ST. JOSEPH, Mo. — The Kansas City Chiefs opened camp Friday with their fingers crossed.
The big question: How are the knees of Jamaal Charles, Eric Berry and Tony Moeaki holding up?
Taken together, the knee injuries that took out the Pro Bowl running back, Pro Bowl safety and promising tight end before the 2011 season probably had more to do with last year’s dismal season than any other factor. Had Charles been given a chance to duplicate his 1,467-yard season of 2010, Todd Haley might still be the coach rather than Pittsburgh’s offensive coordinator.
Most of the defense had been designed around Berry after he played well enough as a rookie to go to the Pro Bowl. Had he spent 2011 in the secondary rather than rehab, Kansas City fans may have enjoyed a second consecutive trip to the playoffs.
Instead, the wounded Chiefs limped home 7-9, runner-up in the mediocre AFC West to 8-8 champion Denver. Haley was fired, and Romeo Crennel was promoted from defensive coordinator.
Their head coach will be keeping a keener eye than anyone else on how well these vital players are moving and cutting, stopping and starting on their surgically repaired knees.
So far, so good.
“They all passed the physical and we will be working with all of them in practice,” Crennel said. “We might have to manage them a little bit if they get a little irritated in their joint they had the surgery on, but they should be good to go.”
Crennel said he has seen nothing in the three to cause worry. At least, not yet.
“What’s going to happen, that joint hasn’t been stressed the way it’s going to be stressed in pads and out there on the football field and sudden cuts and things,” Crennel said. “Most of the work they’ve been doing in the off season, it’s all planned. It’s straight-line. They know when they’re going to make the cut, they know when they have to turn. They can go straight ahead, but on the football field it has to be a reaction.”
As expected, wide receiver Dwayne Bowe, Kansas City’s leader in receptions and receiving yards the past three years, was not on the field Friday. Bowe, a Pro Bowl player in 2010, was given the franchise tag when he refused to sign the Chiefs’ tender.
If he eventually comes in and plays this year, as the Chiefs expect, he will get about $9.5 million.
“I’m only working with the guys who are here, so I know nothing about the situation,” Crennel said. “I have not spoken with him or anything like that.”
The Chiefs do not expect Bowe to sit out, but as long as he’s out, it is an opportunity for second-year wide receiver Jonathan Baldwin to get his career started. Last year’s first-round pick, Baldwin missed much of the first half of the season after injuring his hand in a fight with teammate Thomas Jones.
“He kind of feels like he might be the guy and he sees the opportunity, and he worked hard this off season,” Crennel said. “His weight is down. He’s in great shape. He’s got a good attitude. I anticipate he will have a good year going forward.”
Sports, Pages 26 on 07/28/2012