Like most everyone else, Edwards is feeling good about Savage
By JEFFREY FLANAGAN
The Kansas City Star
You can see Chiefs coach Herm Edwards’ eyes light up when he talks about rookie Dantrell Savage, a backup running back and return man who keeps defying the odds and sticking with the team.
Undrafted out of Oklahoma State and dismissed by almost every NFL team as too small (5 feet 8, 182 pounds), Savage went through an open tryout back in May just for the chance to make it to training camp. He got an invite and has kept surviving ever since.
And now, Savage has beaten out recently released B.J. Sams to be the Chiefs’ punt-return guy, as well as a kickoff-return man.
“It is a great story,” Edwards said, smiling. “He’s a guy you pull for. The players like him, and they pull for him.
“He came in here with 40 or 50 other free agents, and he was at the bottom of the pole. He was looking around and saw Larry Johnson and Jamaal Charles and Kolby Smith and Jackie Battle and was probably thinking ‘Wow, I’m No. 5 or 6.’
“But he stuck with it and gave it his all. You can’t help but like what he brings to the team.”
Told of Edwards’ flattering words, Savage seemed almost embarrassed.
“I admire coach Edwards for saying that and for giving me a chance,” he said.
Edwards was particularly impressed last week after Savage returned a kick and, as Edwards put it, “nearly got decapitated.”
“That happens and the first thing Dantrell does is go to the guy that missed the block,” Edwards said. “He … pats him on the shoulder and says, ‘Hey, no problem. Hang in there. I need you.’
“And the next time he gets the kickoff, Dantrell breaks one for 50 when we really need it.”
Savage remembers the sequence of events:
“I didn’t really feel it. I wasn’t hurt. I just got my helmet knocked off and I went looking to find that, and then I just told my teammate (who missed the block), ‘It’s cool. Don’t worry.’
What Savage wants to do now is reward Edwards’ faith in him by breaking one all the way.
“I feel I’m getting close to that,” Savage said. “Real close.”
Tony G’s help
Chiefs tight end Tony Gonzalez seemed surprised Thursday when asked about his offer to replace football equipment that had been stolen recently from Roosevelt High School in Los Angeles. Gonzalez hoped the helmets and other gear will be replaced in time for Roosevelt’s game tonight.
“I didn’t do this for media attention,” he said. “I heard about it, and even though I didn’t go to high school there (he went to Huntington Beach High School), it’s still in LA and it’s still football.”
To reach Jeffrey Flanagan, call 816-234-4492 and leave a message or send e-mail to jflanagan@kcstar.com
