Following are excerpts from players after the third two-a-day practice of the 2006 season.
Head Coach**Gary Kubiak*** *
(on recently signed CB**Dexter McCleon**) "I know a little bit about Dexter having been in
(Chiefs) for many years. He's been a fine player for a long time. He's a veteran guy with experience. I've gotten some great calls from him on a character standpoint and the type of person he is. We're just looking forward to giving him an opportunity with our football team and in the situation we're in it's a great opportunity for him."
(on CB Dunta Robinson's ankle) "He rolled his ankle, he came back the next morning, and it bothered him again. We pulled him out. He just went and had x-rays done, just to ease our minds. He's fine, and we need to look at some of these other guys anyways. We'll get him healthy, even if it takes two or three or four days so we'll do what we have to do to and he will be ready to play."
(on pursuing new cornerbacks) "I think we'll continue to. We even said heading into camp that we would look for a veteran corner as camp went through. Of course it's escaladed from this standpoint. We'll have a workout, I'm not sure if it's going to be this afternoon or tomorrow, but we're going to work out some more corners. As camp goes on and things happen, we've got to have a good camp from that standpoint. We've got to be watching a lot of football players out in this league. It's just part of the process."
(on the team's intensity while playing in pads) "Every camp I've ever been in the National Football League, when you get to the third day and you throw those pads on, there's a big elephant that gets on your back. We got started early with some thumping early and I liked what happened at the end of practice. Everybody was dead and tired, and guys are stepping up and made some plays at the end, on defense and on offense. That's what we have to do."
(on various practice drills) "As we go through camp we're always going to create a competitive environment. At the end of the day I want coaches off the field. As a coach, when you're sitting there in a player's hip pocket all day at practice, sometimes you really don't know until you stand away and go stand on the sidelines and say 'let me see what you can do'. That's the kind of environment I'm trying to create. I want their peers to watch them. Everybody saw (SS Anthony) Floyd step up and make a great play, (CB John)
made a big play for the defense on third down. Everybody has been watching (WR) Andre (Johnson) and (QB) David (Carr) make some plays in the first group. It's what you have to do. It's about respect, and you have to come out here and earn it, and I want to give them a chance to do that."
(on his plans for RB**Domanick Davis**) "First off, we want him to go every morning with it. That's what we what we want him to do. The first two days were good. There was a little soreness yesterday. He talked about it yesterday. He came in and we took a look at it. We took an MRI yesterday, it looked good. It is bothering him, he is sore. It may be a process where he goes two days and then takes a day off and comes back with two more. We're going to do what's best for Domanick and this football team. But the key thing is that we have to make sure that everything is fine with the knee. It looks like it is, so we have to sit down and chart out the course."
(on the running back situation) "We'll keep our eyes out in this league for veteran backs just like corners. That won't change at any position. I like the competition we have. I like what (RB) Antowain Smith is doing. These are tremendously conditioned athletes and I'm sure you guys are seeing the same thing I have. There is three fine young football players out there, whether they're a sixth rounder or free-agents. If they can play, that's all that matters to me. I like watching these three kids and I'm excited to watch them play. I'm talking about the three rookies. I think (RB Vernand) Morency stepped it up. I think when you look at (RB) Wali (Lundy), and you look at (RB Chris)
, you're looking at three kids who are showing you they can play in this league. It doesn't matter where you're drafted. I've been through that before, and as long as they keep doing that, I'm going to give them a chance to contribute to this football team."
(on rookie linebacker**Demeco Ryans**) "Well he's very smart, so he handles a lot. He's playing will (left linebacker) and he's playing mike (middle linebacker) so that's a big value. The kid loves to play. If you could see him in a meeting room and the way he goes about his business for Joe (Marciano) and our team, he's like a seven or eight year veteran already. He's a great kid, and we knew that. His character is tops, and his football is pretty good too."
(on his excitement for training camp) "It's exciting, but it's work. It's business as usual. I've been doing it for a long time and it feels like the third day of every other camp I've been in. It's a little bit different perspective on how you're watching things. It's just exciting. We have a great group of coaches and a group people in this organization. Everybody's working hard to get this thing turned around."
Assistant head coach/offense**Mike Sherman****
(on his developing relationship with head coach Gary Kubiak)** "I don't know if
knows what he's doing."
(on the team's veteran depth) "To have some veterans in here like an (WR) Eric Moulds, like (WR) Andre Johnson who have played in games, certainly that only enhances us to be able to teach. They're not going to play in their first football game when they line up against
. They will have played in some games previous to that, even though it's a different scheme. To have them having already played under the lights, so to speak, under a great home crowd is going to be critical for us and our success in that football game."
(on C**Mike Flanagan**) "Mike and I go way back. I coached him in college, obviously at
was a good move for him. He's in a good position right now where he can enhance our offensive line not only as an athlete and a football player, but his toughness and leadership really contributes to our offense, our offensive line and our football team."
**Cornerback Dexter McCleon
(on getting back into football)** "I have been working out and training hard the whole time. There is a difference in training in the off-season and coming out here and doing it on the football field, it's totally different. My conditioning is good and I'm in shape, but you have to get your legs and feet back doing football movements. It takes a couple days to get the feel back."
**(on finding out about coming to
)** "Late Saturday night, it kind of caught me off guard, but I was glad and ready to go."
(on his role for the team) "I see my roll as doing whatever it is they need me to do. Whether it's playing corner, whether it's playing nickel or dime, I want to help these young guys. First of all, I have to get a feel for what's going on here, the scheme. Then I can come to these guys and help them a little bit. But right now, I'm just trying to get my feet on the ground, get myself settled and learn what's going on."
(on retired Kansas City Head Coach Dick Vermeil's great recommendation) "It feels good. I played for him seven years and tried to do my thing for him. I always tried to do what was asked of me and it helps when you impress people and they give you another chance."
Running Back**Antowain Smith **
(on his progress)"I feel very happy with my progress and the way we're doing. The offensive side, we'll be coming along and the young guys are coming along real well. We just have to keep going out and here and keep fighting everyday and keep trying to get better."
(on finding a home in this offense) "I think so. All we have to do is go out there and be positive and get the positive yards and try to eliminate the negative plays. We do that, and I think we'll be fine."
(on his leadership role with the young running backs) "As a guy who's been on winning teams, been on losing teams, been a starting running back, back-up running back, you just have to take it as it comes. You have to go about it everyday as if you were a starter and prepare everyday like you never know when you get that chance. Something can happen at any moment, and you can be thrust in that role."
(on the young receiving core) "The thing is you have to let the guys learn on their own at the same time. When they're making mistakes, they know they can't make this mistake, it's alright; you have to put that behind you and continue to make plays. Make the next play your best play."
(on his approach to this training camp as apposed to previous ones) "A lot of cold tubs. When I first came into the league, I didn't need them, but now, it's just taking care of your body. Going out there and doing the things that you need to do and stay in shape."
(on being labeled a workaholic) "That makes me feel good. The older you get, the more you have to be consumed with what you put in your body and stay in shape. My thing is I want to be able to come out here and produce. I just don't want to be on the team, I want to contribute, also."
Post-afternoon practice quotes
**
Head Coach Gary Kubiak
(on LB Wali Rainer's injury)** "Wali, this morning, of course got rolled up. We did not have the x-rays as of me walking over to practice, so they could have them now. We'll have that answer here very briefly."
(on studying practice film) "Everybody's working hard. I liked the way we worked today. We had a really tough morning. We got after it really good physically. I want them to come out in the afternoons and get into their shorts and get into a routine. We actually cut practice about 15 minutes short because I think they're working well and pay good attention to detail."
(on TE**Bennie Joppru**)"I would think that he will help us out after what's happened to him his first few years here. I've seen that happen with other players and other teams that I've been on. They struggle early in their NFL career with their bodies, and then all of a sudden when they do get it right, they play for a long time. I'm hoping that's the case with Ben (Bennie Joppru). He's playing lighter now then he's ever tried to play, so maybe that has something to do with it, but he's having a good camp."
(on defensive line coach**Bob Karmelowicz**) "He's a special man. I know a lot about him from coaching against
