Robinson & Johnston Make Money
The Kansas City Chiefs got to work Wednesday as they agree to three year deals with the wide receiver and kick returner Kevin Robinson and defensive end Brian Johnston. According to a Chiefs policy, other terms were unavailable to share with the public. I personally am a bit curious why the Chiefs are over protective about sharing the deal. But hey, at least Carl Peterson signed them!
Robinson played at Utah State as he played in 46 games catching 178 passes for 2,485 yards. But his receiving skills are not why the Chiefs drafted the speedy sixth rounder. With Dante Hall declining and Eddie Drummond being a major bust, the Chiefs were searching for a kick returner. Robinson shattered records at Utah State for punt return yards with 1,104 returning four for touchdowns. Robinson also returned 110 kick offs stacking up 2,725 running them back for a total of four touchdowns as well. Grand total of eight touchdowns returning the football on special teams. This guy will have a special role this year as he competes with four year pro, B.J. Sams who spent four years at Baltimore as a kick returner. Sams returned two touchdowns off of kickoffs his rookie year. His first coincidentally came against the Kansas City Chiefs in 2004. According to Herm Edwards, unsigned third round draft pick, Jamaal Charles will also compete for the kick return spot as Edwards told me towards the end of OTA’s that this position is ‘very high on the priority list.’ Charles is another fast player on the team coming from Texas. But his only concern on special teams may be if he can use the width of the field appropriately, which is exactly what Devin Hester is great it.
Johnston is an immense defensive end coming out of Gardner-Webb. The former Bulldog was said to be a steal in the seventh round as the Chiefs had numerous amount of steals in this draft. Playing 42 games at GWU, Johnston started 40 games recording 268 tackles and 21 sacks for -140 yards. Johnston also caught a three yard touchdown reception on offense. I’m already wondering if this guy can be the next Jared Allen. Allen ran a 4.81 40 yard dash in the NFL combine his rookie year as he was drafted in the fourth round as a long snapper. Johnston ran a 4.68 40 yard dash and was also projected to be drafted in the fourth round. Johnston registered ten forced fumbles and blocked a kick at Gardner-Webb. This guy looks like he has a promising NFL career and could be a huge sleeper in the NFL. He’s got all the physical tools to play defensive end in the NFL as he has spent a lot of time with defensive line coach, Tim Krumrie. Brian Johnston could be the biggest nightmare for quarterbacks and running backs in the NFL soon once he gets familiar with the Gunther Cunningham defense.
These are two very good prospects drafted late in the NFL draft. Neither player will see significant playing time on offense or defense. Both rookies will spend a couple years playing on special teams as both players not only have a good future in their perspective positions, but they have made big plays on special teams in the past and look to carry on in the pros. Don’t be surprised if you see either player make a special teams play that turns into an ESPN highlight. The Chiefs now have seven unsigned picks: Dorsey, Albert, Flowers, Charles, Cottam, Morgan and Merritt.
Be sure you check out my internet radio show, the “Chiefs Endzone Show” on TheSportsStuff.com as we invite Soren Petro from 810 WHB Kansas City on our show Monday and record an interview with him chatting about training camp before the Chiefs get on the bus to River Falls, Wisconson.
