[Kansas City.com] It took only one training camp practice for head coach Dick Vermeil to announce that Dexter McCleon will start at cornerback in place of the suspended Eric Warfield when the Chiefs open the 2005 season.

McCleon is coming off a shoulder injury and a subpar 2004, but he intercepted a pass in the first workout of the season, and Vermeil said McCleon had put last year behind him.

“I’ve said all along I have tremendous confidence in him,” Vermeil said. “I believe he’s physically and mentally and emotionally prepared to have a great season. If he gets back to the way he was the year before last and we do the right things with him and he does what I know he’s capable of, he’ll play very well and he’ll be tough to replace when Eric Warfield comes back.”