Chiefs sign WR Kennison

Topeka Capital-Journal, The, Dec 4, 2001 by Rick Dean Capital-Journal

Ex-Bronco: Team signs 'unretired' receiver, who has ties to Dick Vermeil

DAVID EULITT/The Capital-Journal

Kansas City wide receiver Chris Thomas, here being wrestled to the ground by Pittsburgh's Dewayne Washington on October 14, was cut Monday by the Chiefs to make roster room for wide receiver Eddie Kennison, who has ties to KC coach Dick Vermeil.

By Rick Dean

The Capital-Journal

If he had it all to do over again, Eddie Kennison might have expressed his feelings a little differently to Denver coach Mike Shanahan. He might have voiced them a little earlier, too, than on the Saturday night before a Sunday game.

Kennison, a first-round draft pick who lost his Broncos job three weeks ago after telling Shanahan he wanted to retire just 16 hours before a game with San Diego, received another chance to start over Monday when he signed a two-year contract with the receiver-hungry Kansas City Chiefs. In playing for a fourth team in six NFL seasons, Kennison will reunite with Dick Vermeil, his head coach for two seasons (1997-98) with the St. Louis Rams.

To make room for Kennison, the Chiefs released veteran receiver Chris Thomas, an occasional starter. He played in 10 games, making 19 catches for 247 yards and a touchdown.

The 28-year old Kennison, who signed a three-year, $6.9 million contract with the Broncos last spring, was the leading receiver for New Orleans and Chicago in 1999 and 2000 when he had 61 and 55 catches. He had 54 catches in his 1996 rookie season with the Rams, which made him the 18th player drafted that year.

But on Saturday night, Nov. 10, after preparing all week to start against the Chargers, Kennison --- who had only 15 catches for 169 yards and one touchdown with the Broncos --- told Shanahan he had lost his love of the game and wanted to retire.

Kennison said his thoughts were on his family at the time. His father was hospitalized because of a serious illness. His wife was experiencing a difficult pregnancy. His mind, clearly, was not on the Chargers.

Shanahan would say later that Kennison insisted family concerns were not at the root of his disillusionment and he had been considering retirement since the spring mini-camp. He ordered Kennison out of the team hotel, then released the former LSU player several days later after Kennison said he wanted to come back.

Looking back, Kennison wishes he had explained himself better.

"I probably would have (handled it differently) knowing what I know now," he said Monday following his first practice with the Chiefs. "But you live and you learn and make sure you don't make mistakes again."

But Kennison, who also can return kicks, does not apologize for being distracted by family matters.

"There are things more important than this football game, and that's my family," he said. "They had to do what they had to do, and I had to do what I had to do. I guess both parties were satisfied, in a sense.

"But the past is the past. I'm glad for a fresh new start."

Vermeil, who just two weeks ago said he doubted Kennison could meld into the Chiefs system this late in the season, said he believed the fleet 6-foot-1, 190-pound receiver was ready for another chance.

"I had a lot of insight into Eddie Kennison," Vermeil said. "I thought that if I waited until the end of the season to try and sign him, it would be too late. So, I made contact with him and he said he definitely was interested.

"Obviously, we think he can upgrade our receiver position. I've been with him for two seasons and know his strengths and weaknesses. He has great speed and is a good kick returner. He needs a place that believes in him and is secure. He needs to get coached again and his confidence built back up."

But it was Vermeil who approved Kennison's trade (for a second- round draft choice) to New Orleans in 1999.

"He was emotionally down," Vermeil said, noting Kennison's production slipped to 25 and 17 catches in 1997 and '98. "The pressure was on him; the fans were on him. Everybody was down on Eddie because he had had such an outstanding rookie year.

"When he couldn't meet those expectations, the pressure really got him. He'd drop a ball and they'd boo him. He'd drop a punt and they'd eat him alive. They'd boo him when he ran on the field. It was tough for a young kid."