The Kansas City Chiefs lost multiple players before and during the 2011 NFL season to injury that crippled their chances to repeat as AFC West champs. From Jamaal Charles in the backfield to Eric Berry in the defensive backfield, the Chiefs lost impact stars that forced the units on both sides of the ball to compensate for so great a loss.
Now Berry says he's back and ready to return to the form that made him the No. 5 overall selection in the 2010 NFL Draft and, consequently, made him a Pro Bowler in his first year in the league. Berry said after the first day of pads in training camp that it was good to be back with the team, practicing and getting up to speed.
"It was good. It was exciting to get back out there with my teammates just having fun running around, but at the same time I still understand there's a lot of work that needs to be done. I felt like I worked hard this offseason. I worked hard throughout my recovery. I'm just trying to pick up where I left off before I left when I got injured," said Berry.
Berry had 92 tackles, 4 interceptions and 2 sacks his first year in the league. Adding that level of play back in Romeo Crennel's secondary will go a long way toward vaulting the Chiefs back to the playoffs.
"Right now I'm pretty much just on a mission. I'll say it as simply as I can: I'm just on a mission to help my team."
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