Drummond, the Chiefs boast a player who may be even better than his predecessor.
During 2004-06, Drummond ranked first, 21st and eighth, respectively, in the NFL in punt-return average. Hall was eighth, 20th and 18th during that same span.
Drummond has also ranked among the league’s top five kickoff returners in two of the last five seasons. He made the Pro Bowl following a 2004 campaign that saw him tie an NFL record with four combined returns for touchdowns (two kickoffs and two punts).
A more straightforward runner, Drummond said it’d be a mistake to compare him to the shifty, elusive Hall, who is now with St. Louis.
“Just the opposite,” Drummond said. “I’ve got more of a running-back type of mentality. I’m going to make two moves, break a couple of tackles, and I’m gone. I’m not a guy that loses a lot of ground and then tries to gain it back, so you’re not going to see runs that last long. You’re going to see a lot of quick runs that break out.”
Another one of Drummond’s strengths is that he plays on all the special-teams units. When he’s not returning kicks and punts, Drummond said he’ll be contributing on the Chiefs’ coverage units.
That, coach Herm Edwards said, was one of the main reasons Kansas City signed the 5-foot-9, 190-pound Drummond.
“He’s a core guy,” Edwards said. “He’s done everything you can ask a guy to do on special teams as well as return.”
That apparently wasn’t good enough for Detroit. Lions coach Rod Marinelli said one of the main reasons Drummond was released was because he didn’t want to keep four players — including the kicker, punter and holder — who contributed solely on special teams.
Drummond, who doubles as a receiver, had hoped to play a bigger factor in the Lions’ offense. But he fell out of the good graces of offensive coordinator Mike Martz last season.
Lions president Matt Millen tried to trade Drummond during training camp but eventually released him when he couldn’t work out a deal. Marinelli told reporters in Detroit that the two sides parted on good terms.
“I didn’t want to keep waiting,” Marinelli said. “We’ve got to be fair to him, too. I thought (releasing Drummond) was the fair thing to do. He’s been a good player here. It’s nothing about him. He’s a heck of a returner.”
Drummond said Pittsburgh, Denver and Tampa Bay inquired about his services the same day he was cut by the Lions. Kansas City, though, seemed like the best fit.
Drummond attended Penn State and spent a summer rooming with Chiefs running back Larry Johnson. And Chiefs special teams coach Mike Priefer is the son of Chuck Priefer, who coached Detroit’s special teams before leaving after last season.
“Chuck Priefer was awesome,” Drummond said. “If (Mike) is anything like that then they’re going to have a special situation here.”
Drummond signed a one-year contract with Kansas City, but he hopes his time with the Chiefs extends well beyond 2007. He said he hopes to eventually work his way into the rotation at receiver, which could earn him a longer contract.
But for now Drummond is focused on bringing back the success the Chiefs once enjoyed in their return game with Hall.
“Usually I don’t get too excited during the preseason,” Drummond said, “but I can’t wait to play St. Louis Thursday.”
Inexperienced return specialists such as Ean Randolph and Justin Phinisee have shown promise this preseason. Drummond, though, doesn’t sound too concerned with anyone who may be behind him on the depth chart.
To lose his spot as a starter, Drummond said, he’d have to get in Thursday’s preseason finale and “try to screw something up.”
Drummond smiles.
“Hopefully,” he said, “nothing like that will happen.”