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Croyle thrilled with Chiefs’ draft
By JEFFREY FLANAGANThe Kansas City Star
Croyle wasn’t exactly sitting around the house, pacing the floor.
“Honestly, I was on a boat, about 30 miles off shore,” Croyle said, smiling. “So I really didn’t know what was going on (with the draft).
“I tried to keep up with it a little bit by phone, but I wasn’t really too successful.”
It turns out that Croyle didn’t need to be nervous anyway. The Chiefs conducted the draft like they believed he was their quarterback now and for the future.
“It’s a confidence boost, for sure,” he said. “It feels good. They just told me, ‘It’s your show.’ ”
The Chiefs, in fact, used the draft to help Croyle down the line, drafting players such as offensive lineman Branden Albert and tight end Brad Cottam, a rather large target at 6 foot 7.
“I was pumped up when I saw the guys we picked,” Croyle said. “Branden Albert, obviously, is a guy who can play.
“We got some talented guys.”
Croyle also is eager to work with new offensive coordinator Chan Gailey.
“He’s been great,” Croyle said. “His whole thing is, ‘Hey, we have playmakers. Just get them the ball and we’ll be all right.’ ”
Great pick
Croyle, by the way, gave a huge endorsement to the Chiefs’ drafting of LSU defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey.
“Yeah, I know he can play,” Croyle said. “He’s been on top of me a few times.”
9=8?
The Tampa Bay Rays apparently have been wearing T-shirts these days with this formula on them: 9=8.
And apparently the Rays have been tight-lipped about what the formula means, though it reportedly has to do with playing hard for nine innings so the Rays can be one of eight teams to make the playoffs.
Calling all fans
The Royals no doubt are begging for some decent weather and some more Ws next week when they launch a 10-game home stand — they need some fannies in the seats.
The Royals are 27th in the league in attendance, averaging just 20,705 fans so far. Only Tampa Bay, Pittsburgh and Florida have drawn fewer on average, with the Marlins last at 14,539.
The Yankees and Mets are running 1-2 in attendance — both averaging more than 49,000 fans a game.