ST. JOSEPH, Mo. — Several Kansas City Chiefs players who have already reported to training camp met with members of the media Thursday. Following are their comments.
TE BLAKE BELL
Q: How did it go today? How’s it going now knowing that the veterans are coming soon and what are you doing to make the most of your time with the coaches?
BELL: “Its going well just getting in, getting our couple to a few days of kind of learning the offense and things like that. It’s great to have Travis out here and learning from him and having him throw his two cents in details, routes and just the offense. It’s been a good two days and we just want to finish up good.”
Q: “Belldozer” has anyone been commenting on your nickname so far?
BELL: “Yeah. There’s a few people, and coaches and players will catch on and call me that and some I have to explain it to them.”
Q: Could you explain?
BELL: “It was back with the fans at OU, was starting that package at the short yardage and goal line. It kind of started when we started scoring points and I kind of joke around that I might have six plays but three touchdowns. It was just kind of my job.”
Q: At the competition amongst the tight ends, how is that going so far?
BELL: “It’s going good. I feel like with the guys, we got the whole group here and we’re ready to work. It’s a good group because when we get in the meeting room, we’re all learning from each other, trying to grasp the offense. We’re out here just trying to get better each and every day.”
Q: We talked to Kelce yesterday and he said he prefers to be on the field with you guys instead of on the sideline, how much different is it to have him involved in a drill?
BELL: “Well it’s awesome. Like you said he is out there and he’s doing it so you can watch him to see how he’s doing things. You know he is one of the best tight ends in the league so it’s great to have him out there and just seeing everything like I said just route wise and what he does and just learning from him.”
Q: There’s three former college quarterbacks in the tight end group. How does it help you see the game and communicate with the quarterbacks?
BELL: “I think just being back there and seeing the coverage and knowing what the defense does and knowing timing wise, knowing when they have to get the ball out, knowing and seeing what they see and how they do it. Obviously being out here more with Pat and the other quarterbacks and getting to know each and every one of them to see how they like things done. Like I said we’ll just keep getting better and keep doing the things they want us to do.”
DL KHALEN SAUNDERS
Q: Do you still do back flips?
SAUNDERS: “The ability is still there (laughter), but no, I haven’t done one. I can’t lie to you, I haven’t done one probably since the Senior Bowl. I’m earning a job now, so it’s a little different.”
Q: Do your teammates try to get you to do back flips?
SAUNDERS: “Tyrann Mathieu, he jokes obviously, but every day when I walked past him in meetings he was like, ‘Hey, do a back flip.’ Like literally in the rooms. He’s joking obviously. But no, the veterans they all joke around. I’m pretty sure that he can do one, too. He just gets on me about it.”
Q: Have you thought about when the veterans come, the potential quote-unquote hazing that you all might have to do? Do you know your alma mater’s fight song?
SAUNDERS: “I do know my alma mater’s fight song. Honestly, I don’t think the hazing is going to be an issue at all because this team is such a tight-knit group. I think when you get that close to the championship game, your focus is on getting back there. Nobody really is into that hazing stuff. Everybody is trying to work positively and work to get past where they were. I haven’t even seen any type of hazing really since I’ve been here.”
Q: With the current absence of Chris Jones, are you ready for the opportunity that could present itself?
SAUNDERS: “Oh yeah. Me and Chris talked a little bit over social media and texts. He helps me a lot, even when he’s not here. He has helped me with my nutrition and diet because he is losing a little bit of weight, as well. He told me how to do that and how to be a professional about it. He’s a help, even though he is not here right now.”
Q: What do you know now that you didn’t know before you were drafted?
SAUNDERS: “There is a professional way to do everything. That is what I’ve learned since I’ve been here. There is a right way, there’s your way and then there’s the professional way. The oldest guy on our defense, I think, is Tyrann. He’s what, 27 or 28? That just shows you right there that it’s a young group. I mean, he’s 27, I’m about to be 23 on August 9, that’s four years apart and he has that much more experience. Not just him but everybody, they just teach me a lot of things every day as far as coming in and getting ready to work, how you prepare to get ready to work and things of that nature.”
Q: With the veterans not being here, it looks like you’re getting a lot of one-on-one work and attention. What has it been like learning from (Run Game Coordinator/Defensive Line) Brendan Daly and what are some of the things he has been telling you?
SAUNDERS: “Even when they were here, he helps. That’s his style. He’s very interactive no matter who it is. No matter if it is undrafted, first round, whatever, he is going to take that time for attention to detail for you. He details everything for you, regardless who is up. He wants you to do it right. At the end of the day, that is the sign of a coach that cares: if he wants everyone to do it right, not just the guys that he potentially will keep. He’s coaching everybody the same. I love it.”
RB DARWIN THOMPSON
Q: How hard does he [Patrick Mahomes] throw a football? He has a little bit in the pass catching game. What is it like catching a Pat Mahomes football?
THOMPSON: “You know those jug machines we are on after practice? He’s a real-life jug machine. That is Patrick Mahomes.”
Q: Does this offense kind of fit what you like to do? It seems like you are going to be catching a lot in the backfield and from screen game, how does this match what you feel comfortable with?
THOMPSON: “YI mean the screen game, the inside zone, the power schemes, it’s a lot of what I did in college, but this offense stretches you to be a great running back. I mean they split you out at the receiver, the slot, it really stretches you to be a great running back.”
Q: You’re having to learn a lot on the fly, was there anything you wish you would’ve known coming into camp?
THOMPSON: “Just how to be a pro. I mean the transition coming into being a professional is the hardest thing about becoming a professional. That transition, in the middle, it’s not necessarily just me getting there and you are already there, it is just a transition. Knowing that you are not in college anymore and that this is not a scholarship, it’s an everyday job. We go from what, 8 a.m. or 7 a.m. in the morning to 10 p.m. at night. It’s just an everyday job.”
Q: What does it mean to you as a Rookie coming in when you put that jersey on in the morning?
THOMPSON: “It’s everything I worked for. Nothing before this really matters now, this is just the beginning. This is the beginning of the journey. It is a new identity I can create. They are only going to remember me now from what I did in the NFL, not so much of what I did in college. I only played one year of D1 football. My name before this really didn’t mean anything. I get the chance to prove myself and my worth at this level.”