Football
Associated Press 19y

Chiefs open camp with host of newcomers

RIVER FALLS, Wis. -- That tough old taskmaster Dick Vermeil
has softened up in the twilight of his career.

Or should that be smartened up?

Assistant coaches are no longer required to work such long,
grueling days. Vermeil once insisted they have beds in their
offices for quick power naps.

And as the Kansas City Chiefs opened training camp Thursday in
what could be Vermeil's final season as head coach, a few veterans
are even looking forward to taking some time off.

So, will Vermeil's 15th training camp as an NFL head coach be
easier than the first 14?

"Not easier," he said. "Better, I hope. If you don't change
what you do, then you get the same results."

The Chiefs opened camp on the campus of the University of
Wisconsin-River Falls hoping things will be better this time. They
got off to a 1-3 start and limped home 7-9 in 2004, missing the
playoffs for the sixth time in seven years.

Getting off to a good start could be particularly difficult this
year because the first four games include three playoff teams and
the archrival Oakland Raiders, who have acquired wide receiver
Randy Moss.

For those four, the Chiefs also will be without their best
cornerback from a year ago, Eric Warfield. He's been suspended the
first quarter of the season after running afoul of the law for
driving under the influence.

The first practice showed that veteran Dexter McCleon, not a
couple of newcomers, will be given the first shot at replacing
Warfield. McCleon was lined up opposite Patrick Surtain, one of
several high-profile offseason acquisitions.

Undersized at 5-foot-10, nine-year veteran McCleon played well
in 2003, his first season with the Chiefs. But he struggled
mightily last year and was one of the main culprits in what turned
out to be a team-wide defensive collapse.

"He's going to be our starting cornerback," Vermeil said.
"I've said all along I have tremendous confidence in him.

"I believe he's physically and mentally and emotionally
prepared to have a great training camp and a great season."

McCleon wound up making only six starts last season.

"If he gets back to where he was year before last and we do the
right things with him and he does what I know he's capable of
doing, he'll play very well and it will be tough to replace him
when Eric comes back," Vermeil said.

An added incentive for McCleon will be two veteran backups,
Ashley Ambrose and Dewayne Washington.

The Warfield situation "influences a lot of things," Vermeil
said.

Linebackers Scott Fujita and Mike Maslowski and wide receivers
Chris Horn and Marc Boerigter watched practice hoping they would
pass physicals. All are coming off injuries.

"We're going to work them out now independently with our
trainers, and if they work out fine and feel good, they'll get a
clearance and be on the field tomorrow," Vermeil said.

Also sitting out the last part of practice was Pro Bowl right
guard Will Shields. Vermeil plans to take it easy on Shields and
Pro Bowl left tackle Willie Roaf because they're both in their 13th
seasons.

"We're just taking it real slow with (Shields)," Vermeil said.
"His back was bothering him a little bit so we're just going to be
very patient with his preparation."

Taking it easy on what Vermeil calls "the vintage players"
will be a key strategy of camp.

So will making full use of gleaming new lockers and other
facilities, built with the help of the state in its effort to
persuade the Chiefs to keep coming every summer and providing an
economic boost to this little college town.

"I think (the new facilities) are great for the attitude of the
players," Vermeil said. "And it also shows the school and the
state of Wisconsin respect the Kansas City Chiefs."

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