Tribal Warfare
05-22-2008, 01:15 PM
http://www.kansascity.com/sports/chiefs/story/630558.html
Chiefs’ rookie corners show talent
By ADAM TEICHER
The Kansas City Star
The last time Brandon Flowers saw Patrick Surtain play football, he was a high schooler watching thanks to tickets Surtain himself provided.
The next time Flowers sees him play, they will be the starting cornerbacks for the Chiefs.
“I’ve thought about this a lot before, getting to play with him, and was always hoping it would happen,” said Flowers, the Chiefs’ second-round draft pick. “I’ve watched him play since he was a rookie. I always thought it would be nice but I never thought it would happen.”
Surtain and Flowers are related through marriage in a distant sort of way. Surtain’s older brother is married to Flowers’ first cousin.
Flowers, who grew up in south Florida, would get free Dolphins tickets from Surtain when Surtain played for Miami. That practice ended several years ago when Flowers went off to play in college at Virginia Tech and Surtain was traded to the Chiefs.
But the two didn’t lose touch. Surtain finally saw Flowers play in last season’s Orange Bowl when Virginia Tech played Kansas.
He came to see Flowers when the Chiefs brought him to Kansas City shortly before the draft. And he was one of the first ones to place the congratulatory phone call after the Chiefs selected Flowers.
“He was always telling me he was going to be in the league one day,” Surtain said. “I’m finally able to start keeping up with him and can finally see how good he is. I just never thought we would be playing together.”
The Chiefs drafted Flowers to replace Ty Law, who was released last winter. At 5 feet 9 and 187 pounds, Flowers is small for a cornerback, and he ran a slow time at last winter’s scouting combine.
None of that bothered the Chiefs. He breaks well on the ball and has been a physical player and a solid tackler in college.
“He definitely has what it takes to play in the league,” said Surtain, a two-time Pro Bowler with the Dolphins. “The thing that separates Brandon is that he’s a playmaker. He fits our style of defense. He can play cover 2, he’s physical, he’s a great tackler, and he has great ball skills. He comes up with big plays at big times, so he’s a perfect fit for us.
“He’s got a lot to learn, but he’s a great listener. We’ve only gone out there a couple of times, but he’s improved each and every practice. We brought him in to be a big part of this team, and I think he’s going to make the most of that.”
The Chiefs in the fifth round drafted Brandon Carr, another cornerback. He could eventually replace Surtain, who will turn 32 next month.
Carr played at a Division II college, Grand Valley State in Michigan. But he’s bigger than Flowers (6 feet, 207 pounds) and played mostly the same cover 2 system that he will play for the Chiefs.
“I was a late bloomer coming out of high school,” Carr said. “I wasn’t the biggest guy or the fastest guy. Once I got to college, that’s when I started to improve. I started to become the player I thought I could become. I figured if I just kept getting better and kept working hard, (NFL scouts) would find me.
“I worked out at the pro day at Michigan State. The coach there said to me, ‘How did we miss you?’ I told him I didn’t know. I was thinking the same thing. But I guess it worked out for the best.”
Chiefs’ rookie corners show talent
By ADAM TEICHER
The Kansas City Star
The last time Brandon Flowers saw Patrick Surtain play football, he was a high schooler watching thanks to tickets Surtain himself provided.
The next time Flowers sees him play, they will be the starting cornerbacks for the Chiefs.
“I’ve thought about this a lot before, getting to play with him, and was always hoping it would happen,” said Flowers, the Chiefs’ second-round draft pick. “I’ve watched him play since he was a rookie. I always thought it would be nice but I never thought it would happen.”
Surtain and Flowers are related through marriage in a distant sort of way. Surtain’s older brother is married to Flowers’ first cousin.
Flowers, who grew up in south Florida, would get free Dolphins tickets from Surtain when Surtain played for Miami. That practice ended several years ago when Flowers went off to play in college at Virginia Tech and Surtain was traded to the Chiefs.
But the two didn’t lose touch. Surtain finally saw Flowers play in last season’s Orange Bowl when Virginia Tech played Kansas.
He came to see Flowers when the Chiefs brought him to Kansas City shortly before the draft. And he was one of the first ones to place the congratulatory phone call after the Chiefs selected Flowers.
“He was always telling me he was going to be in the league one day,” Surtain said. “I’m finally able to start keeping up with him and can finally see how good he is. I just never thought we would be playing together.”
The Chiefs drafted Flowers to replace Ty Law, who was released last winter. At 5 feet 9 and 187 pounds, Flowers is small for a cornerback, and he ran a slow time at last winter’s scouting combine.
None of that bothered the Chiefs. He breaks well on the ball and has been a physical player and a solid tackler in college.
“He definitely has what it takes to play in the league,” said Surtain, a two-time Pro Bowler with the Dolphins. “The thing that separates Brandon is that he’s a playmaker. He fits our style of defense. He can play cover 2, he’s physical, he’s a great tackler, and he has great ball skills. He comes up with big plays at big times, so he’s a perfect fit for us.
“He’s got a lot to learn, but he’s a great listener. We’ve only gone out there a couple of times, but he’s improved each and every practice. We brought him in to be a big part of this team, and I think he’s going to make the most of that.”
The Chiefs in the fifth round drafted Brandon Carr, another cornerback. He could eventually replace Surtain, who will turn 32 next month.
Carr played at a Division II college, Grand Valley State in Michigan. But he’s bigger than Flowers (6 feet, 207 pounds) and played mostly the same cover 2 system that he will play for the Chiefs.
“I was a late bloomer coming out of high school,” Carr said. “I wasn’t the biggest guy or the fastest guy. Once I got to college, that’s when I started to improve. I started to become the player I thought I could become. I figured if I just kept getting better and kept working hard, (NFL scouts) would find me.
“I worked out at the pro day at Michigan State. The coach there said to me, ‘How did we miss you?’ I told him I didn’t know. I was thinking the same thing. But I guess it worked out for the best.”