<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Turley poised for comeback pending physicalBy Len PasquarelliESPN.comFormer standout blocker Kyle Turley, who hasn't played in a game since a 2003 playoff loss because of severe back problems, is poised to make his NFL comeback.Turley, 30, has reached an agreement in principle with the Kansas City Chiefs on a multiyear contract, a source close to him confirmed Sunday afternoon, but financial details of the deal were not immediately available. The seven-year veteran must still pass a physical examination for the Chiefs, which is scheduled for Monday, and which figures to be extensive given his medical background.If he passes the physical, Turley will sign and begin working out with the Chiefs this week.In a surprising twist, Turley, who had originally planned to return as a tight end, a position he has never played at the NFL level, is expected to play tackle for the Chiefs. Team officials have discussed with him returning to his old right tackle spot, where he could challenge for a starting job. The Chiefs might still deploy Turley as a tight end in short-yardage situations.The other candidates at right tackle include John Welbourn, Kevin Sampson and Jordan Black.Whether Turley can return to tackle, and at his previous performance level -- when he was regarded as one of the NFL's best strong-side blockers -- might be a factor of how much he weighs now. His typical playing weight was 309 pounds, but it is believed Turley dropped 40-50 pounds to relieve some of the stress on his back, and might actually have to gain some weight back to be effective again.Last month, Turley participated in a Miami Dolphins' minicamp as an unsigned invitee. He also worked out for the Chiefs and, in recent days, drew interest from the Denver Broncos as well.After two years away from the game, the former first-round draft choice, who missed only one regular-season contest before his back woes sidelined him, was determined to get back into the league.The former San Diego State star was released by the Rams in June 2005 after he failed a team-administered physical examination. Turley missed the entire 2004 season when his back problem flared during training camp and he was placed on injured reserve.Turley has been treated for more than two years now by Dr. Robert Watkins, a renowned Los Angeles back specialist who performed surgery on a herniated disc in March 2004. He reinjured his back four months later and eschewed a second surgery, preferring instead to go through a long rehabilitation that included shedding considerable weight.During his rehabilitation, Turley originally suggested that he might return to the league as a defensive end. He had decided, it seemed, that he needed to play a position which placed fewer demands on his back, and at which he did not need to carry as much bulk.Throughout his recovery, Turley has been adamant he would not retire, and remained optimistic that he could someday return to football.His last game action came Jan. 10, 2004, when the Rams lost to the Carolina Panthers in double overtime of a divisional round playoff game. Turley played in all 16 regular-season games in 2003. Over six years, Turley appeared in 95 regular-season games, all of them as a starter.The seventh overall pick in the 1998 draft, Turley played six seasons with the New Orleans Saints, and then was traded to the Rams in the spring of 2003.Len Pasquarelli is a senior NFL writer for ESPN.com. To check out Len's chat archive, click here Insider.</div>
Great pick-up IMO, he plays just like Jason Dunn except he's better. But if he plays RT for them, that's also good news for KC. Jordan Black is....
Turley may benefit from Welborne's retirement<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Turley may benefit from Welbourn retiring from ChiefsBy Len PasquarelliESPN.comLess than a week into his return from a two-year hiatus, Kyle Turley hasn't yet secured the starting right offensive tackle job with the Kansas City Chiefs. But he is certainly skyrocketing up the depth chart.His ascent was aided Thursday by the abrupt announcement from seven-year veteran John Welbourn that he has decided to retire. The Chiefs' starter at right tackle for the final nine games last season, Welbourn was expected to vie with Turley and returning veterans Jordan Black and Kevin Sampson for the No. 1 spot in 2006.Welbourn, 30, had three seasons remaining on his contract, at base salaries of $1.4 million (for 2006), $1.7 million (2007) and $2 million (2008). The veteran blocker is close to completing work on his graduate degree in education and plans to enroll in law school."I've been playing football for 16 years and it's a little scary to think I won't be playing anymore," said Welbourn. "But at the same time, it's exciting to think I'll be starting a whole new chapter in my life."In seven seasons, the first five of which were spent with the Philadelphia Eagles, the former University of California star appeared in 78 games and started 75 of them. He started in all but one of his 22 appearances with the Chiefs in 2004-2005, but was slowed by a knee injury in his first season in Kansas City and then missed the first four games last year because of a violation of the league's steroid policy.The Chiefs acquired Welbourn from Philadelphia in 2004 for third- and fifth-round draft choices.The sudden loss of Welbourn, whose best position might have actually been guard, leaves Turley as the favorite to secure the starting job. Turley, a seven-year veteran, signed a two-year contract with the Chiefs on Monday after missing the past two seasons because of severe back problems.Kansas City officials were not pleased with the performance at right tackle in 2005 from any of the players who lined up there, and that prompted them to pursue Turley, who originally had planned to return to the NFL as a tight end, a position he had never played before. But the Chiefs convinced Turley that he might return to his old form at tackle, especially playing on one of the NFL's premier blocking units.His experience seems to give Turley a decided advantage over Black and Sampson entering training camp.Whether he can recapture the skills that once made him a premier strong-side tackle might be a function of how Turley deals with the weight he lost during his two seasons away from the game. His typical playing weight was 309 pounds, but it is believed Turley dropped 40-50 pounds to relieve some of the stress on his back. He might actually have to gain some weight back to be effective again.In his early workouts this week, however, Turley apparently has performed well.The former San Diego State star was released by the Rams in June 2005 after he failed a team-administered physical examination. Turley missed the entire 2004 season when his back problem flared during training camp and he was placed on injured reserve. Turley has been treated for more than two years now by Dr. Robert Watkins, a renowned Los Angeles back specialist who performed surgery on a herniated disc in March 2004. Turley reinjured his back four months later and eschewed a second surgery, preferring instead to go through a long rehabilitation that included shedding considerable weight.His last game action came Jan. 10, 2004, when the Rams lost to the Carolina Panthers in double overtime of a divisional round playoff contest. Turley played in all 16 regular-season games in 2003. Over six years, Turley appeared in 95 regular-season games, all of them as a starter.The seventh overall player selected in the 1998 draft, Turley played six seasons with the New Orleans Saints, and then was traded to the Rams in the spring of 2003.Len Pasquarelli is a senior NFL writer for ESPN.com. To check out Len's chat archive, click here Insider.</div>http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2487050
I think that if he returns to old form, which probably won't happen since he lost like 75 pounds, he can really help us. I LOVE his attitude on the field, it's just what you need out of an O-Linemen. I know that he had his little dilemma, but he could really help us, since we just lost Welbourne. This was a little surprising, but the more I think about it, it's a good thing. Welcome to KC, Kyle Turley!
