I think this guy knocked on my door once!

Utah defensive end Kruger knows his way around KC
By RANDY COVITZ
The Kansas City Star


INDIANAPOLIS | If the Chiefs draft Utah defensive end Paul Kruger, he won’t need a GPS to get around Kansas City.

Kruger, considered one of the most-promising pass rushers in the draft, spent his Mormon mission in Kansas City during 2005-06 before resuming his career at Utah, where he helped the Utes to an undefeated season last year.

Why, of all places, Kansas City?

“You’re just issued a call from the church,” Kruger said. “So you turn in your papers, and they say this is where we need you. You don’t have too much say in where you go. So why Kansas City for me? I don’t know, but I loved it there. It was an awesome place to serve.

“Usually you hear about guys going to Rome or India or South America … and when they said, Kansas City, I asked ‘Where in the world is that?’ ”

Kruger soon found out. His territory ranged as far west as Manhattan and as far east as Odessa, and he found himself doing everything from staging fund-raisers, to serving elderly people, arranging child care and transportation for single parents and teaching the gospel.

“I served a lot in Kansas,” said Kruger, a 6-foot-5, 263-pounder. “They were just down-to-earth, humble people. I also served right in the heart of Kansas City. So you were able to see a lot of different backgrounds and ethnicities. You’re out there serving people and seeing peoples’ lives change on your efforts.

“You’re there to serve people, whether their lawn needs to be mowed, or their spirits need to be lifted, we’re there to lift them up.”

While in Kansas City, he befriended Lynn Stiles, then the Chiefs’ vice president of football operations and also a Utah alum and fellow member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

“He was a very impressive young man, a big guy … and he had a strong testimony of the church,” Stiles said. “He’d come over for dinner, and we’d get into talking football.”

Though Stiles is no longer affiliated with the Chiefs, he has stayed in contact with Kruger and his family and even recommended that Kruger, just a third-year sophomore, return for another year of college.

But Kruger, 23, believed this was the time to come out. Kruger had 7 1/2 sacks for the Utes last season and three as a freshman, even though he has been a defensive end for just two seasons.

Kruger was a four-year starter at quarterback in high school and was recruited to Utah as a tight end by former Utes coach Urban Meyer, who is now at Florida. Kruger’s relentless style has been compared to former Chiefs’ defensive end Jared Allen, and he is most comfortable playing the right end in a 4-3 front.

“It was an easier transition than people would assume,” Kruger said. “Just the fact I was tall and big and athletic. Once I mentally decided this is what I’m doing, it was pretty soon.”

After all, Kruger has overcome a lot more than a position change. He has survived two life-threatening incidents.

When he was 13, Kruger was in a jeep accident in the mountains, where the vehicle flipped, rolled over him and smashed his spleen and a kidney. Both organs had to be removed, and Kruger plays with a pad that wraps around his abdomen to protect his remaining kidney.

“It’s something I’m used to, something I’ve dealt with since junior high,” he said. “The main thing from a medical standpoint is just keeping my diet and hydration regulated.”

That was nothing compared to what happened on Jan. 19, 2008. Kruger, trying to play peacemaker in a road-rage incident, was stabbed in the stomach, something he didn’t realize until he returned to the car.

Fifty staples were required to close the wound, and while doctors operated for four hours, removing his bowel and intestines to check for damage, they discovered a cracked rib, nicked artery and collapsed lung.

Kruger missed all of spring football and began lifting weights in June. He regained the 10 pounds he lost and was one of the primary contributors to Utah’s going 13-0 and finishing No. 2 in the nation last year.

“I learned a lot from that, that life is short,” Kruger said of the stabbing, in which his younger brother, Dave, also a Utah football player, was punched in the face with brass knuckles.

“Especially being a football player, you kind of think the world revolves around you. That mind-set is definitely cut short once you have something like that. You realize you always want to watch out where you are, who you’re around, what kind of setting you’re in.

“Every day I think about you’re lucky to be alive. It’s terrible to be in situations like that, but after you recover from them, you understand a lot of things about life and are very grateful to be in the situation you’re in.”

The Donk fans will wail and gnash their teeth in lamentation.

I'm getting verklempt...

Thank you.

Look, when the Chiefs are rolling and there's true greatness on the field, you will NEVER find a bigger Homer than me. I will raise hell, bust heads, and all points in between.

I just want that next level for this franchise, you know? Watching all the bad cards unfold in 97' and then losing Derrick shortly thereafter was very hurtful for me. I think it was a soul-killer for a LOT of people. And that's why a good portion of us on this board are so adamant about no shortcuts and no bullshit; we DON'T want to go through that again.

I like Sean Smith from Utah more than I like Kruger but that's another topic.

Kruger has really short arms. Seems like a high motor, character guy, but he'd get eaten alive by left tackles.

So, are you guys going to freak out if the Chiefs dont take a QB in the first round? Serious question.
Is the rebuild wildly off track in your opinions?

It would be illogical as all hell, but my team is still my team. I'm more upset about this piss-poor, mass-hire of low-grade coaching talent than anything else.

Wow. That was really a great post. I mean it.

I'm excited for kansas city too

Its already a great football town and I can't wait to see what its like with a rising team.

Look, I'm a sucker for the underdog and I get a little riled when I think people are getting beat up on who just want to talk football

If I came across as arrogant I apologize to you guys. I'm just very excited for the chiefs and what pioli will bring

If I'm argumentitive its not you, its THAT BITCH that I'm so angry about

Anyways maybe we can start over

Btw. Who the **** is Laz??
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I am encouraged by Pioli's record of late round QBs and therfore think it would be wise to take a defender in round one. That doesnt seem to be a popular opinion around here but I dont like either QB at the top.
If we still had a decent vet QB with a year or two left, I would be more excited about Stafford/Sanchez coming to the Chiefs. A junior QB needs more time and a good mentor to help him along. We dont have that.
A lot can happen in a year and maybe next year some of the QBs who will be seniors, step up.

Gray didn't get much snap time, and I'd be very interested in watching him play a couple of drives at least.

Huard, Martin and Croyle should be kicked to the curb. I know some people really like Damon, but I'd like to see a more solid vet in the lineup, maybe someone who's won more than 4 or 5 games?
But not some over priced guy like McNabb.

Awww Jeez, someone who doesnt want a QB in round one? Why doesnt everyone think the same!

You know there is this little thing called free agency. We can get a vet QB.

Even if KC took Sanchez at #3, I wouldn't be completely shocked if they took a bigger project in the 7th round as a backup plan for 3 years down the road. My bet is the kid from Buffalo, I think his name is Willy. Hopefully Dick Curl can come back so I get to hear Madden talk about Dick Curl playing with his Willy on the sideline.

I agree. Maybe someone like Garcia?