Chiefs KC Star: Tamba Hali had no intention of leaving Chiefs, has Super Bowl on his mind - Page 2

**DaneMcCloud** · 03-10-2016, 03:12 PM

This is a great read and I didn't want it to get lost in one of the "mega" threads.

http://www.kansascity.com/sports/nfl...e65223067.html

By Terez A. Paylor

Tamba Hali heard the beginning of the very first question he fielded during a teleconference on Thursday — “Did you give any thought to leaving in free agency ...” — and didn’t need to hear the rest of it. “None,” Hali responded before the question was finished. “None, at all.”

That’s how much the 32-year-old Hali valued being in Kansas City. The 11-year veteran — who signed a three-year, $22 million extension with the Chiefs on Wednesday — went on to explain that he’s been a Chief for so long, he couldn’t imagine playing for anyone else. Unprompted, he spoke of how he takes pride in being the last first-round draft pick of Chiefs founder Lamar Hunt, who died approximately seven months after the Chiefs selected Hali in 2006 draft. He also said that he’s grown so accustomed to the Chiefs’ way of doing things that he had no interest in learning a new football culture, in a new city.

“For me, staying here, it means everything,” Hali said. “I couldn’t imagine going somewhere else and needing to establish myself as a player again, especially being in the game this long. I wanted to end my career here. It’s a family atmosphere here, and everything (general manager John) Dorsey, coach (Andy) Reid and the Hunt family stand for, everything they say, has been right on point.”

Hali recalled that when the Chiefs signed him to his previous pact in 2011 — a five-year, $60 million deal — Hunt told him that they were going to try to keep him here past that contract, which expired after the 2015 season.

Hunt made good on his word.

“I didn’t know how serious that was, but obviously it was serious, and I’m thankful — it doesn’t happen in our league anymore for a player to be in one position the way I’ve been, and then finish out his career where he got drafted,” Hali said. “And I’m thankful.” Hali also made it clear that he’s focused. He garnered his sixth Pro Bowl nod in 2015, finishing with 48 tackles and 6 1/2 sacks for a Chiefs team that finally ended its playoff misery with a 30-0 wild-card win over the Houston Texans. It was the club’s first playoff victory in 22 years, and Hali’s first in four tries.

After the season, Hali expressed a desire to return to the Chiefs, and seemed genuinely excited about the direction the team was going. The Chiefs clearly felt the same way about him. “Tamba is one of the most passionate and competitive football players I’ve had the privilege to be around,” Chiefs general manager John Dorsey said in a statement announcing the deal. “His leadership and playing ability have been critical to our success defensively. He’s a great teammate and a true professional. We are pleased he is staying in Kansas City.”

Hali also noted, however, that if he did continue his career, he wanted to make sure he could play better than he did in 2015. He has dealt with balky knees the last two years. In 2014, one knee swelled up during the season and required offseason surgery; in 2015, the other knee swelled up and required the same treatment. Now, he says the knee that gave him problems this year feels good.

“I feel like I’m right on time with healing,” Hali said. “I had the same process done last year. Around the two-month mark, I was able to start running. I’m only a month out of surgery, and the progress of rehab, I’m happy where I am right now.” Hali expressed optimism that neither knee should be a problem going forward.

“Well, I hope not; I hope we don’t have that problem,” Hali said. “I do well when the season starts, through camp and all the workouts ... it’s the wear and tear. I feel with what doctor was able to do, I feel I’ll be able to bounce back and play my best season coming up. So I don’t foresee these things happening where my knee just swells up because it chooses to.”

The Chiefs will do what they can to help Hali, just as they did in 2015. He was allowed to rest during most of the practice week for the majority of last season, keeping him fresh for Sundays. “I know they want to limit my role as in how much I play, just to be able to sustain me over the 24-week period of playing a season,” Hali said. “But I believe there will be times where I may have to play the entire game, and then I believe there will be times I have to step back ... there are games we’ll be winning and Coach basically said we don’t need you for the rest of the game and they’ll pull me, maybe, in the third quarter, fourth quarter.

“I get upset, but growing into the type of player that they see me becoming at the next stage of my career only make sense, because there’s no reason to go out there and pad the stats. Our main goal here is to win the Lombardi Trophy, and risking injury, trying to do more than is needed, is not going to help our team.” Increased rest for Hali in 2015 also allowed the man who was considered to be his eventual replacement — 2014 first-round draft pick Dee Ford — to see the field more often. Ford contributed more in the increased role, recording four sacks.

Hali said he’ll continue to help Ford, who will be entering his third year as a 3-4 outside linebacker after being a 4-3 defensive in college. “At this stage, if I had to speak for him, I would like for him to take the next step in being a professional and, basically, why they drafted him here and him talking over the role,” Hali said. “The season is too long for me to be focused on being a starter or a backup; I mean, we all have to contribute.

“But I think he’s in the position where he can kind of take the torch and go forward, and that’s really mental. Physically, the kid is gifted, and he has it. But mentally, we have to just make sure he understands why we’re in this building and what needs to be done while we’re here.”

When asked how long he expects to keep playing, Hali said it depends on a number of factors. “Well, as long as I love the game, as long as I continue to have the will to play at a high level and enjoy being around the guys, and there’s no distraction that’s leading to me exiting before I need to, I’ll play as long as my body lets me,” Hali said.

The moment he’s not serious about it anymore, the moment he doesn’t feel like working out anymore, that’s when he says he’ll know it’s time to leave. “But I still love playing football, I still love proving to myself I’m one of the best pass-rushers out there into the world — those things still drive me to be in the game,” Hali said. “And at the top of the list is to win a Super Bowl. That’s the biggest drive. If we can get that done, it would be nice to do it again, and again.”

And what about his legacy? The new contract sets up Hali, who has 86 career sacks — one half-sack behind Neil Smith for second in club history — to retire as a Chief. He’ll surely be in the Chiefs’ Ring of Honor one day, and that matters to him. But not as much as taking advantage of the opportunity that’s currently in front of him.

“I’m living in the moment, so I can’t really focus on what’s going to happen five, 10, 15 years from now, when I’m removed from the game,” Hali said. “It means a lot to even think that people think that high of me, but for now I’m just living in the moment and enjoying the time I’m here and trying to get something done.

“When it’s all said and done, we can look back and see what was accomplished.”

ToxSocks · 03-10-2016, 03:44 PM

Tamba Hali is the 1st Chief player my wife ever learned about. We had been dating for about 5 months when he was drafted.....

Frosty · 03-10-2016, 03:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Detoxing

Tamba Hali is the 1st Chief player my wife ever learned about. We had been dating for about 5 months when he was drafted.....

Did you explain to her that he was physically maxed out and how the Chiefs should have drafted Cromartie?

**DaneMcCloud** · 03-10-2016, 03:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Frosty

Did you explain to her that he was physically maxed out and how the Chiefs should have drafted Cromartie?

Did he explain to her that he was taken 10 spots too high as well?

MikeMaslowski · 03-10-2016, 03:47 PM

Feel bad that I really disliked Hali for many years. Definitely changed my mind. Very stupid take I had.

Also, thought the same thing about Ford. Like, c'mon dude, we are in this building to win. Hopefully getting rid of Hollywood will bring a little more blue collar back to the team.

Halfcan · 03-10-2016, 03:59 PM

Thanks for posting this!!

Hali is amazing. I love how he plays with passion and his positive outlook on life. You hardly ever hear about a Vet-coming out and telling his replacement to step up and take his job. But that is Best for the team. It is important Ford makes good on his God given talent. I hope Hali stays on as a coach in some capacity-the young guys should really look to him as a role model.

ToxSocks · 03-10-2016, 04:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Frosty

Did you explain to her that he was physically maxed out and how the Chiefs should have drafted Cromartie?

Heh. Maybe.

**BossChief** · 03-10-2016, 04:04 PM

I remember being pissed when we drafted him.

Tweener DT/DE
Terribly short arms
Horribly slow

But they don't have a combine test for "heart".

Hoover · 03-10-2016, 04:18 PM

This is the reason why the first Jersey I got for my son has a 91 on it!

ct · 03-10-2016, 04:34 PM

i was psyched when we drafted tamba, and i was psyched when we resigned him.

and yea, he is definitely nudging dee ford to pick it up and i love it!!

**Tribal Warfare** · 03-10-2016, 05:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by staylor26

Man throw Alex in there as well for me. It would be an amazing story for him and Andy with the way they left their last teams.

Yeah, jumping the shark there

rico · 03-10-2016, 05:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TimBone

This guy should be close to the top of all Chiefs fans list of favorite Chiefs. This guy just loves the Kansas city Chiefs.

This.

DaNewGuy · 03-10-2016, 05:26 PM

Love Hali, PSU alumni aswell. Good dude

stevieray · 03-10-2016, 05:40 PM

I was very fortunate to be able to go to the draft dinner that year. He was like a deer in the headlights...totally humble, but still very kind.

Pretty cool that the Chiefs took him under their wing and Kansas City wrapped their arms around him..the impression the city has had on him isn't anything new...players come here, and never leave. I'm proud our town is part of his legacy.

Lord knows it was fun watching him and Jared, but Tamba picked up the torch after he left and put the work in..JJ classes..? I can only imagine the sacks he would have without being gang raped at the line...his ability to hit the edge and win the hand battle is very similar to DT.. just a joy to watch play.

His excitement on the sidelines this year more than validates his passion for the Chiefs and the game....

Well done sir, well done. You've got a heart the size of Texas. You've earned every penny and have shown that the American dream is still very alive, when you want it bad enough. Thanks for representing our team with class and dignity.

Marcellus · 03-10-2016, 05:41 PM

Not a damn thing about the guy not to love.

DenverChief · 03-10-2016, 05:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BossChief

It's because the Hunt family got Hali's mother to America after they drafted Tamba.

For a guy like Tamba, coming from where he came from...that's worth a lot more than money.

I didn't know that

03-10-2016, 03:12 PM
DaneMcCloud Supporter Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: Hollywood, CA Casino cash: $10053648	KC Star: Tamba Hali had no intention of leaving Chiefs, has Super Bowl on his mind This is a great read and I didn't want it to get lost in one of the "mega" threads. http://www.kansascity.com/sports/nfl...e65223067.html By Terez A. Paylor Tamba Hali heard the beginning of the very first question he fielded during a teleconference on Thursday — “Did you give any thought to leaving in free agency ...” — and didn’t need to hear the rest of it. “None,” Hali responded before the question was finished. “None, at all.” That’s how much the 32-year-old Hali valued being in Kansas City. The 11-year veteran — who signed a three-year, $22 million extension with the Chiefs on Wednesday — went on to explain that he’s been a Chief for so long, he couldn’t imagine playing for anyone else. Unprompted, he spoke of how he takes pride in being the last first-round draft pick of Chiefs founder Lamar Hunt, who died approximately seven months after the Chiefs selected Hali in 2006 draft. He also said that he’s grown so accustomed to the Chiefs’ way of doing things that he had no interest in learning a new football culture, in a new city. “For me, staying here, it means everything,” Hali said. “I couldn’t imagine going somewhere else and needing to establish myself as a player again, especially being in the game this long. I wanted to end my career here. It’s a family atmosphere here, and everything (general manager John) Dorsey, coach (Andy) Reid and the Hunt family stand for, everything they say, has been right on point.” Hali recalled that when the Chiefs signed him to his previous pact in 2011 — a five-year, $60 million deal — Hunt told him that they were going to try to keep him here past that contract, which expired after the 2015 season. Hunt made good on his word. “I didn’t know how serious that was, but obviously it was serious, and I’m thankful — it doesn’t happen in our league anymore for a player to be in one position the way I’ve been, and then finish out his career where he got drafted,” Hali said. “And I’m thankful.” Hali also made it clear that he’s focused. He garnered his sixth Pro Bowl nod in 2015, finishing with 48 tackles and 6 1/2 sacks for a Chiefs team that finally ended its playoff misery with a 30-0 wild-card win over the Houston Texans. It was the club’s first playoff victory in 22 years, and Hali’s first in four tries. After the season, Hali expressed a desire to return to the Chiefs, and seemed genuinely excited about the direction the team was going. The Chiefs clearly felt the same way about him. “Tamba is one of the most passionate and competitive football players I’ve had the privilege to be around,” Chiefs general manager John Dorsey said in a statement announcing the deal. “His leadership and playing ability have been critical to our success defensively. He’s a great teammate and a true professional. We are pleased he is staying in Kansas City.” Hali also noted, however, that if he did continue his career, he wanted to make sure he could play better than he did in 2015. He has dealt with balky knees the last two years. In 2014, one knee swelled up during the season and required offseason surgery; in 2015, the other knee swelled up and required the same treatment. Now, he says the knee that gave him problems this year feels good. “I feel like I’m right on time with healing,” Hali said. “I had the same process done last year. Around the two-month mark, I was able to start running. I’m only a month out of surgery, and the progress of rehab, I’m happy where I am right now.” Hali expressed optimism that neither knee should be a problem going forward. “Well, I hope not; I hope we don’t have that problem,” Hali said. “I do well when the season starts, through camp and all the workouts ... it’s the wear and tear. I feel with what doctor was able to do, I feel I’ll be able to bounce back and play my best season coming up. So I don’t foresee these things happening where my knee just swells up because it chooses to.” The Chiefs will do what they can to help Hali, just as they did in 2015. He was allowed to rest during most of the practice week for the majority of last season, keeping him fresh for Sundays. “I know they want to limit my role as in how much I play, just to be able to sustain me over the 24-week period of playing a season,” Hali said. “But I believe there will be times where I may have to play the entire game, and then I believe there will be times I have to step back ... there are games we’ll be winning and Coach basically said we don’t need you for the rest of the game and they’ll pull me, maybe, in the third quarter, fourth quarter. “I get upset, but growing into the type of player that they see me becoming at the next stage of my career only make sense, because there’s no reason to go out there and pad the stats. Our main goal here is to win the Lombardi Trophy, and risking injury, trying to do more than is needed, is not going to help our team.” Increased rest for Hali in 2015 also allowed the man who was considered to be his eventual replacement — 2014 first-round draft pick Dee Ford — to see the field more often. Ford contributed more in the increased role, recording four sacks. Hali said he’ll continue to help Ford, who will be entering his third year as a 3-4 outside linebacker after being a 4-3 defensive in college. “At this stage, if I had to speak for him, I would like for him to take the next step in being a professional and, basically, why they drafted him here and him talking over the role,” Hali said. “The season is too long for me to be focused on being a starter or a backup; I mean, we all have to contribute. “But I think he’s in the position where he can kind of take the torch and go forward, and that’s really mental. Physically, the kid is gifted, and he has it. But mentally, we have to just make sure he understands why we’re in this building and what needs to be done while we’re here.” When asked how long he expects to keep playing, Hali said it depends on a number of factors. “Well, as long as I love the game, as long as I continue to have the will to play at a high level and enjoy being around the guys, and there’s no distraction that’s leading to me exiting before I need to, I’ll play as long as my body lets me,” Hali said. The moment he’s not serious about it anymore, the moment he doesn’t feel like working out anymore, that’s when he says he’ll know it’s time to leave. “But I still love playing football, I still love proving to myself I’m one of the best pass-rushers out there into the world — those things still drive me to be in the game,” Hali said. “And at the top of the list is to win a Super Bowl. That’s the biggest drive. If we can get that done, it would be nice to do it again, and again.” And what about his legacy? The new contract sets up Hali, who has 86 career sacks — one half-sack behind Neil Smith for second in club history — to retire as a Chief. He’ll surely be in the Chiefs’ Ring of Honor one day, and that matters to him. But not as much as taking advantage of the opportunity that’s currently in front of him. “I’m living in the moment, so I can’t really focus on what’s going to happen five, 10, 15 years from now, when I’m removed from the game,” Hali said. “It means a lot to even think that people think that high of me, but for now I’m just living in the moment and enjoying the time I’m here and trying to get something done. “When it’s all said and done, we can look back and see what was accomplished.”
Posts: 88,960

03-10-2016, 03:44 PM	#16
ToxSocks Needs more middle fingers Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: San Diego Casino cash: $2143063	Tamba Hali is the 1st Chief player my wife ever learned about. We had been dating for about 5 months when he was drafted..... __________________ Life is like a dick. Sometimes it gets hard for no reason, but it can't stay hard forever.
Posts: 65,925

03-10-2016, 03:47 PM	#19
MikeMaslowski There's always next year. Join Date: Nov 2008 Casino cash: $10009290	Feel bad that I really disliked Hali for many years. Definitely changed my mind. Very stupid take I had. Also, thought the same thing about Ford. Like, c'mon dude, we are in this building to win. Hopefully getting rid of Hollywood will bring a little more blue collar back to the team.
Posts: 2,219

03-10-2016, 03:59 PM	#20
Halfcan In Search of a Life Join Date: Aug 2005 Casino cash: $7327995	Thanks for posting this!! Hali is amazing. I love how he plays with passion and his positive outlook on life. You hardly ever hear about a Vet-coming out and telling his replacement to step up and take his job. But that is Best for the team. It is important Ford makes good on his God given talent. I hope Hali stays on as a coach in some capacity-the young guys should really look to him as a role model.
Posts: 43,200

03-10-2016, 04:04 PM	#22
BossChief SuperBowl or bust Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: BF Iowa Casino cash: $-1515912	I remember being pissed when we drafted him. Tweener DT/DE Terribly short arms Horribly slow But they don't have a combine test for "heart". __________________ Dreams do come true... http://www.chiefsplanet.com/BB/showp...postcount=1407
Posts: 47,872

03-10-2016, 04:18 PM	#23
Hoover Rufus Dawes Jr. Join Date: Aug 2000 Casino cash: $-1911821	This is the reason why the first Jersey I got for my son has a 91 on it! Attached Thumbnails
Posts: 18,011

03-10-2016, 04:34 PM	#24
ct u b illian Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: DooDah Casino cash: $10009436	i was psyched when we drafted tamba, and i was psyched when we resigned him. and yea, he is definitely nudging dee ford to pick it up and i love it!!
Posts: 7,287

03-10-2016, 05:26 PM	#27
DaNewGuy Trippin' BAWLZ Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Another dimension Casino cash: $9784749	Love Hali, PSU alumni aswell. Good dude __________________ I'll miss you Albert Wilson
Posts: 3,649

03-10-2016, 05:40 PM	#28
stevieray Most things I worry about… Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Under Pressure Casino cash: $-1064727	I was very fortunate to be able to go to the draft dinner that year. He was like a deer in the headlights...totally humble, but still very kind. Pretty cool that the Chiefs took him under their wing and Kansas City wrapped their arms around him..the impression the city has had on him isn't anything new...players come here, and never leave. I'm proud our town is part of his legacy. Lord knows it was fun watching him and Jared, but Tamba picked up the torch after he left and put the work in..JJ classes..? I can only imagine the sacks he would have without being gang raped at the line...his ability to hit the edge and win the hand battle is very similar to DT.. just a joy to watch play. His excitement on the sidelines this year more than validates his passion for the Chiefs and the game.... Well done sir, well done. You've got a heart the size of Texas. You've earned every penny and have shown that the American dream is still very alive, when you want it bad enough. Thanks for representing our team with class and dignity.
Posts: 73,944

03-10-2016, 05:41 PM	#29
Marcellus Diablo Negro Join Date: Sep 2003 Casino cash: $-277338	Not a damn thing about the guy not to love.
Posts: 74,268