Tamba Hali loves his critics, says Dee Ford is a "great draft pick" for Chiefs

Tamba Hali tells me on Friday that he has embraced the Kansas City Chiefs selection of Auburn LB Dee Ford in the first round of the 2014 NFL Draft while also downplaying an ESPN report about his weight.

Let's start at the top.

This ESPN report about Hali's weight came out on Thursday night but may have been lost in the shuffle of the 2014 NFL Draft. After the Chiefs selected Ford, ESPN's Adam Schefter tweeted out this comment:

One reason KC took Auburn DE Dee Ford: Tamba Hali weighed in at 284 pounds last Friday, 20 pounds over his optimal playing weight.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) May 9, 2014

I was pretty shocked to hear this. Tamba is known as one of the hardest workers on the team. It just didn't make any sense to me given what we've known about Hali during his time in Kansas City.

Asked about that report, Tamba told me on Friday, "I love the critics showing me attention. Must be doing something right for any one to pay me any attention."

Tamba said that he respects Schefter and "loves it when he says anything about me" but said his weight is 275 pounds.

Asked about the report on Thursday, Andy Reid was not concerned. "No, I'm not worried about Tamba's weight," Reid said. "Nobody works harder than Tamba."

On the selection of Ford, who will be competing at outside linebacker as well, Tamba said it was a "great draft pick".

"He makes us better," Hali said. "That much better. Bob Sutton calling the defense, Gary Gibbs coaching three Pro Bowler [linebackers] and now a fourth or even a fifth.

"We have to keep things in perspective. General manager John Dorsey and head coach Andy Reid are putting together a team that LOVES the game of football and are willing to compete for the the Lamar Hunt Trophy and the Lombardi Trophy and anything short of those from the guys they are bringing in is failure."