Well, that happened. Round two begins tonight. As you can imagine, there are a lot of stories today. Most of them about some guy named Berry. Here's your Kansas City Chiefs news.
The work ethic that lifted Eric Berry into the position as a top NFL draft choice was learned on hot summer days in his native Georgia. He made $5.50 an hour painting houses with his father.
"It was very hard, especially outside during the summertime and it was like 96 degrees and you would be on the ladder at 12 noon and the sun was beating down on you," Berry remembered. "But that definitely showed me why the lights were on in our house."
Berry’s Intangibles Make Him Tangible Choice from Bob Gretz
Eric Berry plans on buying a Camaro with his NFL money, and that’s only the beginning of why Chiefs fans are thrilled with the fifth overall pick. Berry was the people’s choice all along, the playmaking safety drawing Ed Reed comparisons and Pro Bowl expectations for a defense in need of … something.
The takeaway from this is beneath the obvious, though.
Berry figures to be a major part of the Chiefs’ rebuilding. His resume is flawless. Team captain, All-American, National Honor Society, the whole thing. If he flops, it will be from a flaw that nobody sees at the moment.
Chiefs defy draft convention again by picking Berry from KC Star
KC Star Photo Gallery: Chiefs take safety Berry with 1st-round pick
FULL NAME – James Eric Berry.
BORN – December 29, 1988 in Fairburn, Georgia.
FAMILY – Father James. Dad was a three-year starter for Tennessee as a running back, serving as team captain in 1981 season.
KEY PERSONAL STATS – 5-11 5/8, 211 pounds, 33¼-inch arm length, 9 5/8-inch hand.
Chiefs No. 1 Profile: Eric Berry from Bob Gretz
Would somebody explain to me how come Oklahoma wasn’t able to compete for the national championship in 2009? Three of the first four players selected in the NFL Draft were Sooners: Bradford, DT Gerald McCoy and OT Trent Williams.
Obviously Bradford’s shoulder injury was the key moment in the season for Bob Stoops and his club. But what talent OU had and it couldn’t produce a title. Also going in the first round from the Sooners was TE Jermaine Greshman, selected by Cincinnati. CB Dominque Franks should hear his name called Friday in the second round.
Thoughts on Draft Day #1 … Friday Cup O’Chiefs from Bob Gretz
During the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis back in February, Eric Berry met with the media for several minutes to talk about his situation and his hopes and dreams for the NFL Draft. He’ what he had to say.From the Mouth of Eric Berry – Part #2 from Bob Gretz
This time, the Chiefs aren’t planning to wait to get big help from their first-round draft pick. They’re expecting safety Eric Berry not only to start immediately but also to help lead a long-awaited defensive transformation.
"Eric has the characteristics we’re looking for," coach Todd Haley said. "The captain of his college team. Extremely productive. Loves football. That’s clear when you’re around him for any period of time. Competitive. He’ll come in here and amp the competition up, and not just the secondary but all areas."
Chiefs expect top pick Berry to make immediate impact from KC Star
According to those who know Berry best, it’s the kid’s commitment that leaves the most memorable impression. When he decided to pursue dentistry, he talked White into an internship, leaving school Monday through Thursday to work a shift at White’s office. He’d observe and learn, and when White needed to shed his shadow, he’d tell Berry to take a break. Sit down, for goodness’ sake. Berry would take a seat, then hop up and head toward another room to watch a hygienist at work.
"Every day," White said Thursday. "He did what was asked of him, sometimes above and beyond."
That’s what the Chiefs are counting on. They defied conventional wisdom Thursday to draft a safety in the top five, a decision mostly unheard of until NFL teams began ramping up their secondaries to slow pass-heavy offenses. The Chiefs needed safety help, and that made them willing to gamble. But Berry’s intangibles — determination, character, intelligence — made it a bet too promising to pass up.
Berry sinks his teeth into everything he does from KC Star
Whitlock alert:
Eric Berry’s resume is the most impressive I’ve ever read.
In the moments after the Chiefs made the Tennessee safety the No. 5 pick in Thursday’s draft, I read Berry’s full resume, and upon completion I felt stupid for championing Dez Bryant as my favorite player in this draft.
Oh, I still think Bryant is going to be a great player.
But Eric Berry might be the perfect football player.
For the Chiefs, Berry is the ideal choice from KC Star
Anyone who wonders why the Kansas City Chiefs took safety Eric Berry with the fifth overall selection on Thursday night needs only to recall some of last season's dizzying passing statistics.
•The 32 NFL teams combined to set a record with 111,853 passing yards.
•Each game averaged 436.9 passing yards, second-highest total in league history after 441.6 yards in 1995.
•A record 10 quarterbacks gunned for more than 4,000 yards, three more than the previous mark set in 2007.
Chiefs Bef Up Sagging Defense with Stud Safety Eric Berry from USA Today
After failing to be selected in the first round, Weis will spend the night trying to convince the Kansas City Chiefs to draft Clausen on Friday according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Kansas City holds the fourth pick in the second round (36 overall).
Ahead of them right now are the St. Louis Rams (who are rumored to be fielding offers for the first pick in the second round), the Minnesota Vikings and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Report: Weis Wants Chiefs to Draft Clausen in 2nd Round from Football News Now
It’s fun to pretend. Thursday night I gained 140 pounds, six inches in height, and a lot more in the bank account. I was Bryan Bulaga, and it was a long night. Here is my diary:
We all knew I wasn’t going to be taken in the first four picks. Which wasn’t all bad, because it gave me time for the two steaks, the roasted chicken, the four baked potatoes and the entire New York cheesecake I ate Thursday to settle before I got to Radio City Music Hall for the draft.
Pretending to be Bryan Bulaga during the NFL draft from Gazette Online
Player Tweets
BCarr39 Uh oh...who's it gonna be?!
BCarr39 Welcome @berry14...time to crank it up!
GlennDorsey72 Leaving #Arrowhead had a blast!!
BCarr39 RT @hiimtom: @BCarr39 thanks for taking the time to meet fans. We appreciate it!""And we all appreciate our #chiefsfans showing support!
GlennDorsey72 now watching #nfldraft wit pops and lj...had a blast with the #chiefs fans...they are nuts and i love it!!! lol
berry14 Yeaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!
BCarr39 #chiefsfan what do u think about our selection so far?
BFlowers24 shoutout to my boi @hiimtom for cumn thru shown some love at the chiefs draft party
BCarr39 RT @bigman3307: @BCarr39 thanks for siging mine and sons hat after u got off the phone love pick of berry our backs are bad dudes!""Yessirr!
Media and Fans
kentbabb In case you're curious, Chiefs equipment dude Chris Shropshire and video guy Pat Brazil are at Radio City for KC.
Jay_Glazer Reason rams didn't want to sigb bradford b4 draft, just in case the outside chance a new CBA gets done b4 camp w new rookie cap. Smart wait
SI_PeterKing RT @cvhockeystar3: Still think Bulaga @5? ... No. I blew that one. Sorry, Tweeps.
Adam_Schefter And here comes Okung at 5. #nfldraft
WhitlockJason McCoy, Williams went straight to jewelry store. Suh donated to his university. Draw whatever conclusion u like.
KC_Chiefs1 Chiefs select Eric Berry with 1st round pick! #chiefs #nfldraft
SI_PeterKing Pioli goes against form, taking safety high in the first round. That tells how great a player--and leader--Pioli thinks he is.
espn_afcwest Berry will set the tone in Kansas City - http://tinyurl.com/2whal95
kentbabb Just finished talking to Eric Berry. He said he wants to buy a 2010 Chevy Camaro. He's perfect for KC!
mellinger Maybe we can hook up Berry with some Zubaz, too.
WhitlockJason I love Kiper, but did McShay just surpass Kiper with this Clausen ordeal? Mel looks awfully f---ing stupid on this issue.
kentbabb Chiefs will have a chance at Sergio Kindle, the way it's looking now.
WhitlockJason Lol RT @nheld: @WhitlockJason Tim tebow the most talked about white bronco since OJ and AC