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SPORTS
6B THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2004
Chiefs' victory encourages team
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
- KANSAS CITY, Mo. — At 1-3, the Kansas City Chiefs aren't where they would like to be.
But a 27-24 victory Monday night at Baltimore sent the Chiefs into their bye week feeling better about themselves, their program and their chances of salvaging the season.
"All this means is that we will not be 0-16," coach Dick Vermeil said yesterday. "There still is a lot of work, a lot of hard work to do."
"But I think last night just demonstrated that we're better than our 0-3 record that we took in there. And that we can play good football, that we did last night. And when we do, we can win."
Vermeil said speculation about the imminent collapse of his team was not what motivated the players to make the best effort of Kansas City's season.
"The staff's ability to handle adversity properly over the last
three weeks led to a positive contribution to our players' handling it properly." Vermeil said. "We played a pretty good football game against a pretty good football team in a real tough environment. I salute those guys."
Priest Holmes, in the town where he started his NFL career, carried 33 times for 125 yards and two touchdowns. That pushed his season total to 476 yards rushing, tops in the league.
Holmes has run more 100 yards in three of four games this year and became just the fourth running back since 1970 to reach 5,000 yards plateau in 50 games or fewer.
Yesterday, Holmes was named the AFC offensive player of the week.
"What's great is having the league's No. 1 rusher back in Kansas City, leading the league in rushing." Vermeil said.
The players scattered for their week off and will be back
on Saturday to begin preparing for their next game, Oct. 17 at Jacksonville. When they get back to work, they figure to have wide receiver Eddie Kennison back after a two-week absence. The only regular who might still be out is defensive tackle Ryan Sims, who pulled a hamstring Monday night diving for a ball.
In losing by three points to Houston, the Chiefs outgained the Texans 366 yards to 296, hogged the time of possession 35 minutes, 7 seconds to 24 minutes, 53 seconds, and had 25 first downs to 18 for the Texans.
For the second straight week, Kansas City dominated in first downs, total yards and time of possession. The outcome in those games, however, has been one three-point loss and one three-point win.
At Baltimore, while eking out a three-point win, Kansas City had 398 yards to 207 for the Ravens, rolled up 25 first downs
to Baltimore's 13 and 8 of 16 third downs to Baltimore's 1 of 8.
In the two games combined, the Chiefs have run 147 plays while the opposition has put the ball in play only 95 times.
From looking at those statistics, it seems Kansas City should have routed both opponents.
"Sometimes when you've been a very big-play team offensively, the No. 1 thing people do in the offseason is study you and work on ways to make sure they take away some of those big plays," Vermeil said. "We came very, very close to having some big plays last night."
Meanwhile, the Chiefs released punter Jason Baker for the second time in less than a month. Baker was released right before the season opener and replaced by Steve Cheek. He was re-signed when Cheek hurt his leg, but Cheek is expected back for Kansas City's next game.
Freed from jail, free agent signs
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
DENVER — The Denver Nuggets signed free agent forward Rodney White to a 2-year deal yesterday, a day after a judge allowed him to leave Washington D.C. for the first time since his arrest last month on a gun charge.
White's future in the NBA was in doubt after a Secret Service officer arrested him and two other men Sept. 5 for randomly shooting a gun in the air. White spent 10 days in jail and wasn't allowed to go 30 miles outside of Washington until Monday.
"I'm so thankful that the Nuggets stood behind me during a tough time," White said Tuesday, the first day of Denver's training camp. "Everybody let me know that this was home and I'm happy to be back. It was a mistake, just being a little stupid. I learned from it, I learned a valuable lesson, and I'm moving on."
White still faces a felony charge of unlawful discharge of a gun, but Nuggets general manager Kiki Vandwegehe said he expects that to be reduced to a misdemeanor or less through a plea bargain. White's contract can be voided if he is convicted of a felony.
Vandewheghe has prided himself on bringing in players who can be role models in the community since becoming Denver's GM three years ago. He said White's incident was an isolated case.
"Rodney's been part of our family for two years now," Vandweheghe said. "Been great, been a good player for us and been a great individual. We all make mistakes. This was something that was non-intentional. He acknowledges it was a mistake and will try to turn it into a positive."
Find Your Inner Rock Star Jayplay
Your weekend starts here.
Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Changing your body can change your life.
Curves 30-minute fitness, commonsense weight loss program can help diminish the risk of breast cancer. If you join the week of October 11th and bring in proof of a current mammogram, we will waive the service fee.
Curves
The power to amaze yourself."
Over 8,000 locations worldwide.
841-1431
HOLIDAY PLAZA - 25TH & iOWA
Lawrence, KS 66047
www.curvesinternational.com
$0
SERVICE FEE
Bring proof of your
current mammogram.
www.careerintimation.com
"Must be based on five courses taken in 12 weeks, including two modules. Valid only with or participating location. Not valid with any other offer."
Doug Bowles lives in Leawood, KS.
The Scillians are both Kansas natives & KU graduates
Friday, Oct. 8th
2:30 - 4:00pm
Oread Books Browsing Area
Kansas Union, Level 2
orsadubooks@ku.edu
www.wjhwxks.com
785-8044-4311
All profits support services for KU students
Debate Watch
At
The Robert J. Dole Institute of Politics Friday, October 8,2004 & Wednesday, October 13,2004 8:00 p.m. You are invited to the Dole Institute of Politics to watch the televised presidential debates. Group discussions will follow.
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN presents
POKER PUB'S
TEXAS HOLD'EM TOURNAMENT
WHEN?
10.21.04
8 P.M.
$10
DONATION
THIS IS A CHARITY EVENT FOR ANDY MARSO, MENINGITIS VICTIM.
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