We are approaching the month of July, and for football fans everywhere it is the most important month of the season, before the season actually begins. August means pre-season, and together they will make you bite your nails for two simple reasons.

First, during the month of July players can and will get hurt in a variety of ways, and it can change the dynamics of a football team instantly and dramatically. The question is mute, and all we can do is pray to the football gods that the Chiefs remain healthy not just this summer, but all year.

The second reason for biting your nails is the greed that is born when the rookies have the opportunity to acquire a large sum of money. Contract holdouts, usually suffer from an injury, or just don’t catch on to the fast pace of a National Football League game.

Moving forward, those of you who read my articles know that the two Chiefs rookies that I have discussed in my list of 25 happen to be the ONLY two Chiefs’ that have signed on the dotted line already to lead this year’s pack of young whipper snappers. Sleepers, here are numbers 11 thru 20.

11. Glenn Dorsey, DT, Louisiana State University, Senior, drafted (1st Round – 5th Pick) by the Kansas City Chiefs.

12. Limas Sweed, WR, University of Texas, 6’4″, 222 lbs., Senior, drafted (2nd Round – 22nd Pick) by the Pittsburgh Steelers. Plaxico Burress II is back in Steeler country. Sweed is a deep ball receiver; however he could use some improvement in his route running.
a) 4.48 in the 40 yard dash
b) 355 lbs. bench press
c) 440 lbs. squat
d) 34.5″ vertical jump

13. Ryan Clady, OT

14. Jamaal Charles, RB, University of Texas, 6’1″, 208 lbs., Junior, drafted (3rd Round – 73rd Pick) by the Kansas City Chiefs. In my opinion, now that we have Kolby Smith, and Jamaal Charles, Larry Johnson can’t put the full court press on the front office of the Chiefs like he has in the past. Jamaal Charles has blazing speed (4-Time All-American in Track and Field), and has the ability to break the long one. However, Charles needs to gain weight and get stronger, if he plans on making a career in the NFL because he is a fumbler; and he will need that size and strength to keep defenses from stripping the ball from him. Personally, if he was bigger, I would like him more than Larry Johnson and Kolby Smith. I know that I extended myself, and went out on a limb by making that statement, but I believe that he has it in him to do what Priest Holmes used to do.
a) 4.38 in the 40 yard dash.
b) 30.5″ vertical jump
d) 6.80 3-Cones Drill

15. Jake Long, OT, University of Michigan, 6’7″, 315 lbs., Senior, drafted (1st Round – 1st Pick) by the Miami Dolphins.

16. Vernon Gholson, LB, Ohio State University, 6’3″, 264 lbs., Junior, drafted (1st Round – 6th Pick) by the New York Jets. Born in Detroit, Michigan, this young man is special. He tied the bench press score at the 2008 NFL Combine with 37 reps of 225 lbs., and ended in a tie with the 1st Pick of the 2008 NFL Draft, OT Jake Long of rival University of Michigan. We all know how intense that rivalry is, and always will be.
a) 4.6 in the 40 yard dash
b) 225 lbs. bench press 37 times!!
c) 35.5″ vertical jump

17. Brandon Albert, OT, University of Virginia, 6’7″, 315 lbs., Senior, drafted (1st Round – 15th Pick) by the Kansas City Chiefs.

18. Matt Forte, RB, Tulane University, 6’2″, 222 lbs., drafted (2nd Round – 13th Pick) by the Chicago Bears. A creative open-field runner, Forte’ has drawn comparisons to Arizona Cardinals standout Edgerrin James, as he shows the same balance, body control and burst to gain valid yardage after the initial hit. He ranks second on the school’s career-record lists with 808 rushing attempts for 4,145 yards on the ground, while his 38 scoring runs established the Tulane all-time record. Forte’ also became the 11th player in NCAA Subdivision (1-A) history to rush for more than 2,000 yards in a season during his senior year. Does a good job hitting the hole and reading his blocks, but isn’t the type of player who can suddenly explode past the smaller defenders (better moving the pile than trying to elude. Does have the hip swerve to quickly redirect to the cutback lanes)…Lacks the sudden burst to hit the corner, but builds his acceleration nicely, using his power rather than a second gear to break long runs…Has very good hands as a receiver, but the system does not call for him to be split out, nor is he expected to run wide-out routes, but you can see on film that he has the vision and hand extension to catch outside his frame.
a) 4.46 in the 40 yard dash
b) 6.84 in 3 Cone Drill
c) 355 lbs. bench press

19. Mario Manningham, WR, Michigan University, 6’0″, 178 lbs., Junior, drafted (3rd Round – 32nd Pick ) by the New York Giants.

20. Ray Rice, RB, Rutgers University, 5’9″, 200 lbs., Junior, drafted (2nd Round – 24th Pick) by the Baltimore Ravens.

GOD BLESS! AND GO CHIEFS!