Merrill: Roaf hints he'll return in 2006

tk13 · 12-29-2005, 02:39 AM

http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansas...s/13504341.htm

Roaf hints he’ll return to Chiefs in 2006
Right guard Shields won’t say if the end is near for his NFL career

By ELIZABETH MERRILL
The Kansas City Star

It’s an eight-hour jaunt from Willie Roaf’s house in Arkansas to Arrowhead Stadium, and his mom won’t be making it Sunday. The drive is too long. Her son is too preoccupied.

“If I thought it was his last game ever, I probably would,” Andree Layton Roaf said Wednesday. “I don’t think it is, OK?”

These are uncertain times in Kansas City, with the Dick Vermeil decision looming and two massive linemen aching as the season draws to an end. Roaf and right guard Will Shields, who have 22 Pro Bowls between them, have hinted about retirement all season.

Roaf changed direction Wednesday, casually dropping in a teleconference that there is a “good chance” he’ll be back in 2006. He missed six games because of a hamstring injury, and in the middle of rehab, Roaf openly contemplated the end. What happened upon his return in November obviously changed his mind.

He was dominant at left tackle, and helped the Chiefs reclaim their spot amongst the top offenses in the NFL.

“I just don’t think he’s finished with it,” Roaf’s mom said. “I don’t think he has accomplished what he wanted to accomplish for the team, and he knows that they need him. If he’s healthy, he’s such an important building block for the team. I think he knows that.”

Shields may be a different story. He’s battling arthritis in his knee and back. He slipped out of the locker room Wednesday saying he’s not thinking about Sunday possibly being his last game and that he’ll worry about his decision after the season.

Like he has on numerous occasions this season, he dodged the “How are you feeling?” question.

“I’m alive,” Shields said as he peeled the tape off his feet. “That’s a good thing.”

Though the end seems inevitable for Shields, it’s also rather unfathomable. Tackle Kevin Sampson was 12 when Shields made his first start in Kansas City in September 1993. Shields has started 206 straight games and has blasted holes for Marcus Allen, Priest Holmes and Larry Johnson.

“Will is so hard to read as a person,” said linemate Brian Waters. “Will is a guy that one day he comes in and he is as chipper as they all come and one day he may not say a word the whole day.

“The difference with him is Will is a guy, who in this city, has played as high as there can ever be. Eleven straight Pro Bowls, 206 straight starts. … In a city that you played your whole career, you don’t ever want to go and have your worst year in your last year.”

Roaf’s mom, a former member of the Arkansas Supreme Court, said one of Willie’s regrets was that he couldn’t spend his entire career in Kansas City. He was a first-round pick for New Orleans in the 1993 draft, and his family watched him play with a torn knee ligament, arthritis and gout.
When Roaf’s hamstring popped, they worried that the Chiefs might rush him back. He had time to heal, and, at 35, is still one of the best left tackles in the NFL, Vermeil said.

“If I’m managed right,” Roaf said, “I can play another year or two. But I will take it one year at a time.”

With Will and Willie, the Chiefs led the NFL in offense in 2004, set a franchise record for points in 2003, and rank second in the league in total offense this season. Their teammates know it can’t last. They’ve seen Roaf limp around the locker room. They’ve heard whispers that Shields is hurting.

“One thing about Willie is you can always tell when he’s not feeling good and when he is,” Waters said. “The last two or three weeks, he’s been feeling good. … The way he’s felt and practiced, and how jovial he’s been around the locker room, that alone gives me a good feeling that he’s not a guy that’s looking, you know, looking at the light and saying, ‘I’m one step out of here.’

“He doesn’t sound like it. It doesn’t feel like he’s a guy who’s ready to walk away from the game.”

12-29-2005, 02:39 AM	Topic Starter
tk13 ... Join Date: Nov 2001 Casino cash: $1812500	Merrill: Roaf hints he'll return in 2006 http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansas...s/13504341.htm Roaf hints he’ll return to Chiefs in 2006 Right guard Shields won’t say if the end is near for his NFL career By ELIZABETH MERRILL The Kansas City Star It’s an eight-hour jaunt from Willie Roaf’s house in Arkansas to Arrowhead Stadium, and his mom won’t be making it Sunday. The drive is too long. Her son is too preoccupied. “If I thought it was his last game ever, I probably would,” Andree Layton Roaf said Wednesday. “I don’t think it is, OK?” These are uncertain times in Kansas City, with the Dick Vermeil decision looming and two massive linemen aching as the season draws to an end. Roaf and right guard Will Shields, who have 22 Pro Bowls between them, have hinted about retirement all season. Roaf changed direction Wednesday, casually dropping in a teleconference that there is a “good chance” he’ll be back in 2006. He missed six games because of a hamstring injury, and in the middle of rehab, Roaf openly contemplated the end. What happened upon his return in November obviously changed his mind. He was dominant at left tackle, and helped the Chiefs reclaim their spot amongst the top offenses in the NFL. “I just don’t think he’s finished with it,” Roaf’s mom said. “I don’t think he has accomplished what he wanted to accomplish for the team, and he knows that they need him. If he’s healthy, he’s such an important building block for the team. I think he knows that.” Shields may be a different story. He’s battling arthritis in his knee and back. He slipped out of the locker room Wednesday saying he’s not thinking about Sunday possibly being his last game and that he’ll worry about his decision after the season. Like he has on numerous occasions this season, he dodged the “How are you feeling?” question. “I’m alive,” Shields said as he peeled the tape off his feet. “That’s a good thing.” Though the end seems inevitable for Shields, it’s also rather unfathomable. Tackle Kevin Sampson was 12 when Shields made his first start in Kansas City in September 1993. Shields has started 206 straight games and has blasted holes for Marcus Allen, Priest Holmes and Larry Johnson. “Will is so hard to read as a person,” said linemate Brian Waters. “Will is a guy that one day he comes in and he is as chipper as they all come and one day he may not say a word the whole day. “The difference with him is Will is a guy, who in this city, has played as high as there can ever be. Eleven straight Pro Bowls, 206 straight starts. … In a city that you played your whole career, you don’t ever want to go and have your worst year in your last year.” Roaf’s mom, a former member of the Arkansas Supreme Court, said one of Willie’s regrets was that he couldn’t spend his entire career in Kansas City. He was a first-round pick for New Orleans in the 1993 draft, and his family watched him play with a torn knee ligament, arthritis and gout. When Roaf’s hamstring popped, they worried that the Chiefs might rush him back. He had time to heal, and, at 35, is still one of the best left tackles in the NFL, Vermeil said. “If I’m managed right,” Roaf said, “I can play another year or two. But I will take it one year at a time.” With Will and Willie, the Chiefs led the NFL in offense in 2004, set a franchise record for points in 2003, and rank second in the league in total offense this season. Their teammates know it can’t last. They’ve seen Roaf limp around the locker room. They’ve heard whispers that Shields is hurting. “One thing about Willie is you can always tell when he’s not feeling good and when he is,” Waters said. “The last two or three weeks, he’s been feeling good. … The way he’s felt and practiced, and how jovial he’s been around the locker room, that alone gives me a good feeling that he’s not a guy that’s looking, you know, looking at the light and saying, ‘I’m one step out of here.’ “He doesn’t sound like it. It doesn’t feel like he’s a guy who’s ready to walk away from the game.”
Posts: 54,975