I've got a big chip on my shoulder,' says new Kansas City Chiefs LB Nico Johnson

[Tribal Warfare]

I've got a big chip on my shoulder,' says new Kansas City Chiefs LB Nico Johnson
Don Kausler Jr.

on April 30, 2013 at 12:49 PM, updated April 30, 2013 at 12:56 PM
TUSCALOOSA, Alabama – In the months, weeks and then days leading up to the 2013 NFL Draft, Nico Johnson talked to most teams in the league. Practically all of them, in fact.
“Kansas City was probably the only team that I didn’t talk to,” the former Alabama linebacker said Tuesday by phone from Andalusia.
So after he slept in Saturday, he showered.
“I was just waking up,” Johnson said. “As soon as I turned the TV on, my name popped up and my phone rang.”
The Chiefs were calling to tell him that they had selected him with the second pick in the fourth round. Johnson was the 99th player drafted overall.
“I was shocked that they drafted me, but I’m thankful,” he said. “All of my stress went away. At least somebody believed in me. I just can’t wait to showcase what I can do.”
Three days later, Johnson said the news that he’s a pro football player still is soaking in.
“Now I’ve got the mindset that I want to go out and earn everything that was given to me,” he said. “I have to earn respect from my new teammates and coaches. I’m just grateful for the opportunity to play for the Kansas City Chiefs.”
When he reports next Thursday for rookie minicamp, the Chiefs might think he’s already wearing shoulder pads.
“I’ve got a big chip on my shoulder,” said Johnson, who was typecast as a run-stopper at Alabama because he was replaced by C.J. Mosley in passing situations. “It was already there before the end of the season. I can’t wait. I’m so motivated right now to go out and do my best, a whole lot more than what people think.”
Johnson is eager to prove he isn’t one-dimensional.
“The way Coach runs the system here at Alabama, I was labeled just as a run-stopper, not a pass coverage guy,” he said, referring to Nick Saban. “He always took me out on pass coverage.
‘I can’t worry about what people thought of me. It’s kind of motivated me to continue to get better, no matter what. You’re always going to have those naysayers. That just adds wood to the fire.”
There was only one bad thing about playing at Alabama, Johnson said.
“You have so much talent, and Coach knows how to get the best players on the field at the right time,” he said. “You’ve just got to take it and keep going with it. We never questioned Coach. We just took what role he gave us and played our best. I mean, we won three national championships in four years. You can’t complain.”
Johnson will join two former Alabama teammates in Kansas City: cornerbacks Javier Arenas and DeQuan Menzie.
“Their defense is similar to what we run at Alabama,” Johnson said. “It’ll be a little easier for me.”
Johnson has never even visited Kansas City, but he already has an impression that reminds him of Alabama.
“Kansas City fans are showing their support already,” he said. “I can’t wait.”

[Demonpenz]

Bone Chips in his shoulder? Great he is already a broke dick.

[ReynardMuldrake]

Originally Posted by trang1980

Úp phụ nè................. nhớ úp lại nha pro, cám ơn hehehehehheeh.........

Cút mẹ mày đi với một cây AIDS.

[Fat Elvis]

Originally Posted by loochy

Player says he has a chip on his shoulder.

Coach Reid comes along searching for chips on player's shoulder. Nom nom nom.

Fisher had a sandwich on his shoulder.

[listopencil]

Good thing he's not in a zombie leper colony, I guess.

[philfree]

http://www.kcchiefs.com/news/article...8-2f19195b2779

Kansas City Chiefs general manager John Dorsey said the 2013 NFL draft class will help address team needs, heading into the 2013 season.

One such draft pick was Alabama LB Nico Johnson, who was selected by the Chiefs in the fourth round.

Johnson left Alabama with his third BCS title win, helping the Crimson Tide defeat Notre Dame 42-14. His senior campaign included five starts, while playing in all 13 games, finishing fourth on the team with 55 tackles. He also forced two fumbles and broke up a pass.

The rookie linebacker has a head start when trying to grasp Chiefs defensive coordinator Bob Sutton's 3-4 scheme, thanks to his four-year run in Tuscaloosa.

“I am familiar with their defense as far as what they run, because they run something similar to what we run at Alabama," said Nico Johnson during a post-draft conference call. "I’m just ready to get there and learn as much as possible..... and try to earn their respect as much as possible....I’m ready to get to the next level and make a difference.”



Chiefs CB DeQuan Menzie is a former teammate of Johnson's at Alabama and has high expectations for the rookie linebacker.

"(I) Expect a lot," said Menzie. "He’s smart, he’s a good tackler, he’s vocal; he’s going to bring everything to the table. Everything you ask of him, he’s going to bring it."

Known as a hard-hitting LB, Johnson's personality is much different when not on the gridiron.

"He’s kind of quiet, chill, until you come up and talk to him. He’s very humble," Menzie said.

But once the chin strap is buckled, it's an Incredible Hulk-like transformation.

"Loud, thumper," Menzie added. "He’s just going to tackle everything."

There were three Alabama Crimson Tide players on the Chiefs 2013 roster, until earlier this week, when the team traded CB Javier Arenas to the Arizona Cardinals.

Regardless, both Menzie and Nico Johnson believe that Alabama prepares its players for the next level.

"It says a lot," Menzie said of Alabama. "It says that we’ve been put in a perfect situation. We had a great coach, coach (Nick) Saban, who puts us in the best position to be successful."

Johnson agreed.

"I am just thankful that I went through the program with coach [Nick] Saban and coach [Kirby] Smart," Johnson stated. "It prepared me very well. I feel like I am a step ahead of the guys and I’m going to take advantage of the opportunity.”

DeQuan Menzie speaks very highly of Nick Saban and sees the same qualities in Chiefs head coach Andy Reid.

"Great coach," Menzie said. "He treats everybody the same. He treats everybody with respect, it doesn’t matter how long you’ve been here, one year or ten years, he’s going to treat you the same."

More than coaches, Nick Saban and Andy Reid are friends, who chatted before the Chiefs selected Nico Johnson (99th overall).



“I had a chance to talk with (Alabama head coach) Nick Saban this morning about him before we picked him," coach Reid said during the draft. "Nick felt very good about him. He said he (Johnson) was one of the tougher guys on his football team, he was one of the leaders on the football team. And you know, we’re talking about a national championship football team. He used him in the first and second down area; he said he’s a big man who can move. He (runs) about a 4.7 40-yard dash and at 253 pounds, that’s a big guy."

Chiefs fans are hoping Johnson's size, speed and championship pedigree lead to more defensive stops and ultimately wins for their team in 2013.
----------

An immediate upgrade.

[Simplicity]

Originally Posted by Mr. Laz

The coach is going to be pretty homerish in their evaluation imo

They benefit from having players drafted


just sayin'


i like Nico ... just surprised they didn't talk to him

and you don't think Nico wouldn't be "homer-ish" about himself...? lolwut?