KU’s Joe Dineen signs with Denver: ‘It’s weird for sure, but I’m just really excited’
Kansas linebacker Joe Dineen is a Lawrence native and grew up a Kansas City Chiefs fan.
So yes, the fact he signed as an undrafted free agent with the Denver Broncos on Saturday night is going to take some getting used to.
“It’s weird for sure, but I’m just really excited,” Dineen told The Star. “It’s close enough to home where friends and family could come and watch, and obviously we play the Chiefs twice a year, so I think it’s a good situation all around.”
The bottom line for Dineen: Denver presented the best opportunity at making a team. Not only do the Broncos appear to have a need at linebacker, they also reached out to Dineen in recent days, speaking to him about the role he potentially could fill defensively.
“I like the scheme that they play,” Dineen said. “I feel like they had a plan for me.”
In addition to Dineen, six other Jayhawks latched on with teams via free agency once the draft concluded.
Defensive lineman Daniel Wise is joining back up with an old friend in Texas, as he signed as a free agent with the Dallas Cowboys. Former KU teammate Dorance Armstrong is a defensive end who was taken by the Cowboys in the fourth round of last year’s draft.
“We already talked. It’s going to be something,” Wise said Saturday night. “We’re going to become the best duo in the NFL again, just like we were in college. You’ve just got to watch and wait.”
Both Wise and Armstrong are Texas natives; Wise grew up in Lewisville, while Armstrong is from Houston.
“It’s in the backyard. It’s home,” Wise said of Dallas. “Out of the options I had, I feel like it was the best fit.”
Other KU players joining NFL teams were receiver Steven Sims (Washington), long snapper John Wirtel (Chicago), tight end Mavin Saunders (Cleveland), cornerback Shak Taylor (Indianapolis) and offensive lineman Dwayne Wallace (Pittsburgh)
Dineen, who led the nation in solo tackles per game last season, perhaps had his stock affected by a recent injury. He tweaked his right hamstring during KU’s Pro Day in late March, which kept him from completing his scheduled runs that morning.
Though he originally said he hoped to avoid watching the draft, Dineen said he couldn’t help but tune in for rounds 4-7 Saturday, doing so with family and friends at his Lawrence house.
“It was a stressful day, I’m not going to lie,” Dineen said.
He ended up satisfied with the final result, though, with plans calling for him to begin Denver’s rookie mini-camp in two weeks.
Dineen admitted that wearing the blue and orange would require an adjustment period as a Kansas native.
“It’ll take some of my family and friends a little bit longer,” Dineen said, “but I think everyone’s pretty happy for me.”
This story was originally published April 27, 2019 at 6:39 PM.
