Dean Column

Topeka Capital-Journal, The, May 1, 2005 by Rick Dean Capital-Journal

New Chiefs receiver takes offense to track tag

KANSAS CITY, Mo. --- Craphonso Thorpe's indignation flashed only briefly, dissipating in less time than it takes the Florida State speedster to run a three route over the middle.

"I'm not a track guy who plays football," the Chiefs fourth- round draft said in a measured response to a question. "I'm a football player who's been blessed with enough speed to run track. There's a big difference.

"There are track guys who try to play football, but that's not me," he added. "I'm just a very fast football player."

Correction noted.

The mistake --- and Thorpe considers it just that --- has been made before. Despite catching 51 passes for 994 yards and 11 touchdowns in the Seminoles' 2003 campaign, most of Thorpe's bios note first that he was the ACC's Outdoor Track Performer of the Year that spring after winning the conference 100- and 200-meter titles. He ran on one ACC indoor and two conference outdoor championship teams.

One scouting report --- the respected Pro Football Weekly Draft Preview --- even questioned Thorpe's toughness and willingness to go over the middle. "Has a track mentality," it concludes, using buzz words that make NFL receiver coaches wary.

It isn't the only rap Thorpe had to deal with before getting his NFL shot, which began this weekend at the Chiefs' three-day rookie camp.

His health and once-blazing speed also are subjects of concern following a broken leg that made him miss the final two games of the '03 season and required the insertion of a stabilizing rod. Thorpe came back in '04 to catch 40 balls for 496 yards and two TDs --- less than half of his production when fully healthy the year before.

The injury and concerns about its aftermath likely kept Thorpe from being a first-day pick in the recent NFL draft.

But that is now in the past. As the 14th player selected on the draft's second day, the 115th player drafted overall, Thorpe hopes to make the most of the opportunity to show Chiefs coaches he still can be the kind of burner every passing offense wants.

"(Friday), he didn't look real fast, but today he looked a lot better," coach Dick Vermeil said after Saturday's second day of the camp. "He needs a lot of work, but that's typical of a college receiver coming into our style of offense."

Things will get better, Thorpe promised, once he learns the offense to the point that he no longer is slowed by the paralysis- by-analysis situation common to anyone learning a new process.

"I was a little more comfortable today, and I'll be even more comfortable tomorrow," vowed Thorpe, whose first name was the result of his father merging his two names, Craig and Alphonso, into one.

"This is a process all newcomers have to go though, and we'll make it through this," Thorpe said. "It's just a matter of learning the routes and getting some timing with the quarterbacks.

"Our natural abilities got us here. But right now we're not playing with that --- we're thinking a lot. We just came out of college, where as seniors we didn't have to think --- we just played. Once we get this thing figured out, we'll be OK."

"I know what I can do," he added. "I may not be displaying that right now because I'm thinking too much. It's hard to run full speed when you're thinking about not making a mistake. But really, once I get comfortable, look out!"

Rick Dean can be reached at rick.dean@cjonline.com.

Craphonso Thorpe says he first and foremost is a football player