Matt Cassel was a seventh-round pick of the Patriots, and in 2008 became the only QB to start an NFL game without starting a game at QB in college. Could undrafted free agent Chase Patton of Mizzou follow in his footsteps? This weekend he had a tryout with the Chiefs, where he, along with other undrafted free agents, also completed a Pro Day-style workout. Here is my excluside post-tryout interview with Chase.

Old Chief: “Good evening, Chase. How was the tryout?”

Chase Patton: “It was a fast weekend. We arrived on Thursday and began signing paperwork and were handed out our equipment. Next we got to meet Todd Haley — very personable, intense and passionate to do things ‘the Chiefs Way.’ There were approximately 30 draftees and free agents attending the camp. On Friday in the morning we had a Pro Day testing reps in the 225-pound bench, 40-yard time, vertical jump and the broad jump.”

Old Chief: “What happened after Pro Day?”

Chase: “We had position meetings. I got the opportunity to meet Chan Galley. He was
simply awesome with complete grasp of offensive football.”

Old Chief: “How many practices did you have?”

Chase: “We had several each day. We went seven on seven as well as all on 11 in helmets on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. In between we had position meetings and studied the playbook.”

Old Chief: “How were things different than at Mizzou?”

Chase: “First, I had to get used to taking snaps from center because at Mizzou we ran strictly out of the spread. Secondly, I had to get used to having an attached tight end. We only had a few receivers and tight ends so the speed of the practice was down from the tempo in which Coach Haley likes.”

Old Chief: “What do you remember the most about the weekend?”

Chase: “I was impressed of the size and speed of Tyson Jackson, the mental preparation for the professional sport. The notion in the pros is how you deal with adversity and have a short memory. It was a weird feeling wearing the uniform of the team I grew up watching as a boy.”

Old Chief: “Your best memory?”

Chase: “That my final pass of the weekend went for a touchdown.”

Old Chief: “Great!! Good luck, Chase. We at Arrowhe Adaddict appreciate your time!”

Chase has a great future. Beyond being a potential NFL QB, he has already been accepted to dental school and is married to the beautiful former Mizzou track star Ashley Guy-Patton.

Chase Daniel takes Missouri back to the Big 12 Championship game, but this time he delivers a performance for the ages and absolutely crushes Oklahoma. The following April, Daniel is drafted by the Oakland Raiders on the second day of the draft. During the next couple of seasons, JaMarcus Russell struggles with injuries and Daniel becomes one of the better back-ups in the league. His play even helps the Silver and Black win a few games.

Is that a nightmare or what? (It also requires a huge suspension of disbelief, but that’s not the point here.)

Well, for us K-State fans that is exactly what we are going through.

Fresh off carrying K-State to its first Big 12 title, Heisman finalist Darren Sproles was drafted by the Chargers. I wanted him to play for the Chiefs so bad, but it didn’t happen. We could certainly use his return ability these days. Anyway, whenever I see him break one I can’t help but jump up and yell in glee. Then, when the whistle blows, I remember what team he plays for and hunker back down into my seat. It’s tough, because I absolutely love the kid. I was at that game when he single-handedly demolished OU, who I absolutely loathe. I’ll never forget that night. I mean, how can I not still be smitten over a player who’s both the “little engine who could” (at 5-foot-6 he’s the shortest RB in the NFL) and the greatest KSU player ever?

Sproles was just named the AFC Special Teamer of the month, causing me to swell with pride. Then I remembered that he no longer wears Purple and Silver, but rather Navy and Gold (and sometimes Powder Blue). What a dilema, right? Really, it’s the exact opposite of what a lot of us had to deal with when the Chiefs selected Neil Smith, who at the time was a star for the hated Huskers (well, hated by about 90% of us, if not more).

What do you do when your guy becomes the enemy? You root him on when he’s not playing against your team, and hope that his success doesn’t directly correlate into success for his team. That is, unless he plays for the Broncos. Then you boo and throw stuff at your TV every time you see him. What do you do when the enemy becomes your guy. You have no choice but to embrace him, at least until he becomes the enemy again (I just threw up in my mouth).

Addicts, sound off on “sleeping with the enemy.”