Chiefs Coach Calls Javier Arenas The 'Defensive Version Of Dexter McCluster'

by Joel Thorman on May 9, 2010 2:40 PM CDT in 2010 Kansas City Chiefs Draft

Chiefs coach Todd Haley was on Sirius NFL Radio last week going through all the Chiefs picks. I noticed he seemed to gush a little extra about second round pick Javier Arenas.

Haley says "there was no one more excited than I was" when the Chiefs were able to select him.

"When you start this process months ago, and going through the scouts reports, I don't know that you can read a better football character side of a report. And this guy has football character. When scouts say he treats everyday and every practice like the Super Bowl, you take notice. Again, you put on the tape and he backs it up. this kid's a player. He's got a chip on his shoulder. He's another guy that's probably been told all along he's too small.

"He found a way to get into a pretty good program there and play pretty good defense and win a national championship. He's a pretty good returner. I think he's the kind of guy you want on your team.

"When his name came off the board, there was no one more excited than I was. He's a defensive version of Dexter McCluster."

High praise from a team that places an extra emphasis on character.

Tweet Comment 22 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

Further evidence of hope

for a fantastic 2010 Chiefs season.

by mikedkc on May 9, 2010 2:53 PM CDT reply actions

Hope where there was none.

What it’s been like being a Chiefs fan for the last 40 years:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CSazaSqTqis&feature=related

And what it’s like now:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9K30e9O3Nng&feature=related

I now have hope.

"If people don't want to come out to the ballpark, how are you gonna stop them?" ~Yogi Berra~

by TheK-man on May 10, 2010 10:04 AM CDT up reply actions

I think it's important to make a distinction:

High praise from a team that places an extra emphasis on character.

This is accurate if people realize the type of character that is meant. This doesn’t mean players who are good citizens outside of football, because that’s not what Pioli did with the Pats, and there’s no evidence of it so far in KC. What it does mean is that team-based character, namely devotion to the concept of team, being selfless on the field, etc., is critical.

There are two novels that can change a bookish fourteen-year old's life: The Lord of the Rings and Atlas Shrugged. One is a childish fantasy that often engenders a lifelong obsession with its unbelievable heroes, leading to an emotionally stunted, socially crippled adulthood, unable to deal with the real world. The other, of course, involves orcs.

by burntorangehorn on May 9, 2010 3:03 PM CDT reply actions

burnt ... I understand the distinction between the two, but they are NOT mutually exclusive

"I shall conquer untruth by truth" - Mahatma Gandhi
"It's always easier to sell 'em some shit than it is to give 'em the truth" - Shel Silverstein, The Perfect High
Whitlock Rocks!
hi, Mo! 5 minutes!!!

by upamtn on May 9, 2010 4:36 PM CDT up reply actions

A large number of our draftees have been very good character guys

While I can understand the correlation =/= causation argument, your comment that there is zero evidence suggesting high moral character is a recruitment criteria is fallacious at best.

Check out my blog on software development:
http://www.turnleafdesign.com/

by Scaryclouds on May 9, 2010 4:48 PM CDT up reply actions

Fallacious at best?

What evidence have you seen? Pioli drafted guys like Merriweather and Wilfork, signed guys like Corey Dillon, retained guys like Kevin Faulk, and traded for Randy Moss. I think it’s pretty clear that high moral character isn’t an important factor to him.

by burntorangehorn on May 9, 2010 9:09 PM CDT up reply actions

That was before his 3 day interview with Clark Hunt.

If moral character wasn’t a big issue for him in NE, it is now.

"If people don't want to come out to the ballpark, how are you gonna stop them?" ~Yogi Berra~

by TheK-man on May 10, 2010 9:54 AM CDT up reply actions

How do you know this?

Are we to assume you were at the interview?

by burntorangehorn on May 10, 2010 12:07 PM CDT up reply actions

Pioli did not have the final decision on personnel in NE

Bellicheck could have been the main proponent of those moves. Furthermore moves Pioli has made now in KC suggest high moral character is of greater importance than it was supposedly in NE.

With the exception of Donald Washington not only do our draftees not have question marks next to their character, they are often community leaders and captains. If you want to believe high moral character is unimportant to Pioli then that is your choice and it is not without merit. But given the evidence at hand you simply cannot come to the conclusion that there is zero evidence support the supposition that high moral character is an important grading criteria.

Check out my blog on software development:
http://www.turnleafdesign.com/

by Scaryclouds on May 10, 2010 8:33 PM CDT up reply actions

Hey this is Yard from the Pulpit, just wanted to say...

I really liked your draft and rank as the best draft out of all teams. You guys just need that O-Line to hold up and I can see you guys contending for the Division. Love your Def and your RB’s are uncanny. Cassel well I think he could manage you guys as long as Weiss can implement a system similar to his past accomplishments. Good luck and whoop them Bolts!

I bleed gatorade and poop pigskins

by Yardpenalty.com on May 9, 2010 3:14 PM CDT reply actions

well, Yard ... on behalf of AP, Scott Pioli, Todd Haley and Clark Hunt ... I thank you

hope you’re right, too

by upamtn on May 9, 2010 4:37 PM CDT up reply actions

Man this is great...

We have true football players back in our ranks. This year should be atleast exciting to watch if nothing else. VERSATILITY rules.

by imur#1fan on May 9, 2010 3:38 PM CDT reply actions

Doesn't this year almost make you feel like a liar?

I have convinced my self at times in the past that “we are gonna be better”. This time, it’s like a whole new level. So much so that I feel wrong for the times I said it in the past. This time Im not just being loyal to my team. I can really see it. Great time to be a Chiefs fan.

by Enite on May 9, 2010 4:21 PM CDT reply actions 2 recs

I couldn't have said it better myself

Rec’d!

"I’d go to battle with him every day of the week." Todd Haley on Matt Cassel

This statement is why I am on the Cassel train, drinkin the Kool-Aid!

by KC4Life on May 9, 2010 10:34 PM CDT up reply actions

Very well said mate

Only people who carry the opinions of others need the support of others.

by Peyote on May 10, 2010 5:14 AM CDT up reply actions

so Arenas and McCluster can both do KR/PR/Slot-R/Scatback/CB/S ...

cool! (well, they should!)

by upamtn on May 9, 2010 4:38 PM CDT reply actions

He reminds me of Kel from "Kenan and Kel" in that pick

but i think he’ll be great as a returner and a NB or even starting CB

by irishking44 on May 9, 2010 4:45 PM CDT reply actions

There's no way we had this good of a draft

@this is kc right?

I love to be a chiefs fan right now.. We are going to have that offense we used too and if all our first round picks on defense play like first rounders we have a good defense.. Noone can say with Dorsey, Jackson, DJ, Hali, Berry and the high 2nd round shutdown corner Brandon Flower that we should be a bad defense.. I hope we can be great with our great coaching and high picks.. Our offense should be GREAT.. GO CHIEFS!!! Can’t wait..

by Kcbiggyblue on May 9, 2010 4:51 PM CDT reply actions

At least get...

…your sarcasm font right: http://www.arrowheadpride.com/2010/5/5/1459591/how-to-do-sarcasm-font-it-seems. :) – TL

"Sir,--It has been wittily remarked that there are three kinds of falsehood: the first is a 'fib,' the second is a downright lie, and the third and most aggravated is statistics." *The National Observer* (June 13, 1891): p. 93-94.

by timlacy on May 9, 2010 7:48 PM CDT up reply actions

Gotta love Javi

I’m a diehard Bama fan and am sad to lose him, but it helps that I’m also a Chiefs fan. This guy has impressed me for 3 years at Bama. He was initially just returning kicks, but when Saban came in Javi earned a spot on the defense and never let go. The guy can play some D, but I can’t wait to see him return his first kick for a touchdown. He will change the game with that!

getusome sucka!

by getusome on May 9, 2010 5:55 PM CDT reply actions

Im Ready ........

IS IT FOOTBALL SEASON YET!!!

Flowers, Carr, Lewis, & Berry = SCARY SECONDARY

NEW ARROWHEAD = BETTER TEAM ... CHIEFS 2010 AFC WEST CHAMPS

by Chiefs619 on May 9, 2010 6:29 PM CDT reply actions

I was excited too

When i heard them javis name, not the bama player i was expecting but a good one none the less. I am also a die hard Bama Fan! roll tide! kinda wish we would of got mcclain, codey, then javi, ha that would of made my decade!

Piolli, haley, crennel, weis nough said!!! Coach Em Up Boys.

by Franke on May 9, 2010 7:22 PM CDT reply actions