[Kansas City.com] All of the anger and resentment over the Chiefs’ recent defensive woes came to a boil during a recent practice when coordinator Gunther Cunningham spied defensive tackle Ryan Sims down on one knee and sucking wind between plays.
Sims is the embodiment of all that’s been wrong with the Chiefs and their defense. The sixth pick of the 2002 draft and the supposed pillar of a rebuilding effort, Sims hasn’t been worth the pick and has been more of a cause than a solution.
Seeing an out-of-shape Sims on the ground while his defensive teammates stood tall was enough to set off the volatile Cunningham. In mocking tones, Cunningham repeatedly hollered, “That’s right, show ‘em you’re tired.”
After a reply from Sims about needing a timeout, Cunningham then referred to Sims as a pain in the backside.
The Chiefs have been patiently waiting for Sims to develop into the player they believed he was, but the incident shows they may not be patient much longer. Sims is still starting alongside Lional Dalton in the middle of the defensive front, but this could be his last chance.
“He’s got to produce,” Cunningham said. “He knows he needs to produce. He came into camp overweight. It’s his job to get into shape. He said he was getting into shape. I wanted him in shape when he got here.”
“I want him where he was for the Jets opener last year because he looked in good shape and looked like he was going to produce. Right now, he doesn’t look that way, so we need him on the fast track.”
