Warfield not in Chief's Starting Lineup vs. Skins
Posted: Wed Oct 12, 2005 12:02 pm
http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/4983056
Chiefs' Warfield fights to get job back
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) - Eric Warfield is out of jail and off house arrest and finally out from under that four-game suspension by the NFL.
Now, if only he can get out of Dick Vermeil's doghouse.
Vermeil welcomed back Warfield this week from a four-game suspension for felony conviction of DUI, but made it clear that Dexter McCleon, not Warfield, will be the starting right cornerback on Sunday when Kansas City hosts the Washington Redskins.
"Chances are he'll be active this week, but not in a starting role, but (in a) special teams role and a backup role or maybe a limited package role," Vermeil said Tuesday.
So what will it take for Warfield to regain his starting role? The eight-year veteran has been the Chiefs' best defensive back the past several years and is bigger and more physical than McCleon, who is more suited as the nickel back.
Even with McCleon playing better than expected in Warfield's absence, the pass defense for the Chiefs (2-2) has been poor, allowing almost 274 yards per game.
"He's going to have to look like a starter on the practice field, and look better, when he does play, than Dexter," Vermeil said.
How long will that take?
"I don't know. I couldn't tell you," he said.
Clearly, coaches still are irritated at what they perceived as Warfield's uninspired effort in the last exhibition game against St. Louis. By then, Warfield knew he was headed for a four-game suspension as soon as the regular season began. His thoughts that night seemed not to be on the game.
"His frame of mind wasn't very good because ... he knew that was it, that he was going on suspension for four weeks, and he didn't play very well," Vermeil said.
"To play well in the secondary, your focus has to be outstanding. His focus was outstanding on the practice field yesterday. When he's focused and working, he has the skills to be a starter. He's had a lot of great games for us.
"We know what he can do, and he knows what he can do."
Soft-spoken and approachable, Warfield has always been a fan and teammate favorite. But everything began sliding downhill last winter when he was convicted of a third DUI in suburban Johnson County, Kan., which automatically became a felony.
In what must have been a humiliating series of punishments, he spent 10 days in jail and 80 days under house arrest. Fines totaling almost $2,000 were a pittance compared to more than $1 million in salary he lost when the NFL ordered him to sit out the first four games this season.
He's known all along he would not simply walk right back into his starting job. For one thing, several new starters have been added to the defense, including left cornerback Patrick Surtain and safety Sammy Knight, and the scheme is not what it had been.
But if not him, the Chiefs obviously need something. Even though statistical rankings are deceptive so early in the season, the Chiefs' pass defense is resting near the bottom of the league and is just about where it wound up last year.
"I'm not expecting to come in and start ahead of Dexter or change anything on the defense," Warfield said. "I've got to work my way back into this defense."
Vermeil said what he's seen so far has been encouraging.
"He's done everything he's supposed to do and better. He will once again be very competitive," Vermeil said. "But it's just not going to be handed to him. You just have to play it by ear and see how our defensive coaches and myself evaluate that whole process."
Another condition of Warfield's probation was mandatory alcohol counseling.
"I've got a fresh start. I've made a lot of changes in my life, lived a whole new lifestyle in these last few months," he said. "Hopefully, it's for the better and I can come back and contribute to this team."
Say it isn't so! 