Tribal Warfare
05-22-2008, 10:06 PM
http://www.kansascity.com/sports/chiefs/story/632290.html
Chiefs’ Sams could rescue return game
It really wasn’t that long ago when B.J. Sams was regarded as one of the top return weapons in the NFL.
That’s why the Chiefs are crossing their fingers that Sams’ repaired right knee (torn ACL) will allow him to become an upper-echelon return specialist again.
Sams, signed to a one-year deal this offseason, could strengthen a dreadful return game — the Chiefs were 30th last season in kickoff returns (19.2 yards) and 25th in punt returns (7.6).
“This is my opportunity again,” Sams said Thursday during Chiefs’ OTAs (organized team activities). “People might look at me and say ‘Yeah, back in the day he was good. But what’s he got now?’
“You can get forgotten fast. Well, I want to show I still got a lot left.”
Sams, 27, isn’t going to show much right now. He’s being held back deliberately to let his knee heal but vows to be ready for camp in July.
Sams also assures everyone that he’ll still have the breakaway speed he had before the knee injury, which forced him to miss almost all of last season.
“Right now, it’s mostly a mental thing,” he said. “When you’ve had an injury, you’ve just got to remind yourself that it’s OK to use (the knee). It’s all in the head.”
Sams became an instant force during his rookie season with the Baltimore Ravens in 2004. He returned two punts for touchdowns, including a 78-yarder.
And though he hasn’t scored on a kickoff return yet, he has had nine returns of 40 yards or more, including an 87-yarder and a 72-yarder. Sams is fully aware that Chiefs fans know a thing or two about return specialists, having watched Dante Hall during his prime.
“He’s one of the best,” Sams said. “He was doing it before I got into the league. He’s one of the guys I looked up to.”
Sams also learned much from playing on the same team with Deion Sanders.
“Most of the guys who return have the same speed and lift the same amount of weight,” Sams said. “It just comes down to who has the better technique.”
Jared vs. Chiefs
The Chiefs and Vikings have had some skirmishes when they’ve practiced against each other in the past. More on the way now that Jared Allen is a Viking?
Well, Allen told reporters in Minneapolis that he hasn’t exactly circled the date of July 31 when the Vikings travel to River Falls, Wis.
“Everybody is a good guy over there,” Allen said with a laugh. “They have a bunch of young guys, so we’re going to put a whooping on them … (But) players over there and the coaching staff over there had nothing to do with the move.”
Chiefs’ Sams could rescue return game
It really wasn’t that long ago when B.J. Sams was regarded as one of the top return weapons in the NFL.
That’s why the Chiefs are crossing their fingers that Sams’ repaired right knee (torn ACL) will allow him to become an upper-echelon return specialist again.
Sams, signed to a one-year deal this offseason, could strengthen a dreadful return game — the Chiefs were 30th last season in kickoff returns (19.2 yards) and 25th in punt returns (7.6).
“This is my opportunity again,” Sams said Thursday during Chiefs’ OTAs (organized team activities). “People might look at me and say ‘Yeah, back in the day he was good. But what’s he got now?’
“You can get forgotten fast. Well, I want to show I still got a lot left.”
Sams, 27, isn’t going to show much right now. He’s being held back deliberately to let his knee heal but vows to be ready for camp in July.
Sams also assures everyone that he’ll still have the breakaway speed he had before the knee injury, which forced him to miss almost all of last season.
“Right now, it’s mostly a mental thing,” he said. “When you’ve had an injury, you’ve just got to remind yourself that it’s OK to use (the knee). It’s all in the head.”
Sams became an instant force during his rookie season with the Baltimore Ravens in 2004. He returned two punts for touchdowns, including a 78-yarder.
And though he hasn’t scored on a kickoff return yet, he has had nine returns of 40 yards or more, including an 87-yarder and a 72-yarder. Sams is fully aware that Chiefs fans know a thing or two about return specialists, having watched Dante Hall during his prime.
“He’s one of the best,” Sams said. “He was doing it before I got into the league. He’s one of the guys I looked up to.”
Sams also learned much from playing on the same team with Deion Sanders.
“Most of the guys who return have the same speed and lift the same amount of weight,” Sams said. “It just comes down to who has the better technique.”
Jared vs. Chiefs
The Chiefs and Vikings have had some skirmishes when they’ve practiced against each other in the past. More on the way now that Jared Allen is a Viking?
Well, Allen told reporters in Minneapolis that he hasn’t exactly circled the date of July 31 when the Vikings travel to River Falls, Wis.
“Everybody is a good guy over there,” Allen said with a laugh. “They have a bunch of young guys, so we’re going to put a whooping on them … (But) players over there and the coaching staff over there had nothing to do with the move.”