Here's the Friday Arrowheadlines, your daily dose of Kansas City Chiefs news. Enjoy.
Berry's natural leadership is yet another attribute of a player who was elected a Tennessee captain as a sophomore and junior.
"Players gravitate towards him," says longtime NFL defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin, who reprised the same role for one year in Knoxville before following his son Lane, the Vols' former head coach, to USC. "He's a total package, a great leader."
Berry credits his father, James (a former Tennessee running back who was good enough to get a tryout with Tom Landry's Dallas Cowboys), with nurturing his leadership skills.
"I stepped up and started speaking my freshman season," says Eric. "I was credible, accountable and producing on the field."
Sage Advice on Eric Berry: "You can't go wrong taking the guy." from USA Today
That’s the rub with the Wonderlic – the score has become synonymous with intelligence. When taken out of context and without the whole picture of the player and person, it unfairly labels players. A score of 21 is considered average. When Tim Tebow’s score of 22 surfaced several weeks ago, it was reported with headlines like Tebow Fails NFL Wonderlic Test and Test Score Hurts Tebow’s Draft Position.Tebow’s 22 was not a failing score and it did not hurt his position in the eyes of the NFL.
“Are you kidding,” said a current personnel director. “Have you talked with the kid? Have you met him? This guy is pretty darn smart.”
The Wonderlic does not measure intelligence, but rather the capacity to learn. This distinction is key for teams that are trying to figure out how a player will learn and how they will adapt to the NFL.
Lick This Wonder! … Weekend Cup O’Chiefs from Bob Gretz
ESPN's NFL draft gurus, Mel Kiper and Todd McShay, have unveiled their latest mock drafts, and there's a chance that former Tennessee teammates Eric Berry and Dan Williams could be the top two SEC players to be selected in this year's draft.
Kiper has Berry going No. 5 overall to the Kansas City Chiefs and Williams No. 12 overall to the Miami Dolphins. McShay has Berry going No. 6 overall to the Seattle Seahawks and Williams No. 7 overall to the Cleveland Browns.Berry, Williams could be SEC's top picks from ESPN
Operating under a narrow time frame, E.L. Crawford Construction workers will update two residence halls this summer at Missouri Western State University.
Hundreds of Harmony University singers, as well as the Kansas City Chiefs football team, will be the first to enjoy the new digs before students move back in the fall.
E.L. Crawford, with a low bid of $901,900, was approved Wednesday in a telephone poll of the university’s Board of Governors. The contractor is building the spring sports complex on the northeast corner of campus, which is currently two weeks behind due to weather.
Western to Update Dorms from StJoeNews.net
The Falcons own the #19 overall pick which equals 875 value points according to the Trade Value Chart per DraftCountdown.com. These teams own the following picks and may want to move up:Kansas City Chiefs
36th pick (540) & 50th pick (400)
36th + 50th (940) = 19th + 117th (935). Falcons would have to offer their 4th round pick to make it close to even (and might have to add more).
Why? The Kansas City Chiefs are in year 2 of a complete rebuilding mode and need immediate playmakers. Sure they understand that development of younger players will help, but nothing aids the process of rebuilding more than immediate playmakers. Two first round picks would allow them to grab their future left tackle (Bryan Bulaga or Russell Okung), while also adding either a playmaker on offense (Ryan Matthews or Golden Tate) or defense (Kyle Wilson or Dan Williams). They still would have plenty of picks for development, while also getting another pick in return.
Falcons Full Mock Madness 4.0 from The Atlana Journal-Constitution
And then the Cincinnati Bengals, who we were on the phone with trying to trade with them, they decided to take Eddie Brown. Coach handed me the phone and said, 'Don't worry about it, we'll just pick Jerry Rice.' All we had to do was sweat out ... I think the Kansas City Chiefs were picking 15th, and they ended up picking Ethan Horton, the running back from North Carolina if my memory serves. And then we just picked Jerry Rice and went out to practice that following week for our first minicamp, and Dwight Clark came off the field and said, 'Smooth and rich.' That was his comment, and I think he's been proven correct.Tales from the Draft: Michael Lombardi's Jerry Rice story from Yahoo! Sports
The Fellowship of Christian Athletes Honor Athlete Luncheon is set for 11:45 a.m. April 21 at the Elmen Center. This event highlights the achievements of local high school and college athletes who exemplify athletic, academic and leadership qualities.
Tickets can be purchased for $15. Table sponsorships are available for $250 and $500. The guest speaker will be KC Wolf, the Kansas City Chiefs mascot. School mascots from the area are invited to attend.
Sports briefs: SMSU names basketball coaches from Argus Leader
Missouri linebacker Sean Weatherspoon thoroughly enjoyed his visit with the Atlanta Falcons."Jus met with the falcons!!!" Weatherspoon wrote on his Twitter account. "Great meeting, facils are great! Would be a pleasure to be here! Great vibe from Mr. TD and Coach Smith."
Sean Weatherspoon enjoys Falcons visit from National Football Post
THE RIGHT 53? – As a junior, Cunningham played through the entire ‘08 season with a hyper-extended knee. He not only played, but started all games. He’s a smart football player; he will get his hands up when rushing the passer and knocks down a lot of passes. Only blemish on his career came in ‘07 when he was arrested after an altercation at a Jimmy John’s sandwich shop. Apparently he did not like his sandwich because he threw it at an employee.
What he said – “I see myself as a football player. As long as I get on the field, when the ball is snapped, I’m going for the person with the ball.”
Draft Profile: Jermaine Cunningham from Bob Gretz
THE RIGHT 53? – Ask Price to do something, and he will. At Ohio he was a runner, receiver, passer and returner. Whatever the Bobcats needed, Price got the job done. He was also durable. Unlike some divas at the WR position, he’s a quiet guy who lets his play do the talking.Draft Profile: Taylor Price from Bob Gretz
Can you imagine all team personnel being forthright and honest at all times? Picture asking Kansas City general manager Scott Pioli about his plans for the No. 5 overall pick in the upcoming draft and him replying, "We're going to take Iowa tackle Bryan Bulaga if he's still on the board."
That would never happen, obviously, because a team picking below the Chiefs, one that also covets Bulaga, could use that information to move up and take him.
It makes you wonder if there is another way. A way in which NFL decision-makers could field questions and answer them without having to be deceitful or untruthful. But even a decision not to comment or a non-answer can be telling at times. In Reid's case, if he had said anything to me other than what he did, it could have been national news that would have started a firestorm in Philadelphia.
Want to be an NFL Decision-Maker? Lear to Lie Through Your Teeth from Sports Illustrated
Player TweetsOn April 17, 2010, from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m., Lifeskills and former Chiefs player and 12-time pro-bowler Will Shields welcome all Kansas Citians to the Czar Bar to eat, drink and make merry in support of a good cause.
The event will feature jazz ensemble Groove 101 with Dennis Winslett, appetizers by Design Catering, Boulevard beer and wine, a silent auction, and a presentation by Will Shields and LMC youth. Items in the silent auction include artwork made by Lifeskills' youth in its new Mosaic Arts Program and donations from many generous local businesses. Support youth by bidding on a week stay at a beachfront house for eight at Sunset Beach, North Carolina.
Check out other items at www.mutualrespect.org.Will Shields, Lifeskills Center present 'Bridge to Hope'" to benefit at-risk youth from KC Star
BCarr39 Watchin The Breakfast Club #classic
almighty31 im tired as ever.... restin in the bed gettin ready for this vegas trip 2morrow
GlennDorsey72 Watching first 48
BCarr39 Nothin better to do but watch film wit the homie @BFlowers24
BCarr39 Film study over, time to get some grub and get ready for tomorrows grind session
GlennDorsey72 watchin first 48 then tryna sleep got that killa workout in the a.m
GlennDorsey72 damn this one came on already today
Patrick_Donohue Shocking that Len Dawson moonlighted as a sports reporter for a Kansas City ABC affiliate while he was the Chiefs QB in 1969
KC_Chiefs1 Shout out to KC's own Tom Watson for a 1st round 67 at the Master's - Go Tom! #masters #chiefs #kc #tomwatson
McShay13 Dez Bryant was cool enough to track me down at Logan airport. Tough background, good dude. BTW, Dez to Pats if available at 22 overall?
espn_afcwest Scott Pioli's history points to Eric Berry - http://tinyurl.com/yhegne2
mortreport Jimmy Clausen primed & ready for 11:30 am ET showtime for NFL scouts. Hear he'won't have a "safe" workout. Will show off his arm strength.