Gunther sweet-talking Aaron Curry & his mom...

[T-post Tom]

I found it interesting that the Chiefs weren't mentioned here.



Aaron Curry has visits scheduled with the Seahawks, Bengals and Rams in the coming weeks.


As a walkup to the NFL draft on April 25, SI.com writer Ted Keith has arranged to get diary entries from Aaron Curry, an All-America linebacker at Wake Forest who is projected to go high in the first round. You can read his first entry here, his second entry here and his third entry here.

After the combine, I was back in North Carolina for a few days. I had a chance to go over to Winston-Salem and visit with some people at Wake Forest. It was my first time back since I graduated in December and, of course, everyone's talking about basketball now. I'm friends with all the guys on the team -- Jeff Teague, Al-Farouq Aminu, James Johnson, all of them. I haven't been able to pay as much attention to the team as I'd like this year, but I plan on catching up.

I also had a chance to have dinner with Jon Beason, a middle linebacker for the Carolina Panthers. He gave me the rundown on what everything will be like in the NFL. He said it will get chaotic and once I enter minicamp it will be even crazier. He also said not to get too stressed out being a rookie. Go in there level-headed, don't try to take over the team or take over the world. Just work hard and learn hard. Get with a veteran to take me through the playbook. Take it just as serious as I took it in college football and high school football. And do that every single day.

That was good advice for when I went to visit the Detroit Lions, who hold the top pick in the draft. It went very well and a lot of the conversations were just regular ones, with them trying to learn what type of person I am and how I would fit in there. I met every coach on the defensive side of the ball and we just talked about how I would fit in, where the franchise was headed. I got to have breakfast with new Lions linebacker, Julian Peterson. He was giving me a lot of advice about how to be successful in the NFL. I also got to talk with another Lions linebacker, Ernie Sims, about how to be professional. I figured if they wanted to draft me, they'd put me between those two Pro Bowl-caliber linebackers and just let me wreak havoc.

I mostly just went from room to room and talked to all the coaches. Then they had me meet with Martin Mayhew, the general manager. He mostly seemed interested in how I was doing with this personally, all the attention of being a possible top pick. He also asked about my body and if I was ready to accept the responsibility of being the overall No. 1 pick in the draft. I told him it was something I'm willing to live up to. There's no pressure for me if they draft me that high. It's still just the same game of football, and I like to play the game of football.

When I met with Gunther Cunningham, the defensive coordinator, he told me that I've got a level head, and that the way I carry myself is a testament to the way my mom raised me. She got a kick out of that when I told her. We speak on the phone all the time; she's the first person I call whenever I get a chance. I'm always on the phone with her. She's like my mom and my manager. She doesn't care where I go play, but she said if I get too far away from her she's going to come out and be near me. Of course, if it was up to her I'd play right back in my hometown of Fayetteville, N.C.

I didn't get to see anything in Detroit. All I got to see was the Lions facilities, the airport, the headquarters for football and the practice field. There was even a big mall behind my hotel, but I didn't get to see any of it. The GM and the coaches were telling me there're nice places to live in Detroit, so I'm not too worried about the city I go to. I just want to play the game.

The next teams on my list of visits are the Seattle Seahawks on the 30th, the Cincinnati Bengals on April 1st, and the St. Louis Rams on the 15th. I don't know what those teams are going to do. In fact, I don't know what any teams are going to do in the draft. Nobody knows until they hear their name called. The coaches in Detroit told me they don't even know who's going to get drafted. They told me they'd like to have me there but they also wanted me to know they're not the ones making the decision.

I've been back in Arizona working out at Athlete Performance Institute, trying to get ready for my pro day at Wake Forest on March 23. Two of my best friends have been out here with me for a couple weeks, Jonathan Patterson and John Fuller. I couldn't go home to Fayetteville, so they brought Fayetteville to me. They tell me not to get a big head and not to pay attention to any of the pre-draft hype. I feel like I'm still in high school trying to find a place in the world. They always tell me I haven't shown them anything yet and that the NFL would just be me getting started.

We've mostly been playing video games on PlayStation 3, like Call of Duty, NBA 2K9, NHL 2K9 and, especially, Madden. I created myself and put myself at free safety, so that way I could do what I want and go around and make the tackles I want. Not that I have any interest in playing safety in the NFL, but it's fun for a video game. I put myself on my hometown team, the Carolina Panthers. I know Jamila, my girlfriend, would love it if I wound up with them so I could be back in Charlotte, but that's probably not going to happen since they don't have a first-round pick, and that's fine. I'll go wherever I need to go.

I'm anxious to find out where that will be. The word is the week before the draft is a dead period when teams stop contacting players. By then, I'll be ready to just lay on my mom's couch and relax.

[CoMoChief]

Originally Posted by T-post Tom

Um no. To to give him the flavor of Chiefs' history & what it is to play in a Chiefs' uniform, especially at Arrowhead.

History of losing playoff games? Not sure of what history you're speaking of

[King_Chief_Fan]

Originally Posted by jjjayb

I wouldn't be surprised to see the lions D ranked higher than ours this year. I'm very interested to see what happens when Gunther doesn't have to run Herm's cover who defense.

yup

[talastan]

Originally Posted by CaliforniaChief

Only the Lions would draft a middle linebacker with the #1 pick when LB is the only strength of their team. With Daunte Culpepper as their QBOTF they're going to be next year's 2007 Dolphins.

That would be better than the 2008 Lions.

[chiefzilla1501]

First he's going to take his heart. Then he's going to take his soul. Finally, he'll take his career.

I can't wait until Gunther drafts him and then convinces him that he should be playing cornerback.

[htismaqe]

I found it interesting that the Chiefs weren't mentioned here. Hopefully the folks at Arrowhead have enuff sense to get him in here. [And show him a few reels of Derrick Thomas highlights. A little Gates & OK Joe's wouldn't hurt either.]

Why would they show him highlights of a player from which he couldn't be any more different?

[Sweet Daddy Hate]

Considering the fact that Brandon Flowers hits harder and can do pretty much anything on that highlight reel, I'm saying "No Curry unless it comes from Thai Garden".

Ohhhhhhh....SANKYOU!@

[chop]

Originally Posted by RustShack

I didn't get more than two minutes into that, I wasn't totally against him at first but man those were not very good plays. They were showing the same average plays three times... If you are making an argument to draft him #3 this clip is not the way... but maybe he made some real plays later into it I don't know.

I was thinking the same thing. He made a few good open field tackles in these clips but I wasn't thinking 3rd overall for him. Maybe it got better toward the end but I stopped watching.

[ChiefaRoo]

I'd trade down with the deadskins then take Raji and Mamaneluegaaaaa or whatever the his name is with my two first rounders.

RT in the 3rd.

[StcChief]

Originally Posted by CaliforniaChief

Only the Lions would draft a middle linebacker with the #1 pick when LB is the only strength of their team. With Daunte Culpepper as their QBOTF they're going to be next year's 2007 Dolphins.

they move to D side after years of drafting WRs

[milkman]

Originally Posted by RustShack

I didn't get more than two minutes into that, I wasn't totally against him at first but man those were not very good plays. They were showing the same average plays three times... If you are making an argument to draft him #3 this clip is not the way... but maybe he made some real plays later into it I don't know.

What I saw in those highlights was a kid who is a solid tackler, solid cover backer, who does a nice job of maintaining his discipline within the scheme, who only got pressure on the QB when he was given a free path.

I didn't see anything that stands out a screams top 5 pick.

[milkman]

Originally Posted by 2bikemike

The one thing I noticed is that he at least wraps up the guy he is nailing. So he seems to be a pretty sure tackler. It infuriates me to watch a defender try to lay a lick on a guy without wrapping up only to watch the Receiver/Running back bounce off and continue down the field another 5+ yards.

Really, wrapping up and actually making the tackle rather than riding the ballcarrier for 5 yards is the only thing that separates him from Donnie Edwards.

[DeezNutz]

Originally Posted by milkman

Really, wrapping up and actually making the tackle rather than riding the ballcarrier for 5 yards is the only thing that separates him from Donnie Edwards.

Big only, yet still not big enough to justify a top 5 selection. Not by a ****ing mile, which is all that really matters.

[gta0012]

I don't know what people don't see with Curry. The guy has explosive break down speed, squares up and makes open field tackles, has great strength, and from what I see is intelligent and knows how to watch a play and jump at the right moment.

This guy will be a star imo.

EDIT: Oh I forgot to mention I'm always right.

[milkman]

Originally Posted by gta0012

I don't know what people don't see with Curry. The guy has explosive break down speed, squares up and makes open field tackles, has great strength, and from what I see is intelligent and knows how to watch a play and jump at the right moment.

This guy will be a star imo.

EDIT: Oh I forgot to mention I'm always right.

No one is questioning his talent.
But you simply don't take a cover backer in the top 5.

Cover backer is a non-impact position.

[Sweet Daddy Hate]

Originally Posted by milkman

What I saw in those highlights was a kid who is a solid tackler, solid cover backer, who does a nice job of maintaining his discipline within the scheme, who only got pressure on the QB when he was given a free path.

I didn't see anything that stands out a screams top 5 pick.

Is my eyesight fading, or does it seem like he puts on the brakes right before he hits?

Originally Posted by milkman

Really, wrapping up and actually making the tackle rather than riding the ballcarrier for 5 yards is the only thing that separates him from Donnie Edwards.

OMG! That's exactly who I was thinking of as I watched that!