Turley believes he’s back
By ADAM TEICHER
The Kansas City Star
The numerous tattoos were familiar, but otherwise the newest Chiefs offensive lineman was hard to place on his first day at practice Tuesday.
Kyle Turley’s once long and wild hair was now closely cropped. His once-thick body, 310 pounds when he was one of the league’s best tackles for New Orleans and St. Louis, was down to a tight-end-like 275.
The Chiefs are OK with these changes if Turley’s play is recognizable. Turley was out of football for the last two seasons because of back problems, but the Chiefs immediately made him a candidate for the starting right tackle by giving him a handful of snaps there on Tuesday.
Turley will probably win the job if he can show he hasn’t lost his skills. He also must prove to the Chiefs he can play at a weight less than 300 pounds, which he will have to do because of back concerns.
Neither Turley nor the Chiefs appeared worried about either issue.
“I’m not too concerned about the weight,” Turley said. “Football is a technique game. Obviously, you can’t be where I was at 235 pounds to play offensive line. I definitely needed to put on some weight. But once you get up there and your strength is back, it’s basically leverage and quickness and body position. It’s more of a mental game than a physical game for the most part once you get up to 275 or 280.”
Turley initially shed about 75 pounds from his previous playing weight to ease the strain on his back. Some teams looked at Turley this year at the lesser weight as a tight-end prospect.
The Chiefs were interested in Turley only as a tackle. They have a number of candidates to choose from on the right side, but none as polished or accomplished as Turley. He also provides emergency help in case of injury to left tackle Willie Roaf.
The Chiefs struggled without Roaf last season when he missed several games because of hamstring problems.
“When you can get tackles, you get them,” coach Herm Edwards said. “You can’t have enough of them. When one of them gets hurt, all of a sudden you start scratching your head. It’s hard for a young guy to go in there and play right away.”
To accommodate the Chiefs, Turley had to gain weight. If all goes well, he will play at about 285 or 290 pounds.
“The ultimate goal has always been to get back to (playing) tackle,” Turley said. “Obviously, I’ve had a lot of things fighting against that with the back injury and the weight-loss situation. I’ve fought back from that, and it’s continuing to come back very well. The weight is coming back strong and I’m keeping it in a good form, so it’s as much as I can put on and whatever the doctors say my back can handle.
“It’s good weight. It’s not weight I’m putting on eating a bunch of pizzas.”
Turley has generated his share of controversy. While with New Orleans, he was ejected from a 2001 game against Edwards’ Jets when he grabbed the helmet of an opposing player and heaved it across the field.
While with the Rams, he once allegedly threatened coach Mike Martz, though Turley denied he did.
“He’s an emotional guy,” Edwards said.
Turley shouldn’t take long getting familiar with the Chiefs’ offense. He played in an almost identical system with the Rams. His line coach in St. Louis was John Matsko, who now holds the same job with the Chiefs.
All that’s left for Turley is to bulk up and play.
“He’s down on his weight, but that’s OK,” Edwards said. “I don’t think he’s going to be playing over 300 pounds. I don’t think he has to be. He’s a guy that’s a pretty good athlete, a long-armed guy and he’s played a lot in this league.
“One thing about veteran players, good ones: They know what their weight should be and what they should play at. I’m pretty sure if he feels good at 285, 290, he’ll feel comfortable playing there.”
• The Chiefs also announced the signing of veteran defensive tackle James Reed. He played for Edwards for five seasons with the Jets and joins a crowded field competing for roster spots.
To make roster room, the Chiefs released fullback Travis Wilson, who played at Kansas State.
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