@BCARR39

Too busy to work out during the day but it had to get done. 2 more days!!!!!!!!!

That means if Carr is in KC, he was out running somewhere between midnight and one in the morning.  Heck, even if he is in California he was out after 10:00 PM.

It would have been easy for Carr to just call it a night and workout the next day.

Awesome to see a young player taking the initiative to make sure and get a workout in even though life got in the way during the day.  Just a great job by Carr as he prepares for year 2 under Todd Haley.

If I can nitpick though, I hope that he took the picture attached to the tweet on his way from a 24 hour gym to his car because the last thing we need is Chiefs players running through any streets after midnight.  I run in the middle of the day and it takes a lot of extra effort to avoid idiot drivers, it’s scary to think what it must be like that late at night.

“That’s what I learned, these last two years in the NFL,” Carr said.  “When you get the opportunity to relax and just kick back and enjoy things, you take advantage of it.  That’s what I’m going to do.”

He’s even allowing himself one trip to Big John’s.  Carr is on a diet to ensure he doesn’t get “safety sized.”  Before his round, he turned down a snack because it was filled with sugar.

Carr said his OTAs went well, as he adjusted to new defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel and new defensive backs coach Emmitt Thomas.  In an offseason marked by the NFL cracking down on teams for conducting too strenuous of OTAs, Carr went hard (with in the league’s guidelines) at the Chiefs’ OTAs.

“You’ve got a whole month to recuperate, get your mind right, get your body right for the upcoming season,” said Carr, who will report to Kansas City on July 29.  “Because once you start, it’s going to be a grind all the way, hopefully, until February.”

Hopefully the rest of the team is balancing their time off as well as Car.  You don’t want to kill yourself and workout non-stop or you’ll hit a wall in the middle of training camp.  On the flip side, it’s hard to sit around and do nothing for a month and turn it on when practices start.

It will go a long way towards having a solid camp if your body is where it needs to be when the team reports next month.

5. Brandon Flowers, Kansas City: You may not know much about this third-year player.  But you will. Flowers is outstanding.

8. Eric Berry, Kansas City: I wouldn’t be surprised if Berry was in the top four next year.  The No. 5 overall draft pick is a star waiting to happen.

12. Brandon Carr, Kansas City: Carr is a big reason why the Chiefs are so excited about their secondary.  He’s a feisty No. 2 corner.

17. Javier Arenas, Kansas City: I’m excited to see this second-round pick play.  I think he’ll be a playmaker.

I’m not one to usually get too tied up in these rankings, especially when they are coming from people that clearly do not watch the Chiefs ass closely as they should.  But Flowers not cracking the top 5 in the division?  You would be fair to keep him out of that group if we were talking about the entire league, but there’s no doubt in my mind he is at least third in the division.

Carr has been fantastic during his first two years in the league and carries a world of potential.  Hard to argue for a higher slot for him though when a defense is as bad as the Chiefs has been over the past couple of years.

The more curious choices here might be Berry and Arenas.  I’m as excited about these two as anyone, but is it fair to have them ranked as high as they are before taking a single snap in the NFL?

“Brandon Carr, to me, is a guy who has come in with his head down working hard.  He came in a little ahead of when the actual weight program began and he was here ahead of time and has really worked hard,” Haley said.

“It looks like it has translated out to the field.  He is gaining confidence and he is a big, fast corner.  He is a player that I am keeping my eye on and I am hoping that this progress continues.”

To Haley, this season is usually the most pivotal for small school prospects like Carr, who attended D-II Grand Valley State.

“As you see these young guys come from smaller schools, the third year is the big year.  That is when you see a significant jump and that is what I tell all of these guys.  The third year is a critical year for everybody but for some of these small school guys sometimes you see a little bit bigger jump because it is all starting to sink in, they know the way everything kind of goes and they have been able to benefit from being in a big time weight room and being in a weight program.

“That is no disrespect to any of the schools out there; it is just the way it is.  You are starting to see some of those benefits he has had for two years now show up.  Coaches have come in and worked real hard with him and he is making a step.”

When we talked about the Chiefs secondary over the last couple of years, the conversation has always started with Brandon Flowers.  Now that Berry is in the fold, that’s two marquee names that take the spotlight away from Carr who has been fantastic while starting every game since joining Kansas City as a fifth round pick in 2008.

That’s not to say he has been ignored.  It’s hard to ignore any late round pick that steps right into the starting lineup and refuses to leave, no matter what school they came from.

But at the same time it’s fair to say that he hasn’t received nearly the accolades that he deserves, mostly due to the overall struggles by the Chiefs defense.  It’s safe to say that if Carr takes the sort of step this season that Haley is talking about, we could be talking about the Chiefs needing to lock up two solid young corners to long-term deals.

Considering how poorly the Kansas City defense has fared the past couple of years, that’s not a bad problem to have.

As he prepares for the Chiefs first OTAs of the season, CB Brandon Carr caught up with his local newspaper during his annual golf tournament.  When he was asked if the question marks in the division opened the door for Kansas City to win the division, Carr didn’t mince his words.

No doubt.  We came along towards the end of the season, we were under a new coach (Todd Haley) and guys were trying to feel out the situation.  Now, guys know what to expect from the coach, he knows what to expect from us, we’re all on the same page.  That win at Denver at the end of the season really gave us momentum heading into 2010.  We’re just saying for 2010, we’re 1-0 and we’re trying to build on that.

Last season there were a lot of people — players and fans alike — that tried to be optimistic about the Chiefs chances in 2009, but any rational person knew it would be a tough transitional season.  This time around when Carr talks about Kansas City pushing for the division title, it doesn’t seem so crazy.

“They’ve seen a lot more than I have,” Berry said.  “I’m coming from college, the college level, and they’ve been playing in this league for three years.   All I can do is just pick their brains and figure out what I can use.”

Berry knows he’ll have to adjust quickly.  He’s expected to begin the season as an immediate contributor and likely starter at one of the safety positions.  Berry has plenty of talent but little experience, and that’s why Thomas appeared this weekend to take a special interest in him.

Thomas worked one-on-one with Berry during part of Saturday’s afternoon workout, staying by Berry’s side while the rookie was on the sideline.

Berry said Thomas is making himself known quickly to Kansas City’s rookies, leading secondary meetings and introducing the youngsters to his style.

“Coach Thomas, he’s a very personable guy,” Berry said.  “He’s very down to earth.  He doesn’t have that big ego or whatever.  He encourages us to ask questions. Having him in the meeting room is truly a blessing.”

After all of the issues that the Chiefs had last season with their safeties, it’s huge to have a guy like Emmitt Thomas on the coaching staff.  The Falcons loss will definitely be the Chiefs gain.

It’s true that a coach can only do so much and that you need talent, but there are very few people you’d rather have guiding the career of Eric Berry than Emmitt Thomas.

Carr, the 6-foot, a second-year NFL starter returned to school on Friday at the invite of Principal Kevin Summey to help kick off “March is Reading” Month.  Summey, who once coached Carr’s older brother, Tony, recalled Brandon Carr as the team’s one-time scrawny ball boy.  Now he wanted his students to see “with hard work, anything’s possible” and “even athletes think it’s cool to read.”

Carr, 23, met with 12 selected students and provided a read-aloud of the short story, “When Your Back is Against the Wall,” by former Los Angeles Lakers coach Pat Riley.  Then he launched into a half-hour Q-and-A with the kids.

Math teacher Jerry Parker, who was Carr’s high school football coach, attended the reading.  “He was a little, bitty guy with big glasses,” Parker said.  “Just a great kid, (He was) the hardest working kid you ever met.”

After the reading, he summarized one of its lessons by saying that “competition, either in the classroom or on the field.” can make one stronger.  Good things can happen “if you stick with it.”

Carr also advised them, “All of us have at least one voice deep inside us.  We need to block out the message of fear and failure to hear the positive.”

“I was definitely not the biggest person on the field.  I never let that stop me, though,” Carr said.  “I had great support around me, my mom and dad … and having a great group of friends, and all the support in the classroom.’’

“If you do have someone who makes you the best, lean on them for support.  Follow the lead of people who are doing good.”

Carr isn’t just a great example for these young kids, but also for the lesser known prospects at the NFL Scouting Combine.  He was barely a prospect coming out of D-II Grand Valley State when the Chiefs selected him in the 5th round of the 2008 draft.  All he’s done is start every game his first two years in the NFL.

This is a guy that literally was told he wasn’t good enough by everyone seemingly except GVS and the Kansas City Chiefs.  Even now you have people talking about the Chiefs needing to draft a cornerback to start opposite Brandon Flowers.

No matter what Scott Pioli does in the draft, the one thing that is clear at this point is Carr will be there from day 1 ready to hold onto his spot in the starting lineup.

“Conditioning test…CAKE. Now it’s time to eat!!!”

I’ve read a couple different versions of just what the test entails and I’m hoping that with today’s team test will come an accurate run down of…  well, the run.

Abare was a Buck Buchanan Award Finalist (Top Defensive Player), a Walter Camp First-team All-America and a Sporting Network Second-team All-America selection in 2008.  A First-team All-Ivy and All-New England selection, he led Yale with 86 tackles (55 solo, 31 assisted) and was tied for the team lead with four interceptions.  A team captain and Yale’s Most Valuable Player of the Year as a senior, Abare was also a First-team All-Ivy and All-New England selection as a sophomore and junior.

Yale ‘s leading tackler the past three seasons, Abare participated in a min-icamp with with the Kansas City Chiefs in May before electing to pursue a collegiate coaching career.  In addition to his coaching responsibilities at Wagner, Abare will also be pursuing a masters degree.  Head Coach Walt Hameline is excited to add someone like Abare to the Wagner program.

“His passion and knowledge of the game will be major assets and I think he is well-equipped to translate that success to our players.”

Back when the Chiefs brought him in for a look, I thought he could be a perfect guy to steal a roster spot.  Not only did he have a stellar collegiate career (even against lower competition) but he seemed to fit the “tough, smart football player” profile that Scott Pioli and Todd Haley value.  Good luck at Wagner, Bobby.

Chiefs WR Terrance Copper is hoping the fourth stop in his NFL career will be his last.

Copper, who has 46 receptions for 600 yards and six touchdowns in his career, is looking to bounce back strong following an injury-plagued, frustrating season where he split time with the Saints and Ravens.  The 6-0, 207-pound receiver suffered a neck injury last year, while an illness cost him 12 pounds, and a lot of strength.

“I’m feeling a lot better.  I’m stronger.  I went through mini-camp and OTAs with no injuries.  I took care of my body a lot, and I’m still continuing to do that.”

Copper joins a team that went just 2-14 last year, the worst record in franchise history.  However, the sixth-year receiver believes the Chiefs have a chance to do some impressive things this year.

“This team is a lot like the (20)06 Saints.  They were 3-13 and then ended up going to the NFC Championship game the next year. This team reminds me a lot of that team.  We have a new quarterback coming in and a new coaching staff.  All of the players are down to earth and everybody is willing to work.”

Copper, known mainly for his standout play on special teams (41 special-teams tackles and 26 kickoff returns for 502 yards), is hoping to make an impact at receiver.  However, he’ll play wherever he is needed.

“I’m going to be put wherever I need to be put to help win the game.  I’m not worried about that right now. Everything will take care of itself.  We have a good receiving corps.  I think we have a young receiving corps, but they’re good from top to bottom.  I’m excited about this year.”

Finding himself in four different color uniforms over the first five years of his career, Copper is hoping he’ll be wearing the red and yellow of the Chiefs for some time.

“My favorite color is red, that’s a plus for me.  I’m with a new team, it’s a fresh start and I’m excited about it.”

There has been a lot of talk about the lack of depth at wide receiver, and rightfully so, but there is also plenty of potential.  We know how good Bowe could be, but there are guys like Mark Bradley, Devard Darling and Bobby Engram all who have the ability to be the No. 2 WR on this team if they can put it all together in training camp.  Then you have veterans like Copper, Jeff Webb and rookies Taurus Johnson and Quinten Lawrence who will all be fighting for that final receiver spot.  It certainly isn’t Boldin-Fitzgerald-Breaston, but the Chiefs could end up putting out a solid receiving corps on the field.

Over at the Red Zone Blog, Kent Babb has been analyzing the Chiefs position-by-position over the past couple of weeks.  Today he tackles (pun intended) the defensive backs and hands out his final grades.

TALENT: B+ — Brandon Flowers had first-round talent last year when the Chiefs grabbed him in the second round.  Brandon Carr was a fifth-rounder, and Maurice Leggett went undrafted — but both became starters.  Jarrad Page and Bernard Pollard have plenty to prove, but Mike Brown is there to either push the Herm Edwards holdovers or take one of their jobs.  Either way, Brown will be a factor.

CHEMISTRY: A — It occasionally was an uncomfortable assignment for three rookies to start and finish games for the Chiefs last season, but they proved themselves capable.  All of Kansas City’s defensive backs seem to have good rapport because, if nothing else, they have shared in some difficult times together.

EXPERIENCE: B- — The Chiefs’ top four cornerbacks have one year or less of experience, but they did play significant amounts last season.  The youngsters will be better in 2009 than a year ago, but they still might carry with them some growing paints.

OUTLOOK: A- — The Chiefs’ most reliable position should enter the 2009 season in good shape.  Pollard must show improvement from last season, and he’s the more likely candidate to relinquish his starting job to Brown, who is a natural free safety but whose talent allows him to shift to the strong safety position, too.

With the front seven going through the biggest change in scheme, it’s more important than ever for the defensive backfield to lead the way for the Chiefs defense.  No matter what his role ends up being, a healthy Mike Brown will go a long way to solidifying the defensive backfield.  And if he does earn a starting spot, maybe that means we see even more from Pollard on special teams.  For a coach that is putting so much emphasis on special teams, the more you have someone like Pollard on the field, the better your special teams are going to be.

Among the defensive backs involved were Jon McGraw, Brandon Flowers and Brandon Carr.  The players met with the children and their families giving out prizes and autographs.  At the end of the day each child parent and player held a balloon and released it into the air to symbolize the compassion they share for the autism community at large.

The Chiefs have always done a great job in the community and this program just continues that tradition.  WAAD was bigger than ever this year and I’m glad the Chiefs were part of it as well.

The Chiefs have signed former Baker University football player Tanner Purdum to compete for the long snapper job, according to The Lawrence Journal-World & News.  The contract was finalized yesterday and will be signed Monday pending a physical as the Chiefs earch for J.P. Darsche’s replacement.

Yes, things are so slow that potential long snappers make the list of today’s top Chiefs stories.  Seriously though, we’ve seen how important it is to have a quality long snapper and if Purdum ends up filling that role successfully we’ll all be better off.

The nephew of former Chiefs defensive end Mike Bell has given a verbal commitment to play football for Oklahoma University, reports Tulsa World.  Rivals ranks Blake Bell as the top high school quarterback prospect in the country.  Bell’s father, Mark, also spent time in the NFL playing for the Seattle Seahawks and Baltimore Colts.

Blake Bell, of Wichita (Kan.) Bishop Carroll High School, planned on making visits to both Kansas and Missouri but will now cancel both trips.

I’m not a big guy on high school football prospects, because unlike the NBA where those kids only have to wait a year to go pro, a guy like Bell will have to spend three seasons at OU before he will be a true NFL prospect.  But he certainly has the blood lines and at 6-foot-6 and 220 lbs is built like a big time player.

Derrion Thomas, son of the great Derrick Thomas, helped set the Rusty Hodge Jaguar-Haldex Invitational 400 relay record by running the anchor leg for Blue Springs South.  After the race, Thomas said he was still unsure of where he would play college football next season.  Rivals currently rates him as a 5.5 prospect, which they classify as “among the regions top prospects and among the top 750 or so prospects in the country… deemed to have pro potential and ability to make an impact on college team.”

Back in December, USA Today did a great write up on Derrion and gives a detailed view into the life of Derrick’s son.

No matter how many years pass, I still can’t wrap my mind around Derrick’s passing.  He was always larger than life and my favorite player through the years.  I hope Derrion finds the right fit on the college level and who knows, maybe we’ll see him at Arrowhead down the road.