Javier Arenas admits he didn’t prepare as much as he should have with Chiefs
By Matt Conner
Former Kansas City Chiefs cornerback Javier Arenas admits he didn’t prepare like he should have in the NFL.
Javier Arenas entered the NFL with a lot to live up to, whether he knew it or not. As a former second round pick by Scott Pioli of the Kansas City Chiefs, Arenas was the sole return from the Atlanta Falcons on tight end Tony Gonzalez, one of the NFL’s all-time best offensive weapons who ended up playing five more seasons after being traded away. As for the Chiefs side of the trade, there wasn’t much to show for it.
Arenas entered the league in the 2010 NFL Draft as a smallish slot corner who was also a dynamic return man from the University of Alabama. It was a post the Chiefs have tried to fill often since Dante Hall retired, from Dexter McCluster to Devon Wylie to Arenas. Unfortunately, Arenas only lasted three seasons in Kansas City with 2 interceptions and 0 returns for a touchdown on his resume.
When Pioli was fired, John Dorsey didn’t keep Arenas around for long and traded him to the Arizona Cardinals for fullback Anthony Sherman, who continues to be a strong asset in the running game and on special teams. Arenas lasted a single year in Arizona and then tried one more year in the NFL with the Atlanta Falcons, likely because of Pioli’s presence in the front office there.
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Arenas is now trying to make his presence felt in the Canadian Football League, specifically with the Ottawa Redblacks. He admits he’s learned some lessons along the way about what it takes to succeed and putting in the extra work that he wasn’t willing to when he was much younger and in the NFL.
"“I didn’t take things for granted, but I feel like I didn’t give it that extra. It’s professional football. It’s our job 24/7. There are things I may not have taken advantage of when I was playing. The beautiful thing about it is the same mistakes won’t be made. I’ve never been in trouble. They weren’t bad mistakes. I was a young kid. It was the extra study that helps you get the extra edge. It was a great opportunity. This is a great opportunity.”"
Perhaps with a great showing in the CFL, Arenas could earn his way back onto a team in the NFL, but either way, it will be interesting to see how things work out in Ottawa and whether Arenas can provide the spark up north that he was hoping to show fans in Arrowhead.