Players roll into camp

Chiefs roll into camp on time after long lockout
By KENT BABB
The Kansas City Star

ST. JOSEPH | Branden Albert made it halfway up an inclined sidewalk before he needed to pause, regroup and try a new grip on the giant plastic tub he carried into Scanlon Hall, the Chiefs’ home for the next three weeks.

Another player, his head hidden by a large television on his shoulder, made his way into the dormitory at Missouri Western State University for Kansas City’s second training camp in St. Joseph. And, yes, it started as scheduled, after a 4 1/2 -month lockout in which players weren’t allowed in the team facility or to speak with coaches or even pick up their playbooks.

Some handled the downtime differently than others.

“I was like, ‘Call me when there’s football,’ ” running back Jamaal Charles said. “If I had been looking at it, it would’ve been stressful. I’m glad it’s over with.”

Thursday wasn’t just move-in day for the Chiefs; it was catch-up day. A few hours after they set down their clothes, electronics and personal knickknacks, it was time to start work. At an evening meeting, players were scheduled, finally, to receive their 2011 playbooks.

Who could say what its contents might look like after coaches had all that idle time?

“That’s kind of the problem,” quarterback Matt Cassel said. “When you sit around for four months, it’s like, ‘OK, what are we going to do? There’s not practice, so should we change the playbook?’ ”

No player looked visibly out of shape, although reporters were allowed only to stand outside Scanlon Hall for about an hour as players were reporting to camp Thursday evening. Although some players trickled in, many veterans and youngsters weren’t seen. The Chiefs have signed seven of their nine draft picks, and only nose tackle Jerrell Powe was seen moving in. First-round wide receiver Jonathan Baldwin and third-round linebacker Justin Houston were the only unsigned picks.

Because of the new collective-bargaining agreement, the document at the heart of the lockout, free agents — even those retained by the Chiefs — are unable to join the team until today and cannot practice until Aug. 4.

Thursday was partly about players re-acquainting themselves with each other. The real work, or at least something close to it, begins today. Players will hold a walk-through at 3:30 this afternoon. Outside linebacker Andy Studebaker said players will have catching up to do, but he said he didn’t expect the lockout hangover to last long. He said most players worked out this past offseason, whether with their college teams or in private facilities, and he was confident that his teammates wouldn’t be slower, weaker or more injury-prone than usual.

Still, he admitted it might take time for players to work to normal speed.

“We weren’t just sitting on our couches for four months,” said Studebaker, who could succeed the retired Mike Vrabel for a starting outside linebacker spot. “It’s going to be a different year.

“If you practice a foreign language for a long time and then stop speaking it for a period of time,” he said, “it takes a little bit of time to get going again. But guys will snap into it.”

The Chiefs have reason to start fast — at least mentally. Other than a handful of player-organized practices at Bishop Miege High and an area gym, Thursday was the first time the Chiefs had gathered since two blowout losses, including a first-round home playoff loss to Baltimore, to end the 2010 season. It wasn’t enough to sour the team’s 10-6 regular-season record and its first AFC West title since 2003, but players had plenty of time to stew about the embarrassing way they ended the season.

“I think I’ve turned the page,” said Cassel, who threw five interceptions in those two games. “Obviously last year was a success in many regards, but it was a failure, especially toward the end of the season.”

He said players were putting last year — the good and bad — behind them. Thursday was about going to work, but it was only day one. Studebaker said there could be promising and difficult days ahead, but this is where the 2011 season starts after so much waiting.

“You get that itch to get it going again,” Studebaker said, “and obviously we’ve had a lot of time to think about it and get going.

“We’re moving forward, and we’re moving forward quick.”

Chiefs’ training camp schedule

Today: practice 3:30 p.m.

Saturday: practice 3:30 p.m.

Sunday: practice 3:30 p.m.

Monday: walkthrough 10:50 a.m.; practice 3:30 p.m.

Tuesday: no practice

Wednesday: walkthrough 9:45 a.m.; practice 7:15 p.m.

Aug. 4 : walkthrough 10:50 a.m.; practice 3:30 p.m.

Aug. 5: walkthrough 10:50 a.m.; practice 3:30 p.m.

Aug. 6: Family Fun Day practice 1:30 p.m.

Aug. 7: no practice

Aug. 8: walkthrough 10:50 a.m.; practice 3:30 p.m.

Aug. 9: walkthrough 10:50 a.m.; practice 3:30 p.m.

Aug. 10: walkthrough 10:50 a.m.; practice 7:15 p.m.

Aug. 11: no practice

Aug. 12: Chiefs vs. Tampa Bay at Arrowhead Stadium, 7 p.m.

Aug. 13: no practice

Aug. 14: walkthrough 10:50 a.m.; practice 3:30 p.m.

Aug. 15: walkthrough 10:55 a.m.; practice 3:30 p.m.

Aug. 16: walkthrough 10:50 a.m.; practice 3:30 p.m.

Aug. 17: practice 2:30 p.m.

Aug. 18: no practice, Chiefs break camp