Chiefs like what they see in rookie back - Page 2

Pitt Gorilla · 06-23-2005, 02:31 PM

By ELIZABETH MERRILL
The Kansas City Star
The video was sitting somewhere in a pile, lost in the shuffle of the 2005 draft. Truth is, there was nothing remarkable about it. Sam Gado is running. He looks strong and fast. He’s the third-string running back at Liberty University in Lynchburg, Va.

The story could end there, with the video filed in a circular basket, only Gado’s coach is former NFL quarterback Ken Karcher. He’s an old friend of Chiefs offensive coordinator Al Saunders. He’s persistent. In the last phone call, Karcher says something that sticks in Saunders’ head.

“I guarantee you that Sam Gado will bless your life as well as the lives of others in that organization,” he says.

There are nearly 20 rookies in Kansas City for a final week of workouts, but coach Dick Vermeil knows which one is Gado. He’s the one standing outside, in 90-degree heat, smiling.

The undrafted rookie didn’t just make it out of the video scrap heap. Both Vermeil and Saunders say Gado was so impressive during offseason workouts that he has a shot of sticking around past training camp.

“He has exceeded our expectations in every area,” Saunders says.

“He’s just a ball of energy.”

He’s 210 pounds of pep, he’s an honors student who wants to go back to his home in Nigeria and someday be a doctor, but Samkon Gado wants you to know one thing — he wasn’t always this sky-high. Gado never dominated in college. He was supposed to redshirt in 2004 before Liberty’s top two running backs got hurt.

But college production doesn’t always translate to NFL potential, and Karcher says Gado’s best days are still ahead of him. He ran a 4.47 40-yard dash for the Patriots, and is deceptively strong. The Chiefs list him at 5 foot 11 and 210 pounds. Karcher says Gado actually weighs 225.

Gado was nicknamed “The Nigerian Nightmare” in high school after his boyhood idol, Christian Okoye. Karcher says Gado reminds him of a faster, smaller Okoye. But all the praise couldn’t help Gado’s jitters when he packed for Kansas City. He played football at a small high school, then was relegated to backup duty at a Division I-AA college. And now he was going to Kansas City to work out with a team that had Priest Holmes and Larry Johnson.

“That was in the back of my mind,” Gado says. “I mean, if I couldn’t start at Liberty …

“I think the best advice I got was from Coach Karcher. He told me the fact that I came down here, that they expressed interest, means I belong. It would not be in my best interest to go in thinking, ‘Wow, that’s Priest Holmes.’ Don’t get me wrong, the first day I couldn’t believe it that there was Priest Holmes, Tony Gonzalez and Trent Green, people I grew up watching and admiring. But then I had to get over that quickly. Within a matter of minutes.”

Liberty, Gado says, is a Christian school where a football player has three objectives — glorifying God, becoming the best student in the classroom, and, last in the order, excelling at football. He ran for 901 yards and 11 touchdowns on 138 carries as a senior. He also averaged 26.9 yards a kickoff return.

He didn’t always want to play football. Soccer was the sport of choice in Nigeria, and Gado was a midfielder before he moved to the United States at age 9. His buddies played football in the United States, so Gado had to try. He spent a couple of years convincing his dad he would hold up OK despite the physicality of the sport.

In the nights after a long practice, Gado will call Karcher, who’s an expert on hope and longshots. Karcher played behind John Elway in Denver. He says Gado’s in a perfect spot because there’s no pressure on him. He can learn from Holmes and Johnson. He can go to NFL Europe, if necessary, and earn experience.

But Karcher, who recently came to Kansas City to watch Gado work out, knows his pupil will make it in the NFL. He almost guarantees it.

“I’ve played with guys who weren’t as good as him,” he says.

It’s obvious Saunders has a soft spot for Gado. He spent nearly 10 minutes talking about the rookie Wednesday, and at one point said the Chiefs are better off with Gado around this summer.

He isn’t going anywhere. Today marks the last rookie workout, but Gado will stay until just before training camp, when the players are no longer permitted at the practice facility. He doesn’t want to leave anything to chance. He says it’s a win-win situation, but admits he’ll be very disappointed if he doesn’t make it.

“Honestly, wouldn’t you smile if you were here?” he says. “I mean, you get to play football for an occupation. That’s almost ridiculous.”

tomahawk kid · 06-23-2005, 02:55 PM

"Hungy Mahn Po Pie"

KC Kings · 06-23-2005, 02:57 PM

What a great article. Prepare for a Chiefsplanet Ghey-do lovefest, ala Scanlon and Boomer style.

htismaqe · 06-23-2005, 02:57 PM

REPOST ****ERS!!!!

http://www.chiefsplanet.com/BB/showthread.php?t=118381

**Rausch** · 06-23-2005, 02:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by htismaqe

REPOST ****ERS!!!!

http://www.chiefsplanet.com/BB/showthread.php?t=118381

Sorry, I'm new here...

KC Kings · 06-23-2005, 03:02 PM

I've never heard of the kid, but he sounds tasty!

http://www.answers.com/topic/gado-gado

ga·do ga·do (gä'dō gä'dō)
n.
An Indonesian salad of mixed vegetables dressed with a peanut and coconut milk sauce.

[Indonesian, from menggado, to eat side dishes without rice.]

Pitt Gorilla · 06-23-2005, 03:17 PM

Gado once beat Rich Scanlon within an inch of his life. He then nursed Rich back to full strength, only to beat him again.

**Reaper16** · 06-23-2005, 04:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ptlyon

Domo Ori Gado Mr. Roboto

Fixed your joke for 'ya.

LiL stumppy · 06-23-2005, 05:12 PM

I think they may like him because of his attitude too.Not cocky or anything like that.

Hammock Parties · 06-23-2005, 05:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pitt Gorilla

Gado once beat Rich Scanlon within an inch of his life. He then nursed Rich back to full strength, only to beat him again.

And since he's Nigerian, I'm pretty sure it's "God-O".

nychief · 06-23-2005, 07:00 PM

AFC WEST: GET USE TO THIS IMAGE

Deberg_1990 · 06-23-2005, 07:05 PM

Hes the next, Jessie Haynes!

**Skip Towne** · 06-23-2005, 07:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rausch

Sorry, I'm new here...

Damn n00bs.

T-post Tom · 06-23-2005, 10:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Deberg_1990

Hes the next, Jessie Haynes!

More than you think: Gado is the bastard butt baby of Brian Shay and Jessie Haynes. How's that for a pedigree?

06-23-2005, 02:31 PM
Pitt Gorilla Banned! Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: NOT Columbia, MO 65201 Casino cash: $80194	Chiefs like what they see in rookie back By ELIZABETH MERRILL The Kansas City Star The video was sitting somewhere in a pile, lost in the shuffle of the 2005 draft. Truth is, there was nothing remarkable about it. Sam Gado is running. He looks strong and fast. He’s the third-string running back at Liberty University in Lynchburg, Va. The story could end there, with the video filed in a circular basket, only Gado’s coach is former NFL quarterback Ken Karcher. He’s an old friend of Chiefs offensive coordinator Al Saunders. He’s persistent. In the last phone call, Karcher says something that sticks in Saunders’ head. “I guarantee you that Sam Gado will bless your life as well as the lives of others in that organization,” he says. There are nearly 20 rookies in Kansas City for a final week of workouts, but coach Dick Vermeil knows which one is Gado. He’s the one standing outside, in 90-degree heat, smiling. The undrafted rookie didn’t just make it out of the video scrap heap. Both Vermeil and Saunders say Gado was so impressive during offseason workouts that he has a shot of sticking around past training camp. “He has exceeded our expectations in every area,” Saunders says. “He’s just a ball of energy.” He’s 210 pounds of pep, he’s an honors student who wants to go back to his home in Nigeria and someday be a doctor, but Samkon Gado wants you to know one thing — he wasn’t always this sky-high. Gado never dominated in college. He was supposed to redshirt in 2004 before Liberty’s top two running backs got hurt. But college production doesn’t always translate to NFL potential, and Karcher says Gado’s best days are still ahead of him. He ran a 4.47 40-yard dash for the Patriots, and is deceptively strong. The Chiefs list him at 5 foot 11 and 210 pounds. Karcher says Gado actually weighs 225. Gado was nicknamed “The Nigerian Nightmare” in high school after his boyhood idol, Christian Okoye. Karcher says Gado reminds him of a faster, smaller Okoye. But all the praise couldn’t help Gado’s jitters when he packed for Kansas City. He played football at a small high school, then was relegated to backup duty at a Division I-AA college. And now he was going to Kansas City to work out with a team that had Priest Holmes and Larry Johnson. “That was in the back of my mind,” Gado says. “I mean, if I couldn’t start at Liberty … “I think the best advice I got was from Coach Karcher. He told me the fact that I came down here, that they expressed interest, means I belong. It would not be in my best interest to go in thinking, ‘Wow, that’s Priest Holmes.’ Don’t get me wrong, the first day I couldn’t believe it that there was Priest Holmes, Tony Gonzalez and Trent Green, people I grew up watching and admiring. But then I had to get over that quickly. Within a matter of minutes.” Liberty, Gado says, is a Christian school where a football player has three objectives — glorifying God, becoming the best student in the classroom, and, last in the order, excelling at football. He ran for 901 yards and 11 touchdowns on 138 carries as a senior. He also averaged 26.9 yards a kickoff return. He didn’t always want to play football. Soccer was the sport of choice in Nigeria, and Gado was a midfielder before he moved to the United States at age 9. His buddies played football in the United States, so Gado had to try. He spent a couple of years convincing his dad he would hold up OK despite the physicality of the sport. In the nights after a long practice, Gado will call Karcher, who’s an expert on hope and longshots. Karcher played behind John Elway in Denver. He says Gado’s in a perfect spot because there’s no pressure on him. He can learn from Holmes and Johnson. He can go to NFL Europe, if necessary, and earn experience. But Karcher, who recently came to Kansas City to watch Gado work out, knows his pupil will make it in the NFL. He almost guarantees it. “I’ve played with guys who weren’t as good as him,” he says. It’s obvious Saunders has a soft spot for Gado. He spent nearly 10 minutes talking about the rookie Wednesday, and at one point said the Chiefs are better off with Gado around this summer. He isn’t going anywhere. Today marks the last rookie workout, but Gado will stay until just before training camp, when the players are no longer permitted at the practice facility. He doesn’t want to leave anything to chance. He says it’s a win-win situation, but admits he’ll be very disappointed if he doesn’t make it. “Honestly, wouldn’t you smile if you were here?” he says. “I mean, you get to play football for an occupation. That’s almost ridiculous.”
Posts: 47,322

06-23-2005, 02:55 PM	#16
tomahawk kid Drunk in the Neighborhood Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Beating the War Drums Casino cash: $10001837	"Hungy Mahn Po Pie"
Posts: 5,974

06-23-2005, 02:57 PM	#17
KC Kings Veteran Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: KC Casino cash: $10004900	What a great article. Prepare for a Chiefsplanet Ghey-do lovefest, ala Scanlon and Boomer style.
Posts: 4,348

06-23-2005, 02:57 PM	#18
htismaqe 'Tis my eye! Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Chiefsplanet Casino cash: $8179900	REPOST ****ERS!!!! http://www.chiefsplanet.com/BB/showthread.php?t=118381
Posts: 104,292

06-23-2005, 03:02 PM	#20
KC Kings Veteran Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: KC Casino cash: $10004900	I've never heard of the kid, but he sounds tasty! http://www.answers.com/topic/gado-gado ga·do ga·do (gä'dō gä'dō) n. An Indonesian salad of mixed vegetables dressed with a peanut and coconut milk sauce. [Indonesian, from menggado, to eat side dishes without rice.]
Posts: 4,348

06-23-2005, 03:17 PM	#21
Pitt Gorilla Banned! Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: NOT Columbia, MO 65201 Casino cash: $80194	Gado once beat Rich Scanlon within an inch of his life. He then nursed Rich back to full strength, only to beat him again. __________________ Your son is a bench warmer because of your weak genetics not because of the coach Norlin Mommsen is disgusting.
Posts: 47,322

06-23-2005, 05:12 PM	#23
LiL stumppy 62-21 Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: St. Louis, MO Casino cash: $9913684	I think they may like him because of his attitude too.Not cocky or anything like that. __________________ I'm just cakn partna
Posts: 4,377

06-23-2005, 07:00 PM	#25
nychief MVP Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: NYC Casino cash: $5509466	AFC WEST: GET USE TO THIS IMAGE __________________ Good Time Charlie, Uncle Doobie and the Great Frisco Freakout.
Posts: 8,139

06-23-2005, 07:05 PM	#26
Deberg_1990 In Search of a Life Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: San Antonio Tx. Casino cash: $354454	Hes the next, Jessie Haynes! __________________ Originally Posted by Cassel's Reckoning: Matt once made a very nice play in Seattle where he spun away from a pass rusher and hit Bowe off his back foot for a first down. One of the best plays Matt has ever made.
Posts: 68,396