Best Chiefs quotes from rookie minicamp weekend

A number of Kansas City Chiefs rookies had their first opportunity to speak to the local media this weekend. Chiefs head coach Andy Reid spoke on Saturday.

Here were the best quotes of the weekend from each rookie:

Second-round linebacker Breeland Speaks

“I did get the playbook and my first reaction had to be, I could do this. I looked at a few defenses that we install for the day and pretty much went over those and know those by heart already. Feeling pretty good about the playbook so far.”

Third-round defensive tackle Derrick Nnadi

“How I see it, as a defense, we have work to do. They drafted me for a reason, to be here for a reason to improve the defense. All the defensive players that got drafted, we kind of clicked as soon as we met each other. That just adds to the bond since we are already cool with each other we can really better ourselves that much more.”

Third-round linebacker Dorian O’Daniel

“Me and Breeland (Speaks) we’re rooming together and sitting in that hotel room we’re like alright, ‘What’s your deal? Who are you? What are you about?’ I think that’s the way it should be with teammates. Bringing in a group of rookies that are all defensive we have to stick together and we have to form a relationship. Because if we form a relationship off the field it will definitely show on the field and being able to communicate. Even today, me and Breeland being able to communicate because we’re on the same side on some plays. So just having that chemistry off the field definitely will translate well.”

Sixth-round cornerback Tremon Smith

Tremon Smith was the Alabama 3A High School Player of the Year at quarterback. He discussed how is offensive background may help him on Sunday.

“Ball skill. Ninth through 11th grade, I played receiver, so I always was able to go high-point the ball. I knew when I went to defense, I always wanted the ball in my hands. I missed having the ball, so it just made me play hungry.”

Sixth-round guard Kahlil McKenzie

“After school, I would just go to my dad’s office (Oakland Raiders general manager Reggie McKenzie) and wait for him to get off work, and then I’d go home. I had conversations with guys at times. I was a little kid running around, so they would sit there and talk to me about whatever I had to say at that young age. I don’t know. You see how they carry themselves. As you get older and you still see it. You get a lot of respect for how guys carry themselves. When you get to college, you’re around a whole lot of different guys. You appreciate even more the time spent that some of those guys had with you.”

McKenzie specifically mentioned interactions with Donald Driver and (current Chiefs secondary coach) Al Harris.

“Just the way they came in and approached the game every day, made guys around them better always. People in the community loved them.”

Undrafted free agent signee Byron Pringle (Kansas State)

“I’m glad that I have the opportunity to play for the Kansas City Chiefs. What I know about them—my roomate, he’s a big Kansas City Chiefs fan, so I used to hear him screaming all day long, like when Travis Kelce caught a ball. That was one of his favorite players and he’ll tell me everybody on the roster’s name. Somehow, someway, I thought he was Andy Reid because he knew when somebody else was coming in the game.

Pringle played against Tremon Smith, his new Chiefs teammate, in college.

“We had thrown the ball for a couple hundred yards on them. He was like, ‘Man, I thought y’all were a running team.’ Coach (Bill) Snyder is the GOAT, so he came up and told me ... He wasn’t the type of player that was just going to let you get by because he was at a smaller school. He was a hard-working player for Central Arkansas, and he was a competitor. I knew he had a chance of making it to the NFL.”

Undrafted tryout linebacker/safety Elliott Berry

Elliott is the younger brother of Eric Berry and has the desire to play with him for the very first time.

“We’ve never played on the same team before. I don’t know if you have any siblings but I feel like anybody that has siblings—they love their siblings. It’s a close bond. You can’t really describe it. I just want to play with my brother—not many people get that opportunity.”

Elliott was asked what he learned about his brother during his fight against Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

“I knew he was always resilient, never really scared of anything, but after that experience, it kind of showed me how resilient he really really really was. That just kind of taught me if you put your mind to something, you can do it.”