Post by CAChiefsFan on Mar 19, 2005 0:49:03 GMT -5
By ADAM TEICHER The Kansas City Star
Greg Wesley figured that as a five-year starting safety for the Chiefs, he was entitled to the benefit of a doubt.
Sure, last year wasn't Wesley's best, but he was bothered by injuries and, hey, it's not as if he was the only Chiefs defender who didn't play to expectations.
So it caught Wesley from the blind side last week when the Chiefs signed Miami free agent Sammy Knight and handed him Wesley's job as the starting strong safety.
The move leaves Wesley and another longtime starter, Jerome Woods, competing to be the free safety.
Having a few days to digest the news did little to curb Wesley's frustration.
“I can't see myself playing backup to anybody,” he said Thursday. “I'm not a backup safety. I've been a starter in this league for five years, and I'm not about to be a backup now.
“I don't have a problem with them bringing somebody else in. I'm happy they're bringing some guys in to help the defense. Everybody knows the defense needs to improve. After the year we had, I expected something like this to happen. I just didn't expect it to happen to me.”
Would Wesley ask for a trade or his release if Woods winds up winning the job?
“I'm not going to say yes or no,” Wesley said. “We'll have to wait and see what happens.”
Both Wesley and Woods were given new contracts last year that make a trade or a release impractical.
“We have a lot of confidence in Greg's ability,” said his agent, Drew Pittman. “The Chiefs obviously think highly of him because they gave him a new contract last year.”
Wesley's reaction is part of what the Chiefs were seeking when they signed Knight. They wanted to get the attention of both Woods and Wesley, players they view as part of the problem last year.
They particularly wanted to motivate Wesley. The Chiefs gave Wesley a new contract last year that paid bonuses totaling $5 million and believe he lost some of the fire that led them to give him the contract in the first place.
“That's ridiculous to me,” Wesley said. “They talk about last year, but they don't talk about the four years I put in to get to where I am. I earned that money. I didn't have the year I wanted to have last year. I was hampered by a hamstring and everything. But I still don't think I had as bad a year as people make it seem.”
The Chiefs don't begin organized offseason workouts until late March but are already impressed with Woods' efforts to regain what he lost last season. Woods hired a speed coach and trains with him at his offseason home in Memphis.
The Chiefs have had little contact with Wesley since last season ended and were unsure of his efforts.
“I know what I have to do,” Wesley said. “I've been working. I didn't hire a strength coach or a speed coach or anything. But I've been working on my own. I'm going to be there for the start of the offseason program so I can stay in shape.”
I say screw him this is the problem with this defense. He took the money and played like garbage last year then wants to snivel when he has to compete for his job. Instead of having character guys who say "Well I guess I better compete hard and win the job" they think they are entitled to something. That's what Knight will bring that we don't have if anything CHARACTER . News to Mr. Wesley this is a what have you done for me lately and nothing is given it is earned so get off your ass and re-light the fire under your butt that made you a pro bowler and win the job then you don't have to worry about being a backup because you would most likely be a backup on any other NFL team in the league.
